Updates in Certification Testing

1. Updates in Certification Testing 1

2. Presented by:Joel Geary Division of Professional Education and Teacher Quality 2

3. Agenda New Tests Testing Development Process Content Validation Survey Results Pilot Testing Volunteers Assessment Issues - Expiring Certificates - General Testing Information 3

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5. New Tests The content tests include objectives related to the requirement of Accommodations and Adaptations coursework, but the PAPA does not contain objectives related to the Accommodations and Adaptations. 5

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7. Testing Development Process Objective Development & Review: Winter 2010-11 Item Development: Spring 2011 Item Review: Summer 2011 Content Validation Survey: April-July 2011 7

8. Testing Development Process Pilot Testing: October-December 2011 Study Guide and Practice Test: December 2011 Standard Setting: January/February 2012 Date tests are available: April 2, 2012 8

9. Testing Development Process PDE and the testing companies published available opportunities and solicited interest for participation. Committees/work groups are composed of IHE faculty, basic education faculty, and other interested participants with appropriate experience and education. 9

10. Content Validation Survey Results Survey Design and Instrumentation A survey was distributed electronically to IHE faculty and educators teaching at the Pre K-4 and other grade levels. The Survey�s purpose was to evaluate whether IHE faculty and professional educators would affirm the test objectives as being appropriate. 10

11. Content Validation Survey Results Overall, content was validated by IHE faculty and professional educators. Some questions came from those who believe that the objectives are not appropriate for all candidates(e.g., mathematics), or who felt that important content was omitted. 11

12. Content Validation Survey Results The areas of knowledge represented in the certificate tests are competencies that are required by the Program Framework Guidelines. The tested areas of knowledge in the Pre-service Academic Performance (PAPA) are aligned with the Pennsylvania Academic Standards for 11th grade. 12

13. Content Validation Survey Results PreK-4 Suggestions were made for additional content to be included. Pearson found that, while the content may not be explicitly addressed by the objectives, it is not excluded by the language/examples included in the objectives/ descriptive statements. 13

14. Content Validation Survey Results PreK-4 In some cases the content was covered in another objective. None of the suggestions regarding content to be added identified a glaring omission from the objectives, and none of the topics suggested for explicit inclusion was mentioned by multiple reviewers. 14

15. Content Validation Survey Results Special Ed No significant concerns were received. Some references to legal language were revised. 15

16. Content Validation Survey Results Pre-service Academic Performance Assessment (PAPA) Comments were made regarding the use of the term �editing� in descriptive statements. It was suggested that the term �editing� should be changed to �revising.� PDE gave Pearson approval to change �editing� to �revising� in the descriptive statements . 16

17. Volunteers to take Pearson tests Registration for Field Testing opened on September 19, with a few hundred volunteers registered PAPA needs additional volunteers - To volunteer visit the PECT field-test website to register: http://www.pearsonvue.com/espilot/ 17

18. Volunteers to take Pearson tests You will have the opportunity to view and respond to test items that may appear on future versions of the PAPA, PreK�4, Special Education PreK�8, and Special Education 7�12 tests. At the conclusion of each field test, you will be presented on-screen with the percentage of selected-response (multiple-choice) items that you answered correctly. 18

19. Volunteers to take Pearson tests In addition, for each field test completed, you will receive a $100.00 Penguin Books electronic coupon code which may be used to purchase books, audio books, and other gifts at www.penguin.com. All Penguin Books coupons are valid for one shopping session and expire 60 days from the date of issue. 19

20. Assessment Issues As a result of the new tests for PreK-4, 4-8, PK-8 Special Education, and 7-12 Special Education, candidates for those four certificates will no longer need to take the Fundamental Subjects: Content Knowledge (0511) exam 20

21. Assessment Issues Post-bacc candidates will be required to take only the content test for their certificate. Middle level (gr. 7-9) add-ons will end once the new 4-8 tests are in place (April 2, 2012) . 21

22. Expiring Certificates Certificates Affected: - Early Childhood (N-3) - Elementary Education (K-6) - Special Education (K-12) Expiration Date: August 31, 2013 for IHEs with extensions. 22

23. General Testing Information It is the responsibility of the applicant to register for the correct Pennsylvania required tests. There are no substitutions for the Pennsylvania required tests. 23

24. General Testing Information All applicants must take the required tests for certification except for applicants holding certification through the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards. 24

25. General Testing Information Refer to the Qualifying Scores for Required Tests chart at http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/community/testing_requirements/8638 25

26. General Testing Information All candidates for certification must meet the qualifying score for all applicable tests at the time their application for certification is received. The required tests and qualifying scores may change as tests are reviewed and updated. 26

27. General Testing Information PDE accepts content test scores for ten years from the date of the test administration for most applicants. Basic skills tests only need to be passed once to meet the requirements. 27

28. PDE Liaisons Christina Baumer � cbaumer@pa.gov Joel Geary � jgeary@pa.gov Rae Talley � rtalley@pa.gov 28