TELPAS Purpose and Goals 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which state agency is primarily responsible for overseeing the TELPAS assessment program?
- Texas Education Agency (TEA) (Correct answer)
- Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board
- State Board of Education (SBOE)
- Texas Workforce Commission
Correct answer: Texas Education Agency (TEA)
The Texas Education Agency (TEA) oversees and administers TELPAS as part of its mandate to support English learners.
Question 2: TELPAS results are used by districts to fulfill which federal reporting requirement?
- Title III annual measurable achievement objectives (Correct answer)
- Title I adequate yearly progress only
- Title IV student wellness accountability
- Title II educator quality standards
Correct answer: Title III annual measurable achievement objectives
Under Title III of ESSA, districts must report English learner progress using assessments like TELPAS to meet annual measurable achievement objectives.
Question 3: How does TELPAS support the instructional planning process for EL students?
- By providing proficiency data teachers use to differentiate instruction (Correct answer)
- By replacing classroom grades with standardized scores
- By determining which students must repeat a grade level
- By assigning students to bilingual programs automatically
Correct answer: By providing proficiency data teachers use to differentiate instruction
TELPAS proficiency ratings give teachers actionable data to tailor language instruction to each student's current level.
Question 4: Which of the following best describes the relationship between TELPAS and STAAR for English learners?
- TELPAS measures English language proficiency while STAAR measures academic content knowledge (Correct answer)
- TELPAS replaces STAAR for all English learners in Texas
- STAAR scores determine TELPAS proficiency ratings
- Both assessments measure the same constructs using different formats
Correct answer: TELPAS measures English language proficiency while STAAR measures academic content knowledge
TELPAS and STAAR serve complementary but distinct purposes: TELPAS tracks language acquisition while STAAR assesses grade-level academic content.
Question 5: A newly enrolled student from another country is identified as an English learner. What is the primary purpose of administering TELPAS to this student?
- To establish a baseline English proficiency level for program placement and monitoring (Correct answer)
- To determine whether the student qualifies for special education services
- To measure the student's academic achievement in core content areas
- To decide whether the student should receive a modified diploma
Correct answer: To establish a baseline English proficiency level for program placement and monitoring
TELPAS establishes an initial proficiency baseline that guides appropriate program placement and tracks the student's English development over time.
Question 6: Which goal of TELPAS aligns most directly with ensuring students transition out of EL status appropriately?
- Monitoring annual English language proficiency growth toward Proficiency-level exit criteria (Correct answer)
- Ranking districts by the percentage of EL students enrolled
- Measuring native-language literacy as a prerequisite for exiting EL status
- Assigning students to advanced academic courses based on test scores
Correct answer: Monitoring annual English language proficiency growth toward Proficiency-level exit criteria
A core TELPAS goal is tracking annual growth so students can be identified as English proficient and reclassified according to state criteria.
Question 7: Under ESSA, how frequently must Texas assess English learners with TELPAS?
- Annually (Correct answer)
- Every two years
- Every three years
- Once upon initial enrollment only
Correct answer: Annually
ESSA requires annual assessment of English language proficiency for all identified EL students, which Texas fulfills through TELPAS.
TELPAS Purpose and Goals 2
Which state agency is primarily responsible for overseeing the TELPAS assessment program?