Chats with Pat, John, Jan and the Curriculum Team December-January 2009-10

1. Chats with Pat, John, Jan and the Curriculum TeamDecember-January 2009-10 Statewide Assessment Office 402.471.2495 www.nde.state.ne.us/assessment Pat Roschewski pat.roschewski@nebraska.gov Jan Hoegh jan.hoegh@nebraska.gov John Moon john.moon@nebraska.gov Donlynn Rice donlynn.rice@nebraska.gov

2. Agenda • Standards Update • State Standards • Common Core Standards • Graduation Requirements – Rule 10 • Nebraska State Accountability – NeSA Tests • What’s ahead? • Including all students • Reporting • Business Rules – Data Exchange • Training Dates • Accountability Update

3. Standards Revision Reading –State Board Approved – December 11, 2008 Mathematics– State Board Approved – October 8, 2009 • Districts must adopt within one year – December 2009 and October, 2010 http://www.nde.state.ne.us/ndestandards/AcademicStandards.htm • NeSA-R built on newly revised standards • External validation – Reid Lyon, McRel, Achieve • Science Standards Review Beginning December 2009 • Alternate Assessment (For students most cognitively challenged) - same process

4. Common Core Standards • National discussion • July 1st draft – High School only • January – elementary grades added • Implications? • Assessment to follow – “Race to the Top” grants

5. Graduation Requirements

6. What do the New Graduation Requirements mean? • By 2015 (this year’s 7th graders) students will need to graduate with the new requirements. • NOT courses, but concepts. • Rule 10 language will change. (Target date January 2010)

7. 2010 NeSA Testing – What’s ahead? 83% of the students will be testing NeSA-Reading online 77% of the students will be field testing – NeSA-Mathematics • February 1-19 – NeSA-Writing (English and Spanish) • February 15 - March 26 – ELDA • March 29-April 30 - NeSA-Reading • NeSA-M (Field test) • NeSA-AA-Reading • NeSA-AA-M (Field test) • Security agreements (to be signed by principal) for each subject found in back of each administration manual – dueby the beginning of each testing window. • National Assessment Instrument (NRT) reporting of scores and sub scores – reporting site open (NSSRS).

8. What Can You Expect?NeSA-Reading • Vocabulary and Comprehension coverage. • Online or Paper/Pencil Administration. • Raw score return with online administration. • Practice Reading Test – October 1st – Software reload needed if you don’t allow automatic software updates. • Multiple choice tests of 45-50 items plus embedded field test items and passages.

9. What Can You Expect?NeSA-Reading (continued) • Two session administrative sessions (may do in one day). • Each paper/pencil test must be accounted for and returned. • Cut scores/Scale scores in June. • Electronic Reports available in August. • Individual hard copy student reports in August.

10. What’s ahead?NeSA-M (Field Test) • Four concepts to be measured: number sense, geometric/measurement, algebraic, data analysis/probability. • No calculators, but common reference sheet provided. (Student IEP may allow) • Two session administration, 48-60 items including embedded field test items. • No student results provided – field testing the items.

11. What’s ahead?NeSA-AAR (alternate) • Vocabulary and Comprehensive coverage. • Available only to those students who qualify per IEP teams. (Guidelines in Extended Standards Document). • 25 multiple choice items plus five field tested items/passages. • Teacher records student response on answer sheet and then into electronic system. • Flexible scheduling within the NeSA testing window. • Field test for NeSA-AAM.

12. Including ALL Studentswww.nde.state.ne.us/Assessment“NeSA Approved Accommodations Document” All enrolled students in required grade levels (gr 3-8, 11) are to be included in Nebraska State Accountability in one of three ways: • NeSA – General education tests • NeSA – General education tests with accommodations from “NeSA Approved Accommodations Document” • NeSA-AAR – Alternate Reading Assessment

13. Who should Take the Alternate Test?(NeSA-AAR – Alternate) • Give all students who qualify for the alternate test, the alternate test. These decisions are made by the IEP teams, and must follow the guidelines in the extended standards document. • IF more than 1% of the students who take the alternate test score proficient or advanced and exceed 1% of the total assessed district population, then districts need to contact the special education team at the Department and request an exemption. • The Special Education team will either grant the exemption or will guide districts as to any next steps that need to be taken.

14. Online Documentswww.nde.state.ne.us/Assessment • Two New Practice Tests – Math and Reading by January 15th. The reading test will have new accommodations –DAC will get access. DAC will assign to students who need magnifier and color contrast. • Tables of Specifications – Note change • Performance Level Descriptors • NeSA Approved Accommodations • Alternate Assessment – Extended standards document

15. Cut Scores – Two Methods • Bookmark Method June 28-30, 2010 • Need 210 participants – Send names – no stipends but travel costs covered. • Contrasting Group Method - Online • WebEx Training in March • Need Teacher Judgment - Online • Open to all teachers • Directions to follow

16. 2010 Reporting – NeSA-Reading • Raw scores if tests administered online • Cut scores set June 2010 • August Electronic Building and District Reports Include: • Raw Score • Scale Score • Proficiency Levels (Beginning, Proficient, Advanced) • Indicators with highest scores • Indicators with lowest scores • Individual Student Reports – Hard copy • Mock up draft reports: www.nde.state.ne.us/assessment

17. Business Rules EMW • Scoring Rules – Codes – • Medical Waiver (Approved through Statewide Assessment office) – Form must be submitted at the end of the testing window for approval. An emergency medical waiver may be granted by the Statewide Assessment Office when a student cannot take the assessment during the entire testing window due to a significant medical emergency. For example this might include a situation in which a student is recovering from a car accident or a medical situation that prevents the student from being physically capable of taking the test. A statement from a physician may be requested. These students remain enrolled at the school, although physical circumstances prevent the student’s participation in the test.

18. Business Rules, continued • Newly arrived ELL students (within first year in US school – reading test waiver • only) • Parent refusal in writing (zero score) • Student enrolled but no make-up test • during testing window (zero score) RAL PAR SAE • A Student will be considered a participant if he or she attempted one item or prompt.

19. Business Rules for Students Who Move • First check to see if student who moves in has been tested. • If he has been tested, do not add the student. • If he has not been tested, test student. • If impossible to test (i.e. last day of window), code NLE – No Longer Enrolled. NeSA Business Rules: www.nde.state.ne.us/assessment

20. National Assessment Instrument (NAI) • Reporting – 2010 • NRT Template on NSSRS website and the Assessment website: www.nde.state.ne.us/Assessment • Window for Reporting: December 8th – June 30th

21. Accountability • State Accountability • Ratings on Assessment Quality • Ratings on Student Performance • New tests – changing everything • State Board in discussions • Multiple Indicators • Improvement over time • Federal Accountability – AYP – Adequate Yearly Progress 3. What’s Ahead??? – Rule 10 will change in the next year

22. Training Dates/Locations 2010