Connecting Colleges and High Schools to Enhance College Readiness. NJ CCC Best Practices Conference. Keith Henry Sr. Assessment Manager

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1 Connecting Colleges and High Schools to Enhance College Readiness NJ CCC Best Practices Conference Keith Henry Sr. Assessment Manager Dr. David Eichenholtz Bergen Community College

2 Agenda Introductions The Big Issues Design of ACCUPLACER Use of ACCUPLACER scores How is ACCUPLACER different? Introducing ACCUPLACER Diagnostics Implementation and intervention possibilities

3 3 The Big Issues

4 The Big Issues for College Bound Students Entry Persistence Affordability Completion Graduation College Readiness ACCUPLACER as one measure

5 Design of ACCUPLACER

6 Who does ACCUPLACER serve? Over 1300 secondary and post-secondary institutions Institutions: 47% 2 year 36% 4 year 12% High schools 5% Other Over 8 million exams administered in academic year Test takers: High school students GearUp students Community college students ESL/ELL student Ability To Benefit (ATB) programs Adult Basic Education Workforce Development Widely Used in: Alaska, California; Colorado; Connecticut; Delaware, Florida; Maine; Maryland; Massachusetts; Minnesota; Mississippi; Nevada; New Hampshire; New Jersey; New York; North Carolina; Pennsylvania; Rhode Island; Texas; Utah; Vermont

7 ACCUPLACER Overview Placement and Diagnostic exams Computer-adaptive testing format Internet-based, on-demand testing Robust platform - one-stop-shop for institutions Customizable by institutions Non Cognitive and Cognitive in One Immediate Score Results for students Easy access to data by institutions Tests covering Math, English, Writing, ESL/ELL, Computer Skills Strong accessibility features for students with disabilities Reliable and Valid

8 ACCUPLACER Tests General Tests Reading Comprehension Sentence Skills Arithmetic Elementary Algebra College Level Math WritePlacer Plus Computer Skills Placement Local Tests ESL Suite Reading Skills Sentence Meaning Language Usage Listening WritePlacer ESL Diagnostics Reading Comprehension Sentence Skills Arithmetic Elementary Algebra

9 Test Blueprint Arithmetic Computation fractions Computation decimal numbers Problems involving percent Estimation, ordering, & number sense Word problems & applications Elementary Algebra Real Numbers Linear equations, inequalities, and systems Quadratic expressions & equations Algebraic expressions & equations (other than linear and quadratic) Word problems & applications Sentence Skills Sentence Structure Sentence Boundaries Modifiers Diction/Logic Agreement Reading Comprehension Passage-Based Reading: Main Idea PBR: Supporting Detail PBR: Inference PBR: Author's Purpose/Rhetorical Strategies Sentence Relationships

10 Use of ACCUPLACER Scores

11 Computer Adaptive Testing Typical Pattern of Student Responses Increased Difficulty Middle Difficulty Score is calculated and the next best item is selected based on: * Difficulty * Content * Test Specifications Decreased Difficulty

12 Example of Branching Profile: Test Scores PLACEMENT Elementary Algebra College Level Math PLACEMENT Arithmetic PLACEMENT Diagnostic Testing

13 NJ Community College Cut Scores

14 NJ Community College Cut Scores

15 Proficiency Statements from Program Manual

16 ACCUPLACER Diagnostics

17 Tests Compared Placement Diagnostic Reading Comp Sentence Skills Arithmetic Elementary Alg Time Untimed Data Single cut score Domain scores Scale per domain Cost 1 Testing Unit 2 Testing Units

18 ACCUPLACER Arithmetic Computation fractions Computation--decimal numbers Problems involving percent Estimation, ordering, & number sense Word problems & applications Elementary Algebra Real Numbers Linear equations, inequalities, and systems Quadratic expressions & equations Algebraic expressions & equations (other than linear and quadratic) Word problems & applications Sentence Skills Sentence Structure Sentence Boundaries Modifiers Diction/Logic Agreement Reading Comprehension Passage-Based Reading: Main Idea PBR: Supporting Detail PBR: Inference PBR: Author's Purpose/Rhetorical Strategies Sentence Relationships

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22 Bergen County College Outreach to Local High Schools

23 Bergen Outreach Program Goals Will promote use of ACCUPLACER Diagnostics to provide data which can drive intervention while students are still in high school. Reduce need for Developmental Education at Bergen County College Increase the number of students who qualify for Dual Enrollment options available through Bergen

24 Strategies Will encourage high schools to become ACCUPLACER testing centers with the local community college listed as a reporting center. Allows local high school to control testing and reporting for their students and staff Does not burden Bergen County College testing center with additional workload Provides access to high school data for Bergen County College Dual Enrollment qualification

25 Strategies Will encourage high schools to proctor ACCUPLACER Diagnostic testing prior to the student s senior year in the high school testing center. Provides data to help students and parents understand: Current state of college readiness Potential need for Development Education Options for Dual Enrollment and future studies at Bergen

26 Strategies Will encourage high schools to proctor ACCUPLACER Diagnostic testing prior to the student s senior year in the high school testing center. Provides data to help teachers and counselors: Plan intervention strategies, instruction, and content based on students strengths/needs Provide intervention to enhance college readiness before students leave high school Help students and parents realistically plan for college

27 Strategies Plan to set up a dual-enrollment protocol, whereby the community college articulates with the high schools basic skills programs in English and Math, then partners in the remediation activities Curriculum articulation discussions between high school teachers, district curriculum leaders and faculty from the community college Discussion of common expectations and skills/knowledge identified as college ready Design intervention coursework and strategies

28 Strategies Will use the college/high school dual-enrollment arrangement to ensure that the ACCUPLACER Diagnostic results are used to remediate the students in basic skills during their junior and/or senior years Deliver a variety of interventions based on the unique culture and resources of each high school Available resources: textbooks, technology, supplementals Delivery models: school day courses, review sessions, before/after school tutoring, individualized programs

29 Strategies As high school graduation nears, will provide ACCUPLACER placement tests in the high school testing center, with the results, hopefully positive given their remediation, automatically forwarded to the community college Scores only forwarded if students meet required cut scores for placement into college level courses If not, provides additional time/opportunities for intervention Can reduce load on Bergen testing center

30 Challenges Launching new initiatives during current school year Competition for instructional time and resources Scheduling students for interventions Managing an ACCUPLACER account Funding to purchase testing units for ACCUPLACER

31 Preparing Students for Taking ACCUPLACER

32 How is ACCUPLACER Different? Testing skills rather than knowledge Computer adaptive Untimed Can stop and finish later Only one question per screen Must answer before moving ahead Cannot skip questions Cannot review and change answers

33 Preparing Students to Take ACCUPLACER Highlight importance of ACCUPLACER results Placement into college-level, credit bearing courses Cost and time savings Higher levels of persistence and degree completion Encourage senior year courses that keep skills fresh Provide review sessions and other interventions before students take ACCUPLACER Use a variety of resources ACCUPLACER online resources

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35 Implementation Possibilities

36 Monthly Webcast Series for ACCUPLACER ACCUPLACER Overview ACCUPLACER Diagnostics ACCUPLACER ESL WritePlacer ACCUPLACER Computer Skills Placement Planning for ACCUPLACER Account Setup Reporting Setting Up Test Sites and Users Setting Up Branching Profiles Methods for Setting Cut Scores Creating Placement Rules Creating Local Tests ACCUPLACER Validity Look for upcoming announcements in the ACCUGRAM No cost professional development right from your desktop Starting in January 2011

37 Outreach Professional Development Series Week of the Month 1 st 2 nd 3 rd 4 th Time Tuesday Wednesday Thursday 10:30 AM ACCUPLACER Overview 2:30 PM Phase 1: Planning for ACCUPLACER Phase 2: ACCUPLACER Technical Setup ACCUPLACER ESL Branching Profile Setup Adopting CLEP on Your Campus 10:30 AM ACCUPLACER Diagnostic Tests ACCUPLACER Reporting Methods for Setting Cut Scores 2:30 PM CLEP Overview Computer Skills Placement Advising Student about CLEP 10:30 AM Creating Placement Rules Testing Site and User Setup Phase 1: Planning for ACCUPLACER 2:30 PM Test Center Operations WritePlacer ACCUPLACER Overview 10:30 AM CLEP College Comp Exam ACCUPLACER Reliability and Validity CLEP Overview 2:30 PM Creating Local Tests CLEP for College Faculty ACCUPLACER Diagnostic Tests CLEP Sessions ACCUPLACER Introductory Sessions ACCUPLACER In Depth Sessions All session times are Eastern Standard Time.

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39 Contact Information: Keith Henry Sr. Assessment Manager Cell: Matthew Zarro K-12 Educational Manager Phone: For more information: