Age Range: 5-Adult
Platforms: Windows and Mac
Medium: Diskettes
Cost: Starting at$399

Company: Advantage Learning Systems, Inc.
Phone: 800-338-4204

STAR Reading computer-adaptive reading test and database provides:

• Valuable assessment information - STAR Reading lets you determine the appropriate level of challenge for each child, instantly place new students, and identify those who need individual help.
  
• Fast results - Insightful information is delivered within seconds after the student completes a test. No more waiting for months for results.
  
• Better data - You'll get accurate, norm-referenced reading scores including Grade Equivalents, Instructional Levels, Percentile Rankings, and Normal Curve Equivalents.
  
• Useful reports - More than 10 reports help validate your placement instincts, improve school-to-home communications, and track individual reading progress.
  
• Teacher friendly testing - STAR Reading streamlines the testing process. You test students when you like, as often as you see fit.

Using STAR Reading:

1. Prior to the test session, the teacher enters information on each student, including grade.

2. When it's time to test, the student just clicks on his or her name and enters a personal password. Optional test monitor password protection adds extra security.

3. The student gets a brief practice session to become familiar with the question format. Students are shown that they can try out answers in context just by selecting them.

4. After the practice session ends, the test begins. The first time a student tests on STAR, the opening questions start several grade levels below the student's grade placement or the estimated reading level supplied by the teacher. (After the first test, the computer remembers the student's actual level and starts slightly below the tested level). Then Adaptive Branching takes over, analyzing student responses in real time and administering further questions of appropriate difficulty. The entire process is designed to minimize student frustration and anxiety. Testing generally takes less than ten minutes.

5. When the student testing is complete, STAR makes the results immediately available to the teacher or administrator. Multiple levels of security ensure confidentiality. Educators use the data and diagnostic reports to improve reading instruction -- providing targeted reading material and boosting reading practice.

For further information, click here

We hope you found what you needed on this page. If you have any questions or comments, please contact me.



Howard J. Bender, Ph.D.
President
The Education Process Improvement Center, Inc.
P.O. Box 186
Riverdale, Maryland 20738
hjbender@epicent.com