T-TRADE Assessment Item Development
What is T-TRADE?
The "Texas Teachers Review, Assess, Develop, and Exchange" (T-TRADE) initiative is an innovative, collaborative system for teachers to develop and share high-quality assessment items. In Summer 2021, the system was piloted with educators who had recent experience and expertise in either grade 5 mathematics or high school United States History Studies Since 1877. The successful pilot yielded close to 150 items that were released for use by classroom teachers in the Texas Formative Assessment Resource (TFAR) bank.
In Summer 2022, the pilot will continue with an in-person training for grade 5 mathematics educators. TEA looks to include additional content areas and grade levels in the future.
How does it work?
Participating teachers will travel to Austin to participate in item writing training, complete an item-writing assignment, and provide feedback through a peer review. Teachers will begin the item-writing assignment during the training; however, there will be some follow-up work after the meeting to write, review, and revise test items. The overall time commitment is approximately 40-50 hours. The item-writing assignment will include both multiple-choice and new question types.
Assessment items that are highly rated and will be moved to an educator review committee where they will be reviewed for field-testing and possible use on the state assessment. Other items will be made available for use by teachers through the TFAR bank.
What do participating teachers receive?
- A stipend between $500 and $850
- Up to 50 continuing professional education hours (CPE)
- The opportunity to connect and collaborate with other teachers across the state who teach the same content area and grade level
- Professional-level training on writing high-quality assessment items (multiple-choice and new question types)
- Learning the lens TEA uses to review items for the state assessment
Tell me more about the trip to Austin.
The next training will occur June 13-16, 2022. Daily activities will be held between 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. CDT. An optional technology check and social will be held during early evening hours on June 12, 2022. Participants will need to bring their own laptop. Allowable travel expenses will be reimbursed including transportation, hotel, and meals.
How do I sign up?
TEA is now accepting applications from Texas educators with recent experience and expertise in grade 5 mathematics. Participants do not have to currently teach grade 5 math but must have experience and familiarity with the content.
Applications are due by April 2022.
To access the application in the Texas Assessment Learning Management System, enter your email address and select “Continue to Educator Committee.” At the end of the application, you will be asked to select a committee preference. Select “T-TRADE Assessment Items Development,” “Grade 5,” and “Mathematics.”
If you have questions, please contact the Student Assessment Help Desk and reference T-TRADE in your message.