Assessment by design

1. Assessment by design Mrs. Debi Gilliam, Director of Assessment and Accountability Dr. Camilla Lovell, District Test Coordinator Dorchester District Two

2. Expectations for session • The learner will be able to describe the assessments proposed for Dorchester Two for the school year 2013-2014. • The learner will be able to gain an understanding of the reasoning behind the district’s decision to reform the assessments.

3. Mission and Vision Mission: Dorchester School District Two leading the way, every student, every day, through relationships, rigor, and relevance. Vision: Dorchester School District Two desires to be recognized as a “World Class” school district, expecting each student to achieve at his/her optimum level in all areas, and providing all members of our district family with an environment that permits them to do their personal best.

4. Assessment by design Proposed Assessment Plan Why? Need and Reasoning How? What? Universal Screeners, Formative Assessments, Cumulative Assessments, and Others When? Timeline What Have We Done? What is Next?

5. Dorchester School District Two Proposed 2013-14 Assessment Plan for College & Career Readiness MEASURING STUDENT PROGRESS TOWARD READINESS Note: PSAT and ASVAB are also options for students in grades 11 and 12. ASPIRE Vertically articulated, CCSS-based digital system of assessments for 3rd -12th grade QUALITY CORE Research driven solutions for strengthening high school curriculum COMPASS Computer adaptive technical college placement assessment The ACT 11th grade curriculum-based assessment for learning outcomes WorkKeys 11th grade job skills assessment for workforce readiness

6. Mission Dorchester School District Two leading the way, every student, every day through relationships, rigor, and relevance.

7. Vision Dorchester School District Two desires to be recognized as a “World Class” school district, expecting each student to achieve at his/her optimum level in all areas, and providing all members of our district family with an environment that permits them to do their personal best.

8. Everystudent should be prepared to a standard of readiness for post-secondary education and work

9. What?Needand reasoning

10. WHAT is the research TELLING US?

11. www.highereducation.org

12. www.ascd.org

14. Labor and Workforce Statistics

16. WHAT THE RESEARCH IS TELLING US… Students are not ready for college and work.

17. College and Career • In addition to graduating, Dorchester School District Two expects every student to be prepared for a post-secondary career in order to be successful.

18. Dorchester Two Goal for students Every Dorchester School District Two student will have the following upon graduating: • 1. A South Carolina Diploma • 2. A set of viable college admission scores • 3. A portable, work-based certificate • 4. An acceptance letter to a military branch, two-year or four-year college • 5. The desire to utilize their talents in service to the community

19. What can we do to reach our goal?

20. GRADuation • Rigorous curriculum • Assistant Principals/secretaries hired for “Prevention/Intervention” • Graduation Rate data examined closely to determine concerns • Graduation Rate audits held continuously throughout school year • More emphasis on prevention of drop-outs • Evening school • Credit Recovery/Unit Recovery • Virtual classes

21. The ACT and SAT • Most colleges use test scores as one factor in the admissions process • 81% require or use the ACT and/or the SAT in the process • Historically, DDTwo “hosts” seven administrations of ACT per year and six administrations of SAT

22. College and Career Readiness Initiative • Increase opportunities for students to access challenging coursework through advanced classes and increased expectations in core classes. • Provide an opportunity for students to have work-based experiences and earn credentials that further prepare them for success in the workplace. • Provide meaningful data to stakeholders which enables them to make relevant decisions regarding post-secondary plans and opportunities. • Contribute to developing a bona fide workforce in our community and state.

23. Work-Based Certification • ACT's National Career Readiness Certificate (NCRC) is a portable credential that demonstrates achievement and a certain level of workplace employability skills in Applied Mathematics, Locating Information, and Reading for Information. In the future, ACT Career Credentials powered by ACT WorkKeys is an expanding program that will offer certifications in other areas. • WorkKeys assessments measure "real world" skills that employers believe are critical to job success. Test questions are based on situations in the everyday work world.

24. Individuals can earn the NCRC by taking three specific WorkKeys® Assessments: Applied Mathematics Reading for Information Locating Information

26. Alignment with state initiatives • Certified Work Ready Communities is a voluntary initiative guided by key community leaders (local elected officials, economic development, business leaders, chambers, educators, and workforce development). Whether your town is large or small, your community will be able to attract, retain, and develop a workforce with the education and foundational skills to succeed in the 21st century by utilizing the National Career Readiness Certificate. • South Carolina’s initiative certifies the quality of the workforce based on four criteria. Counties must meet goals for high school graduation, soft skills development, business support, and National Career Readiness Certificate holders.

27. South Carolina ESEA Accountability System • In September 2013, the SCDE submitted an ESEA amendment to USED, proposing enhancements to the SC ESEA Accountability System. • Input is being gathered by the SCDE from stakeholders on the ESEA amendment. The public comment period is Dec. 2013–Jan. 30, 2014.

28. SC Approved Waiver Request • Principle 1: College- and career-ready expectations for all students. • Principle 2: State-based accountability system. • Principle 3: Supporting effective instruction and leadership.

29. SC Approved Waiver Request Principle 1: College- and career-ready expectations • USED approved SCDE implementation plan • Plan attributes: • Common Core State Standards • Smarter Balanced • College and credit accumulation • Integrated efforts to serve all students by preparing all educators • Timeline • SCDE submitted an amendment to USED on Oct. 31, 2013.

30. Underlying Questions • How does your organization objectively determine if graduates are ready for post-secondary opportunities? • Are you currently able to monitor a student’s academic progress longitudinally across grade levels? • Has your organization been able to communicate the meaning of assessment scores to students and parents in a way that engages them further in the educational process?

31. HOW?Assessment reform

32. What?Universal Screenersformative assessmentssummative assessmentsother

33. Monitoring Progress Toward Readiness • To further prepare all students for college and career readiness, the district is pursuing a partnership with ACT to implement a longitudinal assessment system that is aligned to the: • Common Core State Standards • ACT College and Career Readiness Standards • National Career Readiness Certificate Standards

34. Monitoring Progress Toward Readiness • ASPIREin Grades 3 through 8 in English, writing, reading, mathematics, and science • Quality Core – end-of-course assessments in Grades 9 through 11 in Chemistry, Physics, Algebra II, Geometry, English II, and English III • WorkKeys– 11th and 12th grade job skills assessment for workforce readiness • COMPASS – computer-adaptive technical college placement test • The ACT – 11th and 12th grade curriculum based assessment for learning outcomes and college admissions

35. Dorchester School District Two Proposed 2013-14 Assessment Plan for College & Career Readiness By Design MEASURING STUDENT PROGRESS TOWARD READINESS Note: PSAT and ASVAB are also options for students in grades 11 and 12. ASPIRE Vertically articulated, CCSS-based digital system of assessments for 3rd -12th grade QUALITY CORE Research driven solutions for strengthening high school curriculum COMPASS Computer adaptive technical college placement assessment The ACT 11th grade curriculum-based assessment for learning outcomes WorkKeys 11th grade job skills assessment for workforce readiness

36. College & Career Readiness Benchmark Scores • Minimum test scores required for students to have a high probability of success in credit-bearing college courses • Empirically derived based on actual performance of college students • Established using data from 98 institutions and over 90,000 students

37. ACT’s College & Career Readiness Benchmarks ∗ The COMPASS English Benchmark refers to the COMPASS Writing Skills Test. The COMPASS Mathematics Benchmark refers to the COMPASS Algebra Test. COMPASS does not contain a science test.

38. The Act and access • When a student takes the ACT, colleges are able to identify and reach out to potential students through: • ACT Score Reports (sent by students) • Educational Opportunity Service (search) • Colleges are able to facilitate access by using these to connect students with appropriate campus programs and resources

39. District Choice Testing is a great equalizer • More males • More minority students • More middle and lower-income students • More first-generation students • Result… • More opportunities to increase access and participation

41. When?

42. Proposed

43. Proposed

44. What have we done?What is next?

45. What have we Done? Dorchester Two – by design • All 9th and 10th graders took the Practice ACT on October 9 • Student results have been studied at length and their data input into our TCA system • Our TCA system will allow students to participate in “prescribed” lessons in order to help them prepare for the ACT in 11th grade

46. What have we Done? Dorchester Two – by design • Administered WorkKeys to all 11th and 12th graders on October 9 • Results look promising

47. What have we Done? Dorchester Two – by design • Last year’s 11th graders tested ACT in April • We reviewed those students’ scores to help us identify possible weaknesses in the curriculum • Results look promising!

48. What have we Done? Dorchester Two – by design • All 10th graders took PLAN last year • Student results have been studied at length and shared with schools • Each student knows his/her weaknesses

50. WHAT’S NeXTfor Workkeys? • Met with schools on WorkKeys test results; scores will be discussed with students at schools; scores will be sent home • Developing a collaborative plan to engage local business and industry • Students have access to work on their skill deficiencies via Career Ready 101 • Seniors will retest this spring, tentatively March 18 • Students that have not earned a certificate (new students, make-ups, etc.) • Students that lack only one subtest before moving to next level (Bronze, Silver, etc.) • Final WorkKeys Certificates will be issued to students at the graduation ceremonies along with their diplomas