Understanding Achievement Level Descriptions (ALDs) Understanding ALDs Understanding Achievement Level Descriptions (ALDs) Nancy E. Brito, NBCT, Department of EDW, Accountability, and School Improvement nancy.brito@palmbeachschools.org 561-357-7521, PX47521 Division of Performance Accountability Nancy Brito, NBCT, Performance Accountability, 561-357-7521, PX47521

The SDPBC ALDs Format The ALDs cover the assessed NGSSS benchmarks. Understanding ALDs The SDPBC ALDs Format The ALDs cover the assessed NGSSS benchmarks. The SDPBC reformatted the FDOE’s ALDs, which are arranged by reporting categories. The SDPBC ALDs are by benchmark for grade levels 3-12 and subjects Reading, Mathematics and Algebra 1. This PowerPoint describes the SDPBC ALDs format. SDPBC = School District of Palm Beach County NGSSS = Next Generation Sunshine State Standards FDOE = Florida Department of Education Nancy Brito, NBCT, Performance Accountability, 561-357-7521, PX47521

Understanding ALDs The Purpose of the ALDs “The ALDs provide detailed descriptions of the knowledge and skills that a student needs to be able to achieve at each of the five Achievement Levels… Florida Department of Education / Office of Assessment, March 2011 Nancy Brito, NBCT, Performance Accountability, 561-357-7521, PX47521

Understanding ALDs The Purpose of the ALDs …in conjunction with the policy definitions that summarize the level of success a student has with the Next Generation Sunshine State Standards (NGSSS).” Florida Department of Education / Office of Assessment, March 2011 Nancy Brito, NBCT, Performance Accountability, 561-357-7521, PX47521

How were the ALDs used by the FDOE? Understanding ALDs How were the ALDs used by the FDOE? The ALDs were used by the standard-setting committees to recommend cut scores on the reporting scale for the new Achievement Levels. Florida Department of Education (FDOE)/ Office of Assessment, March 2011 Nancy Brito, NBCT, Performance Accountability, 561-357-7521, PX47521

Explanation of the ALDs in SDPBC Format Understanding ALDs Explanation of the ALDs in SDPBC Format The specific student expectations in the SDPBC format are the same as in the FDOE format; however, they are organized by benchmark(s). SDPBC = School District of Palm Beach County FDOE = Florida Department of Education Nancy Brito, NBCT, Performance Accountability, 561-357-7521, PX47521

Explanation of the ALDs in SDPBC Format Understanding ALDs Explanation of the ALDs in SDPBC Format Sentence Stem The Sentence Stem is intended to precede each of the descriptions below it. SDPBC = School District of Palm Beach County Nancy Brito, NBCT, Performance Accountability, 561-357-7521, PX47521

Explanation of the ALDs in SDPBC Format Understanding ALDs Explanation of the ALDs in SDPBC Format Demonstration of Understanding The Demonstration of Understanding is intended to identify the students’ understanding of the related benchmark(s) ALD statements as indentified by: Level 5 – consistently, Level 4 – usually, Level 3 – generally, Level 2 – limited, or Level 1 – inadequate. SDPBC = School District of Palm Beach County Nancy Brito, NBCT, Performance Accountability, 561-357-7521, PX47521

Explanation of the ALDs in SDPBC Format Understanding ALDs Explanation of the ALDs in SDPBC Format Progression of Expectations The Progression of Expectations describes the logical progression of related benchmark(s) ALDs expectations (e.g., evaluate, analyze, compare, organize, identify). SDPBC = School District of Palm Beach County Nancy Brito, NBCT, Performance Accountability, 561-357-7521, PX47521

Explanation of the ALDs in SDPBC Format Understanding ALDs Explanation of the ALDs in SDPBC Format Related Benchmark The Related Benchmark column indicates all the related benchmark(s) ALDs statements that are described in Levels 1 through 5 in the Progression of Expectations row. SDPBC = School District of Palm Beach County Nancy Brito, NBCT, Performance Accountability, 561-357-7521, PX47521

Explanation of the ALDs in SDPBC Format Understanding ALDs Explanation of the ALDs in SDPBC Format Related Benchmark For example: These four (4) benchmarks might be represented in one or more of the ALDs statements under Level 1, Level 2, Level 3, Level 4 and/or Level 5. SDPBC = School District of Palm Beach County Nancy Brito, NBCT, Performance Accountability, 561-357-7521, PX47521

Explanation of the ALDs in SDPBC Format Understanding ALDs Explanation of the ALDs in SDPBC Format Related Benchmark SDPBC = School District of Palm Beach County Nancy Brito, NBCT, Performance Accountability, 561-357-7521, PX47521

Explanation of the ALDs in SDPBC Format Understanding ALDs Explanation of the ALDs in SDPBC Format Bold Font Bold font indicates a change or addition from a previous level’s description of related benchmark(s) ALDs statements. SDPBC = School District of Palm Beach County Nancy Brito, NBCT, Performance Accountability, 561-357-7521, PX47521

Explanation of the ALDs in SDPBC Format Understanding ALDs Explanation of the ALDs in SDPBC Format Same as Level… Same as Level…, indicates the ALDs statement is the same as the description in the Achievement Level noted (e.g., Same as Level 3, Same as Level 4). SDPBC = School District of Palm Beach County Nancy Brito, NBCT, Performance Accountability, 561-357-7521, PX47521

Explanation of the ALDs in SDPBC Format Understanding ALDs Explanation of the ALDs in SDPBC Format Blank Cell A blank cell indicates that the FDOE did not define the progression of expectation for that Achievement Level. SDPBC = School District of Palm Beach County Nancy Brito, NBCT, Performance Accountability, 561-357-7521, PX47521

Understanding ALDs Possible Uses for ALDs Educators, students, parent/guardians, and other stakeholders may use the ALDs as a tool to understand and communicate student achievement and progress on benchmarks assessed on the statewide assessments. Nancy Brito, NBCT, Performance Accountability, 561-357-7521, PX47521

Understanding ALDs Possible Uses for ALDs In conjunction with and , educators may use the ALDs as a measuring tool to gauge student achievement and progress on District and classroom created assessments that are aligned to the assessed NGSSS benchmarks. Nancy Brito, NBCT, Performance Accountability, 561-357-7521, PX47521

Understanding ALDs Example of ALDs Use A student scored a Level 2 on the Reading Diagnostic Test. Nancy Brito, NBCT, Performance Accountability, 561-357-7521, PX47521

Understanding ALDs Example of ALDs Use The student and teacher were able to check three (3) descriptions of knowledge and skills achieved at a Level 2. Nancy Brito, NBCT, Performance Accountability, 561-357-7521, PX47521

Understanding ALDs Example of ALDs Use They noted that the student demonstrated more than a limited ability for this description of knowledge and skills. Nancy Brito, NBCT, Performance Accountability, 561-357-7521, PX47521

Understanding ALDs Example of ALDs Use The student and teacher then referred to the next higher level’s description of knowledge and skills, Level 3. Nancy Brito, NBCT, Performance Accountability, 561-357-7521, PX47521

Understanding ALDs Example of ALDs Use The Achievement Level Description Level states: “Same as Level 2.” Is the student generally able to identify cause and effect relationships? Nancy Brito, NBCT, Performance Accountability, 561-357-7521, PX47521

Understanding ALDs Example of ALDs Use The answer was “Yes”. The student and teacher were able to check the description of knowledge and skills achieved at a Level 3. Nancy Brito, NBCT, Performance Accountability, 561-357-7521, PX47521

Understanding ALDs Example of ALDs Use Now the student and teacher began to strategize on how to move the student from Level 2 to Level 3 on each of the other skills. Nancy Brito, NBCT, Performance Accountability, 561-357-7521, PX47521

Understanding ALDs Summary The ALDs are a tool that may be used together with EDW, CORE K12, Item Specifications, and Learning Village to understand and communicate student progress that leads to strategy development for: Instruction Improvement Enrichment Nancy Brito, NBCT, Performance Accountability, 561-357-7521, PX47521

Where are the ALDs in the SDPBC format? Understanding ALDs Where are the ALDs in the SDPBC format? The Departments of EDW, Accountability, and School Improvement and Research Evaluation and Assessment at: http://www.palmbeachschools.org/assessment/AchievementLevelDescriptions.asp Setting the Stage for Success – Stage III http://www.palmbeachschools.org/setting thestage/ALDStageIII.asp SDPBC = School District of Palm Beach County Nancy Brito, NBCT, Performance Accountability, 561-357-7521, PX47521

Where are the ALDs in the SDPBC format? Understanding ALDs Where are the ALDs in the SDPBC format? In Learning Village Under… Elementary > Mathematics > Grade Level (3, 4, or 5) >Additional Resources Middle School > Additional Resources SDPBC = School District of Palm Beach County Nancy Brito, NBCT, Performance Accountability, 561-357-7521, PX47521

Where are the ALDs in the SDPBC format? Understanding ALDs Where are the ALDs in the SDPBC format? In Learning Village Under… Elementary > Reading >Additional Resources Middle School > Additional Resources High School SDPBC = School District of Palm Beach County Nancy Brito, NBCT, Performance Accountability, 561-357-7521, PX47521

Understanding ALDs Acknowledgement This project has been a collaborative effort between the Divisions of Performance Accountability and Curriculum. Nancy Brito, NBCT, Performance Accountability, 561-357-7521, PX47521

Understanding ALDs Questions? Contact Nancy E. Brito, NBCT, Department of EDW, Accountability, and School Improvement nancy.brito@palmbeachschools.org 561-357-7521, PX47521 Nancy Brito, NBCT, Performance Accountability, 561-357-7521, PX47521