Engage families with new caregiver report in Star Assessments

Many states, districts, and schools use both computer-adaptive tests (CAT) and curriculum-based measures (CBM) to gain a more comprehensive picture of students’ academic performance by combining the strengths of each assessment type. Currently, Star offers a separate family/caregiver report for Star CAT Assessments and one for Star CBM assessments. Caregivers depend on data from both test types to fully understand and support their child’s literacy/reading development, and screening results. We are excited to announce that Star CAT data and Star CBM data are now combined on one report – the new Star CAT + Star CBM Caregiver Report. This new report provides families with a more complete picture of their child’s performance by including results from multiple Star screening assessments administered throughout the year.

The Star CAT + Star CBM Caregiver Report* includes results from Star computer-adaptive tests (CAT) and Star curriculum-based measures (CBM), given during your district’s screening testing dates. It is designed to meet state and district screening requirements, and more importantly, helps caregivers better understand and support their child’s academic performance and growth by providing answers to questions like:

• Is my child performing at or above benchmark in reading skills crucial to future learning and success?
• Is my child in need of additional support and/or intervention?
• Is my child showing growth throughout the school year?
• How can I help my child continue to learn and grow with practice at home?

Educators are encouraged to print this report—found under the Star Early Literacy, Star Reading, Star CBM Reading, and Star CBM Lectura drop-down menus (shown below)—and share it with caregivers to initiate conversations and establish best next steps, together, to support each child’s learning needs. Useful terms to know and at-home practice recommendations are also included to guide caregivers to facilitate continued learning at home between seasonal screenings.

Prior to generating the reports, district-level administrators or district staff must first set fall, winter, and spring screening windows, and then choose the Star measures to be included at each grade level. This ensures that the test types appearing on the Star CAT + Star CBM Caregiver Report are consistent across a season and a grade. Detailed information about setting up and generating this report is included in this guidance document.

Click here to learn more on using Star CAT and Star CBM together. 

* Currently, the Star CAT + Star CBM Caregiver Report is available for Star Early Literacy assessments in English and Spanish, Star Reading assessments in English and Spanish, Star CBM Reading, and Star CBM Lectura. Star CAT + Star CBM Caregiver Reports for Star Math and Star Math CBM will be available at a later date.