This Week in Performance Reporting: April 16, 2021

Texas Education Agency Updates

Good afternoon, Performance Reporting bulletin members.

Have a coworker who needs to sign up? Bulletin subscriptions can be managed on TEA’s website at https://public.govdelivery.com/accounts/TXTEA/subscriber/new.

What’s New in Performance Reporting

A–F Accountability

2021 Accountability Manual

Chapters 1–11 of the 2021 Accountability Manual are now available. Because of the required administrative rulemaking process, these chapters are not yet final. The public comment period on the proposed rules (including the manual) opened today and closes on Monday, May 17, 2021. Public comments may be made through the TEA website or to performance.reporting@tea.texas.gov.

Chapters Currently Available for Public Comment

"Chapter 1—2021 Accountability Overview" briefly describes the 2021 accountability system.

“Chapter 2—Student Achievement Domain” provides the methodology used to calculate the Student Achievement domain.

“Chapter 3—School Progress Domain” provides the methodology used to calculate the School Progress domain.

“Chapter 4—Closing the Gaps Domain” provides the methodology used to calculate the Closing the Gaps domain.

“Chapter 5—Calculating 2021 Ratings” describes the methodology used to assign accountability ratings. Note: All districts and campuses will receive a Not Rated: Declared State of Disaster label this year.

“Chapter 6—Distinction Designations” describes the methodology used to award distinction designations. Note: Distinction Designations will not be awarded this year.

“Chapter 7—Other Accountability System Processes” describes the campus pairing process and alternative education accountability provisions.

“Chapter 8—Appealing the Ratings” describes the process for appealing ratings. Note: Due to the Not Rated: Declared State of Disaster labels applied for 2021, appeals will not be an option this year.

“Chapter 9—Responsibilities and Consequences” describes the responsibilities of TEA, the responsibilities of school districts and open-enrollment charter schools, and the consequences to school districts and open-enrollment charter schools related to accountability and interventions.

“Chapter 10—Identification of Schools for Improvement” provides information on the federally required identification of schools for improvement.

“Chapter 11—Local Accountability Systems” describes the Local Accountability Systems.

The remaining chapter and appendices will be posted throughout the summer.

Local Accountability System

The Local Accountability Guide and Frequently Asked Questions provide information about plan requirement and example components. They can both be found on the local accountability webpage.

Districts wishing to learn more about the local accountability system and how to develop a district local accountability plan can participate in an hour-long overview webinar with time for Q & A.

Registration links are available for upcoming webinar dates in April. The webinar schedule through August 2021 is available here.

Friday, April 30, 2021 at 12 pm

Please contact the local accountability system team at LAS@tea.texas.gov for additional information or to set up a virtual meeting to discuss specifics related to your district.

Assessment Scoring and Reporting Update

The 2021 STAAR Grades 3-8 Reporting Student Data File Format and 2021 STAAR End-of-Course Reporting Student Data File Format have been posted here.

Beginning with spring 2021 reporting, districts that want to receive their free set of printed STAAR Report Cards (SRCs) must opt-in on the Additional Reports page by the “Districts opt in for printed report cards” date identified in the Calendar of Events.

The Student Portal is updated on bi-monthly basis to reflect changes submitted by the districts.

The raw score to scale score conversion tables are posted here.

Districts can opt in to receive printed STAAR Alternate 2, TELPAS, and TELPAS Alternate report cards through the Assessment Management System. The deadline to opt in for printed STAAR Alternate 2 report cards is May 7, 2021. The deadline to opt in for printed TELPAS report cards and TELPAS Alternate report cards is May 28, 2021. Districts that do not opt in will not receive printed report cards.

For questions or help with accessing and interpreting STAAR results, districts and parents can email assessment.reporting@tea.texas.gov or call (512) 463-9704.

Did You Know?

Due to COVID-19, 2021 School Progress, Academic Growth will not be calculated. However, student-level STAAR progress measures will be available to campuses and districts through STAAR data files and STAAR Report Cards. The 2021 Academic Accountability Reporting one-pager provide more information on upcoming 2021 academic accountability reporting resources.

For questions about student growth results, districts and campuses can email assessment.reporting@tea.texas.gov or call (512) 463-9704.

For questions about the 2021 accountability system, please contact Performance Reporting at performance.reporting@tea.texas.gov.

Employment Opportunities in Performance Reporting

The Performance Reporting Division is looking for people to join our team. Interested and qualified candidates can apply for the following positions:

Accountability Research Specialist (Research Specialist V)

This position will conduct data analysis, research, and reporting as well as participate in the development and publication of web content, division products, and federal and state accountability policy discussions.

SAS Programmer (Programmer IV)

This position will perform advanced computer programming work involving planning, scheduling, and completing programming projects. The programmer is responsible for implementing a scoring and reporting quality control system to perform successful customer acceptance testing of assessment vendor activities to ensure error-free scoring and timely reporting of student performance.

Web Reporting Analyst (Programmer III)

This position will perform complex SAS and computer programming work, develop web applications for reporting, and oversee creating and maintaining data marts. The analyst will provide quality assurance functions and create and maintain data for new applications.

Performance Reporting Calendar

April 16–May 17: 2021 Accountability Manual Public Comment Period

April 26–May 7: 2021 Campus Pairing Process in TEAL

Late May: 2020 Annual Graduates CCMR Verifier Release in TEAL

July: Second 2021 CCMR Tracker Release in TEAL

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