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In an effort to disseminate information about the new web-based version of Renaissance Place (STAR and STAR Early Literacy), this document was compiled from documents provided by Renaissance Learning and a conference call with Andrea Shane, their Regional Vice President. The web-based version has a larger data base of questions and therefore the guidelines for use of the program have changed. STAR Early Literacy (SEL)Why should we give SEL?Primary-grade teachers can use the data provided by SEL to monitor students’ reading development and guide planning and instruction. SEL can be given weekly to closely monitor progress for RtI if needed. SEL will graph the results of a student’s progress. The reports provided by SEL are excellent. Who should take SEL?SEL is fitting for all students who can use a computer.All students in kindergarten and some in first and second grades (see question 5).How long will it take to give SEL?Typically a student can finish SEL in less than 15 minutes. What do the scaled scores mean? Typically, the scaled scores relate to the child’s age. For instance, a child who is 6 years and 2 months old would be expected to score at least 620 on the SEL assessment. A student’s scaled score should increase as his/her age increases. For students who are behind, their rate of growth must be faster in order to catch up to their age. What are the guidelines about when a student should stop taking SEL and take the regular STAR test?Students must have a sight vocabulary of at least 100 words for the STAR assessment to be accurate.When a student reaches 729 on SEL you can then use both SEL and STAR, but SEL should not be discontinued until the student reaches 775. When students reach a score of 775 or above on SEL then SEL may be discontinued.Occasionally a student’s scores drop. Why is that? The two most common reasons are measurement error and fluctuations in performance. A student’s reading progress is best measured over a span of time. The Student Progress Monitoring Report should be used to show the results from STAR Early Literacy and STAR over time. This is a more accurate picture of the student’s progress than one sole score. STARWhy should we give STAR?STAR is an assessment of a student’s comprehension. Each test item is a complete, contextual sentence with a tightly controlled vocabulary level. Students must interpret the meaning of the sentence in order to choose the correct answer because all answer choices “fit” in the sentences either semantically or syntactically. So, the student must use comprehension skills to select the correct answer. However, vocabulary is important to comprehension, so vocabulary knowledge will affect a student’s comprehension score. STAR can be used to monitor growth for RtI.STAR can be used to determine a student’s Zone of Proximal Development (ZPD) which is useful to help the child select appropriate reading material. Each time the student takes STAR his/her ZPD may change and therefore their AR level should be adjusted. How long will it take to give STAR?Typically a student can finish STAR in 5-7 minutes.Who should take STAR?Any student in grades 1-12 who knows at least 100 sight words and has a scaled score of at least 729 on SEL. SEL should be continued along with STAR until the student scores at least 774 on SEL. Usually by the time a student reads at mid first grade level they should know at least 100 sight words and score 774 on SEL. What do the scaled scores mean?This is a very important question. In the past the focus has been on the Grade Equivalent (GE) score, but the scaled score should be the score to watch. This is the score that is most accurate and will show growth. The Scaled Scores range from 0-1400. Unlike SEL, the scaled scores do not correlate to a student’s chronological age. What does the Instructional Reading Level (IRL) mean? The IRL is a criterion-referenced score that estimates the grade level of written material at which the student can be most effectively taught. This is different than the Independent Reading Level (the level at which a student can work independently). What are the guidelines for use of STAR Early Literacy and STAR for the Early Intervention Program?Below are the minimum requirements. Each school administrator may choose to increase the requirement for their students. STAR Early LiteracyAll students in kindergarten and those in grades 1-2 and any third graders served in the program who meet the qualifications for SEL (based on the above document) will take it at least three times a year (see assessment calendar for dates)All students who meet the qualifications for SEL and who are in TIER 3 of the RtI process will take SEL weekly if the RtI team so determines. STAR All students in kindergarten and those in grades 1-2 and any third graders served in the program who meet the qualifications for STAR (based on the above document) will take it at least three times a year (see assessment calendar for dates)All students who meet the qualifications for STAR and who are in TIER 3 of the RtI process will take STAR weekly if the RtI team so determines. The references used to compile this document:STAR Reading Frequently Asked QuestionsUsing STAR Early Literacy Scores to Match Books to Early ReadersPhone conference with Andrea Shane, Regional VPRenaissance Place Technical Questions:On any of the Renaissance Assessments, the following applies:Note: There is a real time chat button on the administrator part of SEL and STAR and STAR Math.? You can type a question and they answer you immediately. What if a student has to stop during an assessment and it won’t let the child continue later?The reason the child could not get back in, even when we put in the administrator password (admin), was because the pop up blocker was on. It’s really easy… Open the internet on your computer. Go to the “tools” tabScroll down to “Internet options”Click on the “privacy” tabClick on the “settings” buttonIn the box labeled “address of website to allow” put Click close and exitWhat if a student struggles with using the numbers or letters on the keyboard for their answer choices? (Especially true with kindergarteners)Go into the settings and change the default from keyboard to mouse.What if I don’t want to have to type the administrative password for all my students to start the SEL test? (In a lab setting this can take too much time.)This setting is the default to keep children from starting the test by mistake, but you can go into the settings and delete a ................
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