MISD STAAR Test Update October 26, 2011 What we know now, but… AS THE STATE RELEASES MORE INFORMATION, THERE WILL BE MORE TO FOLLOW…
STAAR • New assessments for:
• Grades 3 – 8 • High School
STAAR State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness
What is Tested? • For grades 3 – 8, STAAR tests same subjects and grades as TAKS: • Grade 3: math and reading • Grade 4: math, reading, and writing • Grade 5: math, reading, science • Grade 6: math, reading • Grade 7: math, reading, and writing • Grade 8: math, reading, science, and social studies
What About High School? • 12 End-of-course tests: • • • •
Algebra I, geometry, Algebra II W. Geography, W. History, U.S History English I, II, and III Biology, Chemistry, Physics
• Algebra II and English III will determine students’ graduation plan
When do they want us to start? • This year for grades 3 – 8
• This year for first year ninth graders and any middle school student taking a course for high school credit
What’s the good news • STAAR will focus on “clearer, fewer, and deeper.” • Curriculum is divided into: • Readiness standards • Supporting standards
What are readiness standards? • TEKS that are essential for success in the current grade or course • TEKS that are essential for students to be prepared for next course • TEKS that support college and career readiness • Will encompass 35-40% of the eligible TEKS • Will make up 60-65% of the STAAR
What are supporting standards? TEKS that… • may be introduced in the current grade and emphasized in a subsequent course or grade • may have been introduced in a previous year and reinforced in this grade • does not play a central role in preparing students for the next grade or course • will encompass 60-65% of the eligible TEKS • will make up 35-40% of the STAAR
What does that mean to me? Content Coordinators have identified the readiness standards on our district curriculum (Not all grades and subjects have readiness standards) Teachers should know and teach the readiness standards for their subjects Remember, 60 – 65% of the STAAR test will come from the readiness standards
What are the performance labels: Level III – Advanced Academic Performance Level II – Satisfactory Academic Performance Level I – Unsatisfactory Academic Performance
What are the performance standards? Performance standards for grades 3 – 8 will be set in October 2012, after the first administration of STAAR test in the spring of 2012 STAAR EOC Standards will be set in February 2012, prior to the first EOC administration in the spring of 2012
STAAR EOC How does that work? The End of Course exam counts as 15% of the final course average in English I, II, III; Algebra I, geometry, and Algebra II; biology, physics and chemistry; World Geography, World History, and U.S. History AND The students must meet a cumulative score on the number of EOC assessments taken in that content area (score requirements have not been determined as of yet).
How is MISD going to do this? EOC tests results will be reported to the district as a scale score, and we are responsible for creating a conversion chart which changes the scale score to a test grade that counts as 15% of the final course average. Our conversion chart is as follows: Student scores a Level III – Advanced Academic Performance scale score = 100 as 15% of final course average Student scores a Level II – Satisfactory Academic Performance scale score = 90 as 15% of final course average Student scores a Level I – Unsatisfactory Academic Performance or Gray Area scale score = 68 as 15% of final course average
How are course grades calculated? Semester grades are calculated exactly as we have been doing. Nothing has changed in the calculation of semester grades. Course grades are calculated as follows: First semester average = 42.5% Second semester average = 42.5% EOC grade (100, 90, or 68) = 15%
What about the cumulative scoring? How does that work?
EOC Performance Standards Unsatisfactory Performance Must Retake Level I Unsatisfactory Academic Performance
Satisfactory Academic Performance Retake Optional
Advanced Academic Performance Retake Optional
Level II Satisfactory Academic Performance
Level III Advanced Academic Performance
Gray Area
Unsatisfactory Performance Retake Optional
The EOC Performance Standards (Scale Scores) Will Be Set in February 2012
EOC Performance Standards Minimum Performance Level II
Minimum Performance Level I Level I Unsatisfactory Academic Performance
Gray Area
Level II Satisfactory Academic Performance
Minimum Performance Level III Level III Advanced Academic Performance
STAAR EOCs have a minimum performance standard for each level EOC performance standards will be communicated to districts in February 2012
EOC Performance Standards Minimum Scale Score Standard Level I Unsatisfactory Academic Performance
Gray Area
Level II Satisfactory Academic Performance
Level III Advanced Academic Performance
Students Scoring Below the Minimum Standard •May not use this score toward their cumulative score •Are required to retest in this subject •Must receive accelerated instruction
EOC Performance Standards Minimum Scale Score Standard Level I Unsatisfactory Academic Performance
Lowest Level II Passing Scale Score
Gray Area
Level II Satisfactory Academic Performance
Level III Advanced Academic Performance
Students Scoring In the Gray Area •May use this score toward their cumulative score •May retest in this subject •May receive accelerated instruction
EOC Performance Standards Highest Level II Passing Scale Score
Lowest Level II Passing Scale Score Level I Unsatisfactory Academic Performance
Gray Area
Level II Satisfactory Academic Performance
Level III Advanced Academic Performance
Students Scoring In the Level II Category •May use this score toward their cumulative score •May retest in this subject •Students scoring in the Level II Category in Algebra II and English III may qualify for the recommended graduation program (diploma)
EOC Performance Standards Lowest Level III Passing Scale Score Level I Unsatisfactory Academic Performance
Gray Area
Level II Satisfactory Academic Performance
Highest Level III Passing Scale Score Level III Advanced Academic Performance
Students Scoring In the Level III Category •May use this score toward their cumulative score •May retest in this subject •Students scoring in the Level III Category in Algebra II and English III may qualify for the distinguished achievement program (DAP)
What’s Next: Decisions about 8th grade students who are taking Algebra I for high school credit. – We know they must take the EOC for that course – It appears that their EOC scores will NOT count in campus ratings for the STAAR test – Therefore, if we do not make 8th grade Algebra I students take both the EOC test AND the 8th grade STAAR math test, then the campus rating would be calculated without our best math students’ scores
• We have polled the middle school math departments and the middle school principals, and they unanimously want their students to take both the 8th grade STAAR math test and the Algebra I STAAR EOC test • Every other district in the state is having to make a similar decision if it teaches Algebra I to middle school students • Administration will adjust Board policy OR the student handbook (still undecided which is best) that our 8th graders who are taking Algebra I will also take the 8th grade STAAR test beginning in the 2012-2013 school year
Where are we on communication?: District Level: – Common statement for teachers’ syllabus – Common letter to send home with students – Powerpoint for faculty meetings – Campus presentation with critical discussion points – FAQ on our website – Infinite campus portal – Newspaper article published
Campus Communication • Have at least 3 parent meeting opportunities • Have student meetings • Agenda item for all faculty meetings for most current update • Cover in staff development before the school year starts and ongoing throughout the school year
Questions?