The State of Texas Assessment of Academic Readiness Parent Information Meeting Presented By Dr. Jodi Duron February 2012
A WALK DOWN MEMORY LANE TABS 1979 Exit level test question in 9 th Grade (3rd grade level) Beginning of high stakes testing in Texas TEAMS 1984 Exit level test question in 11 th Grade (6 th grade level) TAAS 1990 Exit level test question in 11 th Grade (8 th grade level) New level for high stakes testing 1993 State law mandates students must pass test to graduate TAKS 2003 Exit level test question in 11 th Grade (from Geometry) EOC 2012 (Our Current Reality) Exit level test question (from Algebra II) 2
SHIFT IN ACCOUNTABILITY TABS: Basic Skills TEAMS: Shift from Basic Skills to Minimum Skills TAAS: Shift from Minimum Skills to Academic Skills (represented a more comprehensive assessment of the state-mandated curriculum, the Essential Elements [EE]) TAKS: Ended social promotion and created a more rigorous testing program to be aligned with the new state-mandated curriculum, Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) 3
UNVEILING NEW ACCOUNTABILITY SYSTEM A STAAR is Born!!! Beginning in 2011-2012, the new accountability system, known as STAAR (State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness) will replace the Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills (TAKS) for grades 3-8 and End of Course Exams. Students in the graduating Class of 2015, who are currently in ninth grade, will be the first students who must meet the end-of-course testing requirements, as well as pass their classes, in order to earn a diploma. EOC test results must be included as 15% of the students final grade for course credit. The new tests will be significantly more rigorous than previous tests, with an increased focus on high-stakes testing. 4
Assessment Differences Rigor: STAAR will have a greater focus on college and career readiness. Vertical alignment of performance standards across grades and linked to post secondary readiness Course-based assessments at high school Increased number of test items A four-hour time limit Assessments administered over two days: Writing- Grades 4 and 7, and English I, II, and III EOCs Increased number of open-ended (griddable) items Separate answer documents instead of scorable test booklets at Grade 3 5
2011-12 Assessments STAAR Grades 3-8 Reading(3-8) Writing (4,7) Math (3-8) Science (5,8) Social Studies (8) STAAR EOC English I English II English III Algebra I Geometry Algebra II Biology Chemistry Physics World History World Geography US History TAKS Grades 10 & 11 ELA, Math, Science, Social Studies TAKS Exit Level Re-testers will take appropriate subject tests Note - Any Middle School student taking a high school course (i.e. Algebra I) will take the appropriate EOC exam, as well as the grade level subject STAAR test, per local guidelines. 6
STAAR Alternative Forms STAAR STAAR Modified STAAR Alternative STAAR SPANISH STAAR-L With allowable accommodations All grade 3-8 assessments in English Very similar to TAKS- Alternative Spanish versions of STAAR Gr. 3-5 Previously TAKS- Accommodated Approximately 80% of STAAR Modified questions similar proportions Readiness/ Supporting STAAR-L (Linguistically Accommodated STAAR) Phased in as online test 7
STAAR Phase in Grade 2012 2013 2014 2015 9 th Grade STAAR/EOC STAAR/EOC STAAR/EOC STAAR/EOC 10 th Grade TAKS STAAR/EOC STAAR/EOC STAAR/EOC 11 th Grade TAKS TAKS STAAR/EOC STAAR/EOC 12 th Grade TAKS* TAKS* TAKS* STAAR/EOC 8
Typical EOC Assessments by Grade Grade Math English Science Grade 9 Algebra I English I Biology Grade 10 Geometry English II Chemistry Social Studies World Geography World History Grade 11 Algebra II English III Physics U.S. History 9
Are end-of-course assessments only important for secondary schools? NO The learning that occurs in elementary schools and middle schools is CRITICAL for students to meet the EOC assessment standards.
English Language Arts/ English III Reading 1 st Grade (A) describe the plot (problem and solution) and retell a story's beginning, middle, and end with attention to the sequence of events 5 th Grade A) describe incidents that advance the story or novel, explaining how each incident gives rise to or foreshadows future events 8 th Grade (A) analyze linear plot developments (e.g., conflict, rising action, falling action, resolution, subplots) to determine whether and how conflicts are resolved A) evaluate how different literary elements (e.g., figurative language, point of view) shape the author's portrayal of the plot and setting in works of fiction;
Mathematics Kindergarten Use patterns to predict what comes next, including causeand-effect relationships. 3 rd Grade Identify and describe patterns in a table of related number pairs based on a meaningful problem and extend the table 8 th Grade Generate a different representation of data given another representation of data (such as a table, graph, equation, or verbal description) Algebra II Collect and organize data, make and interpret scatterplots, fit the graph of a function to the data, interpret the results, and proceed to model, predict, and make decisions and critical judgments.
STAAR Performance Standards STAAR, STAAR Modified, STAAR L Level I: Unsatisfactory Academic Performance Level II: Satisfactory Academic Performance Level III: Advanced Academic Performance STAAR Alternative Level III: Accomplished Academic Performance Note: Standards for Grades 3-8 will be established by October 2012 followed by a Phase-In plan for implementation. 13
Student Success Initiative (SSI) Enacted by the 76 th Texas Legislature in 1999 and modified by the 81 st Texas Legislature in 2009, the Student Success Initiative (SSI) Students in grades 5 and 8 may advance to the next grade level only by passing the reading and math standardized tests or by unanimous decision of his or her grade placement committee that the student is likely to perform at grade level after additional instruction. SSI requirements waived for 2011-2012 until performance standards are established for grades 3-8. 14
STAAR EOC Performance Standards Unsatisfactory Performance Performance Level I Level II Level III Minimum Score Satisfactory Performance Advanced Performance Not Passing Passing College Ready Note: Standards for the EOC exams will be set by April 2012. Students must retake the EOC assessment if they score below the minimum cut score requirement. There will be three re-test opportunities every year: Fall, Spring, and Summer. 15
New Graduation Requirements Credits EOC test results must be included as 15% of the students final grade for course credit Three graduation plans: Minimum (22 credits), Recommended(26 credits), Distinguished (26 credits) Cumulative Score Requirement Students must take 8 to 12 End of Course (EOC) exams Students must meet a Cumulative Score in each of the four subject areas For a Recommended diploma, students must score Level II (Satisfactory) on the Algebra II and English III EOC For a Distinguished diploma, students must score Level III (College Ready) on the Algebra II and English III EOC Note: Students have the right to retest on the EOC as often as they wish to do so. Students will be able to retake any test, even if previously passed, to get a better score to improve their cumulative score 16
Cumulative Score Requirement For each subject, adding the score for all three tests must be equal to or greater than the passing standard times the number of tests. For example: Level 1 (Minimum Standard) = 800 Level 2 (Passing Standard) = 1000 Level 3 (College Ready) = 1200 Math English Science Algebra I 800 Geometry 1200 Algebra II 1000 English I 1000 English II 1200 English III 1000 Biology 900 Chemistry 1100 Physics 1000 Social Studies World Geography 1100 World History 1000 U.S. History 1000 Total Score: 3000 3200 3000 3100 In the example above, if you take all three tests, the total score for that subject would have to be at least 3000. 17
Questions to be Answered How will course credit be awarded? Will EOC be used in calculating GPA and/or class rank? How will retest scores be used? Will students be required to retake the EOC until they reach the passing standard? How will we convert EOC to a percentage score? 18
Considerations Best interest of the student!!! Least disruptive to current system, but still in compliance with the law Fair and equitable The known and the unknown Input Campus administrators/staff Board of Trustees DEIC Community at-large 19
How will course credit be awarded? The statute requires the score a student receives on a STAAR EOC assessment to count for 15% of the student s final grade in the course. Options Award by semester Apply 15% equally across both semesters Double weight the requirement and apply it to the second semester only (i.e. 30%) Award by year Apply 15% at the end of the year Comal ISD s recommendation is to continue to award credit by semester Each semester will count as 42.5% of the student s grade EOC will count as 15% of the student s grade 20
Will EOC be used in calculating GPA and/or class rank? The statute does not address GPA or class rank; however, TEA suggests that a relationship should exist between the 15% requirement and these other calculations. Comal ISD s recommendation is to NOT use EOC in calculating GPA or class rank. Reasons: The uniqueness of grading systems across districts throughout the state and the fact that GPA/Rank are local decisions; Validity of the test; Admission requirements for college; http://www.collegeboard.com/student/csearch/index.html Possible future legislative action to eliminate or standardize the 15% requirement; and Best interest of the student 21
How will retest scores be used? According to the statute, students have the right to retest on the EOC as often as they wish to do so. Even if previously passed, students will be able to retake any test to get a better score to improve their cumulative score For grading purposes, Comal ISD will only use retest scores for the purpose of earning credit. 22
Will students be required to retake the EOC until they reach the passing standard? The statute requires students to meet the passing standard (Level II) [or at least achieve a pre-determined minimum score on 8-12 EOC assessments] in order to graduate from high school. Comal ISD will not require, but will strongly recommend Impact on Graduation Plan Minimum Plan = 22 credits Recommended Plan 26 credits Must score at Level II for Algebra II and English III Distinguished Plan 26 credits Must score at Level III for Algebra II and English III Why Recommended Plan? Texas Scholars Program Most colleges and universities minimally require the RHSP for admission Eligibility for scholarships College Readiness Indicator on AEIS 23
How do you plan to convert EOC to a percentage score? TEA will not produce a common conversion table to convert EOC scale scores to a percentage score. Rather, TEA has said that the conversion of EOC scores is a local decision. Comal ISD recommends using an Anchor Point Method EOC converted grades are anchored to EOC cut points (pg.15) Perfect Score - 100 Advanced - 95 Satisfactory 87 Minimum 69 Below Minimum 67.85(Average of Sem. 1 and Sem. 2)+.15(cut point score) 24
On the Horizon Questions yet to be answered: Summer school operations Timeline for report card dissemination Other internal systems Personnel Costs Staff Development Needs Technology Programming Needs 25
Resource Information Links http://www.comalisd.org/ http://www5.esc13.net/staar/parent_resources.html http://www.tea.state.tx.us/student.assessment/staar/ Contacts: Dr. Jodi Duron, Assistant Superintendent for Academics and Student Services jodi.duron@comalisd.org or 830.221.2000 Tammy Lind, Director of Staff Development and Accountability tammy.lind@comalisd.org or 830.221.2000 26
Questions, Thoughts, Input? 27