Measures of Student Learning/ Common Exam Update Parent Advisory Council November 20, 2012

Purpose of Common Exams: To measure educator effectiveness

Setting the Context For those grades and subjects that are currently non-tested, we need ways to measure growth: Common Exams

Measures of Student Learning/Common Exams Exams designed for currently non-tested subjects (does not replace any existing tests) Built by the state – every district will have the same exams Intended to replace final exams in high school Not part of the accountability model

Measures of Student Learning/Common Exams FALL :

Measures of Student Learning/Common Exams SPRING 2013: *Elementary subjects are not required * * *

Elementary CEs Elementary CEs are not required, as teachers will have EOG reading and/or math measures

Measures of Student Learning/Common Exams HIGH SCHOOL EXAMS: 80-minute test –Two 40-minute sessions constructed responseMultiple-choice and constructed response –Students write in answers; for example: Math – students provide numeric answer and show their work English – short answer (paragraph or less) and extended response (up to 3 paragraphs)

Measures of Student Learning/Common Exams HIGH SCHOOL EXAMS: Constructed responseConstructed response is weighted based on how much time is spent on CR items –If students are expected to spend 25% of the test time on CR items, then approximately 25% of the score will be based on CR responses measures/specifications/

Constructed Response % of time on CR % of total pts attributed to CR # of CR items # of MC items ELA20-25%17-23% Math (Adv. F. and Pre-Cal) 20-25%34-44% Science25%23-28%540 Social Studies 50%48-52%

Measures of Student Learning/Common Exams How/if it counts as grades are determined by each school system –High School: just like a final exam - 25% of final grade –Middle School: just like how EOGs are currently counted – 20% of final grade in the respective subject –Elementary School: not assessing with Common Exams this year Scores returned by software will be percent of total possible points (no proficiency cut score) –We will be creating a district ‘curve’ that reflects a similar pattern to EOC grades

One Grading Option A1A2BICIE1GEPSUSCE A B C D F

Measures of Student Learning/Common Exams Each school system is responsible for scoring the exams –Multiple choice – scanned at central office –Constructed response - scored by school personnel Scoring processes are determined by each district; DPI offers the possibility of one or two scorers –Teacher of record cannot be the sole scorer –WS/FCS will have two scorers; the teacher of record and another subject matter expert

Senior Exemptions While students will not be allowed to exempt Common Exams, seniors will be tested the week prior to the exam window During actual exam window, students will be given an assignment for a grade –Qualifying seniors will be exempt from the assignment

Measures of Student Learning/Common Exams Middle School –We expect the length of the test to be similar, but no specifics released for these yet Elementary School –Will not have Common Exams this year

Questions and for more Information: /educatoreffect/measures/ /educatoreffect/measures/