Virginia Assessment Program Overview

1. Virginia Assessment Program Overview Presentation to the Standards of Learning Innovation Committee July 15, 2014

2. History of the SOL Assessment Program • 1983 – Initial development of SOL classroom assessments • 1998 – Initial implementation of statewide SOL testing • 2001 – Introduction of online testing • 2006 – Introduction of reading and mathematics tests at grades 4, 6, and 7 to meet federal mandates • 2012 – Introduction of technology-enhanced items • 2013 – Introduction of operational online writing test • 2014 – Computer Adaptive Testing (CAT) Pilot

3. Implementation of New Tests • History in 2010-2011 • Mathematics in 2011-2012 • Reading, Writing and Science in 2012-2013

4. Online Testing in VirginiaSOL Non-Writing Tests Administered Online

5. Current Standards of Learning Tests

6. Tests Administered in Elementary Schools Grade 4or Grade 5 Virginia Studies Test Tests eliminated by legislation in the 2014 General Assembly are shown in strikethrough format.

7. Tests Administered in Middle Schools U.S. Historyto 1865Test U.S. History 1865 to PresentTest Grade 7 or 8 Civics & Economics Test Tests eliminated by legislation in the 2014 General Assembly are shown in strikethrough format.

8. Tests Administered at End-of-Course

9. End-of-Course Tests (EOC) • Students take end-of-course tests when they complete the instruction for the course associated with the test (e.g., Algebra I, Earth Science). Therefore, these tests are not associated with specific grade levels. • To earn a verified credit students must pass the course and the associated end-of-course test.

10. Federal Requirements

11. Federal Requirements forReading and Mathematics Tests Tests must be administered • Annually in grades 3-8 • At least once in high school (grades 10-12)

12. Federal Requirements for Science Tests must be administered at least once in • Elementary School (grades 3-5) • Middle School (grades 6-9) • High School (grades 10-12)

13. Tests Administered in Elementary Schools Grade 4or Grade 5 Virginia Studies Test Shaded cells - indicate tests required by ESEA Tests eliminated by legislation in the 2014 General Assembly are shown in strikethrough format.

14. Tests Administered in Middle Schools U.S. Historyto 1865Test U.S. History 1865 to PresentTest Grade 7 or 8 Civics & Economics Test Shaded cells - indicate tests required by ESEA Tests eliminated by legislation in the 2014 General Assembly are shown in strikethrough format.

15. Tests Administered at End-of-Course

16. End-of-Course Tests • According to Virginia’s current federal accountability plan, all end-of-course tests in mathematics and science are used to meet federal requirements. • For example, the federal accountability pass rate for mathematics at the high school includes students who pass the Algebra I test, the Geometry test and the Algebra II test.

17. Additional Requirements for ESEA Waiver • Requires assessments that measure “college and career readiness.” • To meet this requirement Virginia established “advanced/college path” achievement levels for the End-of-Course tests in Reading, Writing and Algebra II. • Waiver approved for one year.

18. Graduation Requirements

19. Verified Credit Requirements for Standard Diploma Six Verified Credits Required • 1 in reading • 1 in writing • 1 in mathematics (Algebra I, Geometry, or Algebra II) • 1 in science (Earth Science, Biology, or Chemistry) • 1 in history (World History to 1500, World History:1500 to the present, World Geography, or VA & US History) • 1 in subject area selected by student

20. Verified Credit Requirements for Advanced Studies Diploma Nine Verified Credits Required • 1 in reading • 1 in writing • 2 in mathematics (Algebra I, Geometry, or Algebra II) • 2 in science (Earth Science, Biology, or Chemistry) • 2 in history (World History to 1500, World History:1500 to the present, World Geography, or VA & US History) • 1 in subject area selected by student

21. Substitute Tests for Verified Credit • Substitute tests approved by the Virginia Board of Education may be used by students in lieu of SOL tests to earn verified credits. • List of approved substitute tests may be found at www.doe.virginia.gov/testing/substitute_tests/index.shtml • Policy initially instituted at the request of local school divisions to avoid “double testing” of students who were taking Advanced Placement (AP) or International Baccalaureate (IB) tests AND were also scheduled to take an SOL test.

22. Computer Adaptive Testing • In the current system, all students taking a particular test (e.g., grade 7 mathematics) are administered one of several versions of that test. • Computer Adaptive Testing (CAT) customizes the items administered to the each individual student.

23. Pilots Using CAT • Pilots using CAT for grade 7 mathematics and grade 8 reading were conducted in 2013-2014. • Results support moving forward with transition to CAT. • Timeline for transition will be dependent on funding.

24. Questions About Current Virginia Assessment Program?

25. Characteristics of Good Assessments • Purpose of assessment matches assessment need • Measures content it is intended to assess • Covers content that students should have learned by the time assessment is administered • Fair to all students—does not advantage or disadvantage any particular group • Provides access to students with disabilities and English language learners • Provides consistent results