Student assessment information

1. Student assessment information April 9, 2013

2. Introduction • Our school district has received some questions regarding the State required student assessments • Parents are asking our thoughts on the topic and what the implications are if their children do not participate in the assessments • This presentation is created to provide accurate information regarding this topic

3. Focus district designation • Designated as a focus district in 2012-13 even though all of our schools were in “good standing” • Must develop complex building (2) and district improvement plans • Uses resources and time that are drawn away from more pressing educational needs • If student participation rate falls below 95%, we will remain on focus designation status with more buildings required to develop improvement plans

4. Financial impact • State Education Department indicates “No new districts will be focus designated for two more years; however, there will be an increase in local assistance plan designations due to failure to make AYP because of participation rates.” • This may result in an increase of school improvement funds that must be set aside for required activities

5. State point of View • There is no “opt out” provision • Failure to comply will have a negative impact on accountability as all schools are required to have a 95% participation rate in State testing • Schools failing to make AYP cannot become a SED recognized Reward School or can lose its current Reward status • Note: Lindbergh Elementary is currently designated as a “Highest Performing Reward School”

6. organizational points of view • July 2010: SED adopted and shared the Common Core Learning Standards • December 2010: The Board of Regents announced that progress on these standards will be measured in grades 3-8 beginning in 2012-13 and in high school in June 2014 • NYSUT says teacher evaluation agreement is ‘good for students and fair to teachers’ -NYSUT Media Relations - February 16, 2012  • Recently NYSUT indicated that assessments are ahead of the curriculum

7. College and career readiness • Ken Slentz (SED): “The Common Core State Standards allows states to share a common definition at each grade level by working backward based on the demands of college and careers.” • State assessments are redesigned to measure what students know and can do relative to the grade level Common Core State Standards • Increases in rigor • Focus on text • Depth of math

8. purpose of state assessments • To provide NYS educators and parents with an accurate indicator of how our students are performing and their progress toward college and career readiness

9. District Aggregate Performance for Grades 3-8 (Percent at Levels 3 and 4) Green bar shows first year performance with new cut score ELA MATH

10. common core learning standards assessment questions • Sample assessment questions can be found at the following link: • http://engageny.org/resource/new-york-state-common-core-sample-questions

11. Legal counsel • Some parents have cited “congressional findings” at 20 USCS 3401as a right for opting their students out of assessments • Education is a local endeavor and primarily a state responsibility: “The legislature shall provide for the maintenance and support of a system of free common schools, wherein all the children of this state may be educated.” -New York State Constitution

12. District Policies affecting student assessment • 7210: Student Evaluation and Reports to Parents • 7250: Student Privacy, Parental Access to Information, etc. • 7260: Response to Intervention (RtI) • 8110: Curriculum Development, Resources and Evaluation • 8111: Quality Control in District Curriculum • 8250: Evaluation of the Instructional Program

13. Local assessment committee • The District has formed a committee to review the locally chosen and created assessments (not State-required assessments) to determine which, if any, of these assessments may be reduced or eliminated

14. Annual appr revisions • The number and type of student assessments for teacher evaluation were reviewed and approved by our teachers’ union, district administration, and Board of Education • This APPR agreement must be reviewed on an annual basis with consideration given to the total amount of student assessments being administered

15. Classroom Management challenges • Consider the following hypothetical class: • 6 students refuse to take State assessments • 7 students refuse to take local District assessments • 5 students refuse to take both State and local District assessments • 8 students take all assessments

16. Classroom Management challenges (Cont.) • What are the reactions of the students to each other? • What are the potential distractions during assessments? • What are the management challenges that teachers will face in such a scenario in addition to the increased expectations already in existence?

17. conclusion • It is in the best interest of the District and the students to participate in the State and local assessment systems • Assessment is a vital part of the total educational process • Concerned individuals should advocate to improve the State assessment system at the State and Federal levels • The District will work to improve our local assessment system

18. For more information… • Please see the District website for additional information on this topic under “Headlines and Press Releases” • District URL: http://www.kenton.k12.ny.us