Alaska DOE demos AK STAR practice test and explains reporting, accommodations and timelines

Kelly Manning, deputy director for innovation and education excellence at the Alaska Department of Education and Early Development, and Karen Meline, administrator for standards and assessment, gave the task force a hands-on walkthrough of the AK STAR practice test and described how districts and families receive results.

Manning said AK STAR is a summative, criterion-referenced assessment and that Alaska connects interim MAP Growth data to AK STAR for a "connected approach." The department demonstrated grade-3 English language arts practice items that included drag-and-drop sequencing, multiple-select and main-idea items and explained that the educator packet (Appendix C) includes the answer key and the achievement-level standards aligned to each item.

Meline described accommodations and logistics: many accommodations are provided through a student's IEP; a universal text-to-speech option exists for certain items and items may read directions and answer choices depending on grade and accommodation. Districts administering online tests need devices and headsets for students who require text-to-speech; districts can stagger sessions so multiple students share devices across different time slots if needed.

On reporting, Manning said student-level projected proficiency and growth profiles are available within 24 to 72 hours of administration; district reports are delivered in July and statewide results are released in the fall. The department also highlighted resources for educators, including the assessment blueprint, achievement-level descriptors and an "educator's guide to student readiness." Manning said the department plans to embed answers into the practice test and publish a "strengthening skills" report identifying commonly missed item types and standards.

Multiple legislators volunteered to try the practice items during the demonstration. No formal action was taken by the task force; members were invited to follow up with department staff and to test the practice materials themselves.