ASSESSMENT CHANGES for WASHINGTON

1. ASSESSMENT CHANGESfor WASHINGTON Joe Willhoft, OSPI Asst Supt., Assessment and Student Information Spring WERA, March 26, 2009

2. HB 1562: Removes requirement to retake math assessment Let’s start with some good news from the Legislature… • HB 1562 has passed, and is scheduled to be signed by the Governor on Monday, March 30 • See attached Bill • Ought to help current 12th graders who neglected to take a math assessment last year • Students still either have to meet the math standard or earn two math credits after 10th grade • Students still have to take math WASL in 10th grade (or as a 9th grader last year)

3. The new “Washington Comprehensive Assessment Program”: Six goals • Shorten the tests • Reduce the amount of time students spend on written responses • Return scores more quickly • Increase the use of technology • Provide more diagnostic information to teachers/parents • Minimize costs

4. Washington Comprehensive Assessment Program Grades 3-8 “Measurements of Student Progress” • Tests designed to assess student progress in Reading, Mathematics, Writing, and Science High School “High School Proficiency Exams” • Tests designed to assure students have requisite knowledge and skills to qualify for a high school diploma

5. Measurements of Student Progress andHigh School Proficiency Exams: READING Spring 2009 Administer WASLas planned Spring 2010 2010-2011 2011-2012 Begin computer testing in 3-8 Expand computer testing; add HS Statewide computer testing Online Fall tests in 3-8 Shortened passages;add completion items Fewer constructed response items Single-session testing;late Spring window

6. Measurements of Student Progress andHigh School Proficiency Exams: MATH Spring 2009 Administer WASLas planned Spring 2010 2010-2011 2011-2012 Begin computer testing in 3-8 Expand computer testing;add HS E-of-C Statewide computer testing Online Fall tests in 3-8 Add completion items Fewer constructed response items Single-session testing;late Spring window

7. Measurements of Student Progress andHigh School Proficiency Exams: WRITING Spring 2009 Spring 2010 2010-2011 2011-2012 Explore computer scoring Possible computer scoring Online practice writing testsin 3-8, HS Late Spring window Administer WASLas planned Possible shortened test

8. Measurements of Student Progress andHigh School Proficiency Exams: SCIENCE Spring 2009 Administer WASLas planned Spring 2010 2010-2011 2011-2012 Begin computer testing in 5 & 8 Expand computer testing; add HS Statewide computer testing Add completion items Fewer constructed response items Single-session testing Late Spring window

9. Details: Online testing • Available on voluntary basis in 2010 and 2011 • Goal: Statewide online testing in spring 2012 • Paper-and-pencil tests will continue to be available for settings/students who need them • Same items as p-and-p; randomized presentation order • Test engine compatible with broad array of hardware • Tutorial and practice tests ready fall 2009 • Field-based advisory panel for implementation issues • 2010 roll-out includes statewide “impact” study

10. Details: Item types • Three item types for Reading, Math, Science: • Multiple Choice (MC), 1-point each • Completion (CP), 1-point each • Short Answer (SA), 2-points each • SA items no more than 25% of points on test • Online can accommodate some SA items; some will require separate response booklet • When possible, previous “4-pt” items will be deconstructed into SA items

11. Details: Test length and schedules • Reading, Math, Science tests are still untimed, but are designed to be: • Single-session 75-minute tests for Grades 3-5 • Single-session 90-minute tests for Grades 6-8 • Single-session 120-minute tests for High School • Writing tests still given in two sessions • Grade 3-8 test window moved to late May • High School test window stays in March and April to assure results can be returned in late May

12. Details: Online testing in the fall • Additional online tests available starting in fall 2010: • Grade 3-8 Reading and Mathematics • Parallel form to grade level spring test • Immediate results on MC and diagnostic items, with estimated scale score on GLEs • NCLB-compatible score later in fall • If student meets standard, no spring test needed • Can be used for annual growth; more diagnostic information than spring tests

13. Details: Online (computerized) scoring of writing • OSPI will evaluate feasibility of computerized scoring of writing samples • Feasibility to be conducted after spring 2009 tests • Validity of computer scoring will be evaluated using student papers from 2009 • If successful, will develop online practice tests with immediate scoring in fall 2010-11 • No plan to eliminate human raters

14. Details: Assessing the new math and science standards • Math Standards • Tests for Grades 3-8 will assess new mathematics standards in 2010 • High school end-of-course tests in 2011 • Science Standards • Tests for Grades 5 and 8 will assess new science standards in 2011 • High school tests in 2012 – End-of-course is TBD

15. High school math end-of-course exams • Four end-of-course exams to be implemented in 2011 • Algebra I, Geometry, Integrated 1 and Integrated 2 • Any student enrolled in an EOC course takes the EOC, regardless of grade level • Design: • End of year (block schedule/trimester still being worked out) • Administered in intact classrooms • Two 50-minute testing sessions • A “Common Core” test assessing 1st and 2nd year high school math will be available as graduation alternative starting in 2011 • EOCs used for AYP beginning in 2011

16. New high school mathematics “Performance Expectations” (PEs) arranged by course

17. Performance Expectations on the Algebra 1 and Integrated 1 end-of-course tests

18. Performance Expectations on the Geometry and Integrated 2 end-of-course tests

19. Performance Expectations on the “Common Core” test

20. Questions/Discussion Thank you for your support!