DATA IS OUR DEFENSE A Grassroots Approach to Balancing Assessment in the U.S.

1/8/2014Free Template from 2 Presenters Steven Loser- Ben Davis High School Indianapolis, IN David Proctor- Ben Davis High School Indianapolis, IN Matt Skillen- Elizabethtown College Kenan Metzger-Ball State University Steven Loser- Ben Davis High School Indianapolis, IN David Proctor- Ben Davis High School Indianapolis, IN Matt Skillen- Elizabethtown College Kenan Metzger-Ball State University

Research Questions for Teacher Advocacy Groups

Enduring Understandings

1/8/2014Free Template from 5 Teacher advocacy groups create an environment in which educators practice fair assessment by illustrating how a broader menu of assessment practices can be used to continually gauge learning and guide instruction, which will lead to the ultimate goal of all students continuing to grow as learners.

1/8/2014Free Template from 6 When the teacher advocacy group educates district administrators and the public about results, it will promote fair assessment practices beyond the classroom.

1/8/2014Free Template from 7 Because of the dangers of traditional assessments, educators need to ensure they are just one form of assessment used to evaluate the growth of a learner.

1/8/2014Free Template from 8 The teacher advocacy group asks administrators to include performance task data as part of the annual yearly progress of the school, providing a more realistic and comprehensive picture of student learning.

1/8/2014Free Template from 9 Essential Questions How can educators create an environment where they practice fair assessment? What can teachers do that will lead to the continuous growth of students as learners? What can teachers do to promote fair assessment practices district wide? What can educators do to provide a realistic and comprehensive picture of student learning? Essential Questions How can educators create an environment where they practice fair assessment? What can teachers do that will lead to the continuous growth of students as learners? What can teachers do to promote fair assessment practices district wide? What can educators do to provide a realistic and comprehensive picture of student learning?

1/8/2014Free Template from 10 OUR SCHOOL Ben Davis High School Wayne Township Indianapolis, Indiana Urban- very diverse student population 52 different home languages in the township Growing Hispanic Population Enrollment 3,282 students in 10th through 12th grade Over 1000 in 9 th grade center Halls go from A-AA (largest HS in state) Classes are anywhere from self-contained to IB to Career Center 180 teachers/ 26 in the English Department Average class size: 36 students, up to Ben Davis High School Wayne Township Indianapolis, Indiana Urban- very diverse student population 52 different home languages in the township Growing Hispanic Population Enrollment 3,282 students in 10th through 12th grade Over 1000 in 9 th grade center Halls go from A-AA (largest HS in state) Classes are anywhere from self-contained to IB to Career Center 180 teachers/ 26 in the English Department Average class size: 36 students, up to 37-38

1/8/2014Free Template from 11 Identified Language Arts Assessments [ ] GQE Graduation Qualification Exam (I-STEP) Common Assessment Pre and Post Test- Based on Grade Level- 10,11, 12 Not yet Administered SRI- Scholastic Reading Inventory Assesses Reading Level based on a Lexile Framework Quarterly Writing- Persuasive, Narrative, Synthesis, Critical Essay/ Research, Descriptive- based on state standards Teacher designed tests and projects GQE Graduation Qualification Exam (I-STEP) Common Assessment Pre and Post Test- Based on Grade Level- 10,11, 12 Not yet Administered SRI- Scholastic Reading Inventory Assesses Reading Level based on a Lexile Framework Quarterly Writing- Persuasive, Narrative, Synthesis, Critical Essay/ Research, Descriptive- based on state standards Teacher designed tests and projects

1/8/2014Free Template from 12 Identified Language Arts Assessments [ ] GQE Graduation Qualification Exam (I-STEP) has become the Core 40 Exam now given in the Spring as opposed to the Fall Common Assessments have now become End of Course Assessments (ECAs) provided by the State Based on Grade Level- 10,11, 12 SRI- Scholastic Reading Inventory Assesses Reading Level based on a Lexile Framework Quarterly Writing- Persuasive, Narrative, Synthesis, Critical Essay/ Research, Descriptive- based on state standards Teacher designed tests and projects GQE Graduation Qualification Exam (I-STEP) has become the Core 40 Exam now given in the Spring as opposed to the Fall Common Assessments have now become End of Course Assessments (ECAs) provided by the State Based on Grade Level- 10,11, 12 SRI- Scholastic Reading Inventory Assesses Reading Level based on a Lexile Framework Quarterly Writing- Persuasive, Narrative, Synthesis, Critical Essay/ Research, Descriptive- based on state standards Teacher designed tests and projects

1/8/2014Free Template from 13 Initial TAG Set-Up Start small Teacher Driven Established Collective Vision Make administration aware but do not exclusively involve them Start small Teacher Driven Established Collective Vision Make administration aware but do not exclusively involve them

1/8/2014Free Template from 14 Our Initial TAG Set-Up Start small (8-10 teachers) Teacher Driven (Voluntary Outside of School) Established Collective Vision Create a supportive trusting group of educators dedicated to evaluating and reforming assessment Administration was told of the meetings and informed of our vision Start small (8-10 teachers) Teacher Driven (Voluntary Outside of School) Established Collective Vision Create a supportive trusting group of educators dedicated to evaluating and reforming assessment Administration was told of the meetings and informed of our vision

1/8/2014Free Template from 15 Activity 1.) Begin by making a list of the current forms of assessment in your school/district. 2.)Then assign a percentage value to those assessments based on their weight 3.) Graph your findings on the pie graph 1.) Begin by making a list of the current forms of assessment in your school/district. 2.)Then assign a percentage value to those assessments based on their weight 3.) Graph your findings on the pie graph

1/8/2014Free Template from 16 Growth since NCTE last year Presented to the Leadership Team Group has expanded to include teachers outside of the English Department These teachers provide insight from other contents and are taking information back to share with their departments Presented to the Leadership Team Group has expanded to include teachers outside of the English Department These teachers provide insight from other contents and are taking information back to share with their departments

1/8/2014Free Template from 17 Current Issues Change in State Mandated Testing Core 40 End of Course Assessments (ECAs) Disrupts our Data Plan No more Zeros, 50% Floor Change in State Mandated Testing Core 40 End of Course Assessments (ECAs) Disrupts our Data Plan No more Zeros, 50% Floor

1/8/2014Free Template from 18 Administrative Value

1/8/2014Free Template from 19 Data Design ( ) Data Exploration – Project Design Triangulation of Data- Tracking 20 random 10 th graders for the next 3 years 3 rd,8 th,10 th grade ISTEP Data/ GQE SRI Scores NWEA scores in the future Attendance Data Exploration – Project Design Triangulation of Data- Tracking 20 random 10 th graders for the next 3 years 3 rd,8 th,10 th grade ISTEP Data/ GQE SRI Scores NWEA scores in the future Attendance

1/8/2014Free Template from 20 Data Design ( ) More of a focus on Project Based Learning as a means of balancing the assessment picture. Holistically Assessing Students Focus on Standards, 21st Century Skills, and Professional Behavior and Responsibility More of a focus on Project Based Learning as a means of balancing the assessment picture. Holistically Assessing Students Focus on Standards, 21st Century Skills, and Professional Behavior and Responsibility

1/8/2014Free Template from 21 Triumphs We have seen other Advocacy Groups form in our Building Administration has rewarded our work and honesty in addressing this issue. More Dialogue among the Staff We have seen other Advocacy Groups form in our Building Administration has rewarded our work and honesty in addressing this issue. More Dialogue among the Staff

1/8/2014Free Template from 22 Other Advocacy Groups Wii Wonder- a group exploring digital literacy at Ben Davis High School Project Based Learning a group of teachers leading PBL professional development in house for the staff Part of the School Improvement Plan Each teacher will implement 1 PBL unit in the next year Integrated Courses (Algebra 1 and ICP) Green Giants Wii Wonder- a group exploring digital literacy at Ben Davis High School Project Based Learning a group of teachers leading PBL professional development in house for the staff Part of the School Improvement Plan Each teacher will implement 1 PBL unit in the next year Integrated Courses (Algebra 1 and ICP) Green Giants

1/8/2014Free Template from 23 The Future PBL and TAG Our Data Collection will focus on the use of PBL to balance the Assessment picture as Ben Davis is naturally moving in this direction. Our group will work to help teachers collect their own data while teaching both PBL and regular units of study. PBL and TAG Our Data Collection will focus on the use of PBL to balance the Assessment picture as Ben Davis is naturally moving in this direction. Our group will work to help teachers collect their own data while teaching both PBL and regular units of study.