Testing Coordinator
TELPAS Assessments
TELPAS Overview
TELPAS is an assessment program for students in Texas public schools who are learning the English
language. The letters in TELPAS stand for the Texas English Language Proficiency Assessment System. The
Texas Education Agency developed TELPAS to meet state and federal requirements. Texas annually
assesses the English language proficiency of students who have been identified as English learners (ELs) in
four language domains—listening, speaking, reading, and writing. TELPAS evaluates the progress that each
EL makes in becoming proficient in the use of academic English.
language. The letters in TELPAS stand for the Texas English Language Proficiency Assessment System. The
Texas Education Agency developed TELPAS to meet state and federal requirements. Texas annually
assesses the English language proficiency of students who have been identified as English learners (ELs) in
four language domains—listening, speaking, reading, and writing. TELPAS evaluates the progress that each
EL makes in becoming proficient in the use of academic English.
Who takes TELPAS?
Students in grades K-12 that have been identified as an EL are required to take TELPAS. This includes ELs whose parents have declined bilingual or English as a Second Language (ESL) program services. They will stop
participating in TELPAS when their language proficiency assessment committee (LPAC) determines that they are proficient in the English language and have met exit criteria. This applies to all ELs even those who are not in a bilingual or ESL program. Once a student has met the state’s exit criteria, they will no longer be identified as an EL and will not have to participate in TELPAS. Information about the state’s reclassification (exit) criteria can be found at https://tea.texas.gov/bilingual/esl/education/.
participating in TELPAS when their language proficiency assessment committee (LPAC) determines that they are proficient in the English language and have met exit criteria. This applies to all ELs even those who are not in a bilingual or ESL program. Once a student has met the state’s exit criteria, they will no longer be identified as an EL and will not have to participate in TELPAS. Information about the state’s reclassification (exit) criteria can be found at https://tea.texas.gov/bilingual/esl/education/.
PSAT/NMSQT® Assessment
PSAT/NMSQT® Overview
The Preliminary SAT, also known as the PSAT/NMSQT® (National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test), is a practice version of the SAT exam. You can only take the PSAT once per year, and many students take the test in both 10th and 11th grade. If you earn a high score on the PSAT your junior year, you could qualify to receive a National Merit Scholarship—$180 million dollars in merit scholarships are awarded to students each year. The PSAT is 2 hours and 45 minutes long and tests your skills in reading, writing, and math. The highest score possible on the PSAT is 1520.
Randolph Field ISD offers the PSAT/NMSQT® to all 10th and 11th graders yearly in October during a regular school day on campus at Randolph High School. There is no cost to parents and no need to register your student - all students are automatically registered by the district testing coordinator.
SAT Assessment
SAT Overview
The SAT is a college entrance exam that many colleges and universities in the United States use as part of the college admissions process. The SAT is a standardized test that measures a student's skills in three core areas: Critical Reading, Math, and Writing. Students in grades 11 and 12 take the SAT so that they can submit their scores to colleges as part of the college application process.
The SAT is composed of three main sections — Math, Evidence-Based Reading, and Writing. There is an optional 50-minute essay*, and total testing time with the essay is 3 hours and 50 minutes.
Randolph Field ISD offers the PSAT/NMSQT® to all 11th graders yearly in March during a regular school day on campus at Randolph High School. There is no cost to parents and no need to register your student - all students are automatically registered by the district testing coordinator.
TSAI2 Assessment
TSIA2 Overview
The Texas Success Initiative Assessment 2.0 (TSIA2) is a series of placement tests for students enrolling in public colleges and universities in Texas. The tests help Texas schools determine whether you’re ready for college-level courses in the areas of reading, writing, and math. A notable difference of the TSIA2 is the ELAR section is now combined with the Essay. If you’re not ready for college-level courses, the tests help determine what types of courses or intervention will best prepare you for college-level work. You take TSIA2 tests on a computer and will get your results immediately after you finish the test. Not all Texas college students have to take TSIA2. If you’ve met college readiness standards on a standardized test like the SAT or successfully completed a high school college preparatory course, you may be exempt. Contact the college you’ll be attending to see if you need to take TSIA2. The TSIA2 is an untimed test and is offered on campus at Randolph High School during the school day to seniors who have not yet met the college readiness standard and who plan on attending college in Texas at various times throughout the year.
For more student resources, please visit: https://accuplacer.collegeboard.org/students/prepare-for-accuplacer/tsia-texas-success-initiative-assessment
Advanced Placement Assessments
AP Exams are standardized exams designed to measure how well you’ve mastered the content and skills of a specific AP course. Most AP courses have an end-of-year paper-and-pencil exam, but a few courses have different ways to assess what you’ve learned—for example, AP Art and Design students submit a portfolio of work for scoring.
For testing dates, please refer to the District Assessment Dates page.
For more information regarding AP exams, please visit https://apstudents.collegeboard.org/ap-exams-overview