Update on the Kansas Writing Assessment Matt Copeland Language Arts and Literacy Consultant Standards and Assessment Services Team Kansas State Dept. of Education

Writing Assessment Fact Sheet A continually updated, one- page summary of the Kansas Writing Assessment, including information regarding:  state testing windows  testing modes  cut points and performance levels Available on the KSDE Writing Homepage:

Kansas Writing Assessment Tested grades 5, 8, and 11 Requires four untimed testing sessions, approximately 45-minutes each Scored locally using a 6-TRAIT analytic rubric Administered via paper/pencil in the fall or via KWIET in the spring

Writing Targets Writing targets have been established to tie student writing achievement to school accreditation. 5th Grade67% of students meeting or exceeding standard 8th Grade73% of students meeting or exceeding standard High School76% of students meeting or exceeding standard

Student Performance Levels Determined by a student’s composite score: Cut Points Exemplary4.40 Exceeds Standard3.75 Meets Standard3.00 Approaches Standard2.30 Academic Warning< 2.30

Composite Score Formula Ideas and Content scorex 3= ____ Organization scorex 3= ____ Voice scorex 2= ____ Word Choice scorex 2= ____ Sentence Fluency scorex 1= ____ Conventions scorex 1= ____ Sum / 12

Assigned Writing Modes Fifth grade students – personal narrative Eighth grade students – expository High school students – persuasive

Prompt Choice Fifth grade students – choice of 3 prompts. Eighth grade students – choice of 4 prompts. High school students – choice of 5 prompts.

Prompt Format Writing Situation The first sentence provides the background for the writing assignment and the general topic. The remaining sentences help writers consider different aspects of the topic, realize that they know enough about the topic to write, and focus their individual responses. Directions for Writing The first sentence identifies the nature/form of the writing (an essay) and also identifies an audience. The remaining sentences remind students to help their audience understand their ideas by giving many details and examples to support their ideas and, at the high school level, also direct students to address opposing viewpoints.

Instructional Example Prompts For each assessed grade level, 8-12 example prompts are provided, each with a “teaching tip” to spark ideas on how these prompts might be used in classroom instruction and/or for formative purposes. KSDE Writing Homepage:

Updated Rubrics

Suggested Scoring Procedures Includes: General suggested procedures for local scoring Suggested procedures for scoring each individual essay Suggested Scoring Procedures are available on the KSDE Writing Homepage:

General suggested procedures for local scoring: Calibrating scorers to the rubric before each session Two readers are preferable to only one Scorers should be encouraged to discuss their ratings with other scorers Periodically, scorers should mark a copy of the rubric as they score to personally verify their ratings Suggested Scoring Procedures

Suggested procedures for scoring each essay: Determine which set of descriptors best describe the essay for each of four criteria within a given trait Then, scorers should use the four criteria levels they identified to inform the rating of the overall trait Suggested Scoring Procedures

Scoring an Individual Essay

KSDE Training Manual for 6-TRAIT Scoring Updated Training Manual (and accompanying PowerPoint) is now available on the KSDE Writing Homepage: Includes pre-scored samples essays written by Kansas students that can be used for training/calibration purposes.

Pre-Scored Sample Essays Section II: Essays with Annotations Two-column format Includes text-boxes with 6- TRAIT scores, commentary, and suggestions for revision from the state writing committee

Pre-Scored Sample Essays Section III: Essays without Annotations Same two-column format Text-boxes are left blank and can be filled-in by scorers Scorers can then check the chart at the back of the manual to compare their scores to those of the state writing committee

KAMM Writing Assessment simplified language in instructions and prompts reduced number of prompts writing scored using modified 6-trait rubrics (available at ) only 3% of a district’s students may be classified as “Meets Standard” or above using the modified or the alternate assessment questions?... contact: Deb Matthews –

Kansas Alternate Assessment portfolio of student’s performance of skills and content on five selected indicators administered to identified students (IEP) in grades 5, 8, and once in high school only 1% of a district’s students may be classified as “Meets Standard” or above using an alternate assessment questions?… contact: Deb Matthews –

KSDE Assessment Contacts Scott Smith, Assistant Director for Assessments (785) Cherie Randall, Assessment Coordinator (785) Lee Jones, Assessment Consultant (785)

Communication from KSDE about Writing KSDE Writing Homepage—Standards, Assessment, and Resources KSDE English Language Arts and Literacy ListServ ( me to be added to this list) Contact me directly Phone (785)