1 1 Collaborative Conference for Student Achievement April 19, 2011

NCDPIs Response to Framework For Change SBEs Framework For Change Blue Ribbon Commission Report

Essential Standards Assessments Accountability

Newer ACRE work streams connecting directly with teachers, leaders, parents and students Ongoing central work to revise standards, assessment and accountability Newer work to deliver new standards, assessments and teaching tools Newer work to build LEA capacity to implement online tools StandardsAssessmentAccountability Formative Summative Benchmark Communication & Change Management Instructional Technology and Infrastructure Initiatives A revised model that includes measures of post- secondary readiness, robust, fair growth measures, revised reporting functions and motivates behavior that improves student outcomes. Diverse communication strategies that memorably inform all stakeholders esp. students, parents, teachers, principals. Tools and training, blending online and face- to-face learning experiences. Instructional Improvement System (IIS) User-friendly online platform to house and deliver teacher tools Professional Development College and career-ready standards. A new set of academic standards benchmarked against the best national and international expectations. A comprehensive assessment system with a focus on using assessments to improve instruction and fairly assess learning and instructional effectiveness. PROJECT MAP

Standards College and career-ready standards. A new set of academic standards benchmarked against the best national and international expectations. The goal is to set fewer, clearer and higher standards that, when achieved, ensure a student is ready for post- secondary education and work. Standards include Common Core in ELA and Math and NC Essential Standards in all other subjects. Curricular support resources will be developed to support the transition.

Time Line Subject Area Where is NC in the adoption process? School Year School Year School Year English Language Arts Common Core adopted June 2010 Current taught and assessed Common Core taught & assessed Mathematics Common Core adopted June 2010 Current taught and assessed Common Core taught & assessed Science Essential Standards adopted February 2010 Current taught and assessed New Essential Standards taught & assessed Social Studies, Healthful Living, Arts, Guidance, World Languages Social Studies, World Languages and Arts adopted; Healthful Living and Guidance in Winter 2011 Current taught and assessed New Essential Standards taught & assessed Career and Technical Education Anticipated adoption January 2011 Current taught and assessed New Essential Standards taught & assessed Information and Technology Skills Essential Standards adopted September 2009 New Essential Standards piloted with current New Essential Standards taught Early Learning Anticipated adoption of Essential Standards: Spring 2011 Current taught New Essential Standards taught Extended Content Standards All Extended Content Standards will be on the same operational time line as the standards in each individual content area.

Overview of the Common Core Initiative o State-led and developed Common Core Standards for K-12 in English Language Arts and Mathematics o Focus on learning expectations for students, not how students get there

Similar Goals for Standards North Carolinas Mandates Essential Narrow Deep Rigorous + Relevant Readiness for College and Career Common Core Essential Fewer, Higher, Clearer Focused Enduring Measurable Clear and Concise Prioritized and Focused Rigorous Readiness for College and Career

Common Core Rationale o Equity Students expectations the same regardless of where they live o College and Career Readiness Students need to be more than proficient o Comparability State results will be comparable through common assessments o Sharing of Resources The ability to share instructional materials across state lines can improve practice o Economies of Scale Possible savings due to sharing of resources and assessments o Student Mobility Students moving into and out of states will have the same standards

June 3, 2010 SBE Adoption of the Common Core Standards

o Text complexity o Balance of literature and informational texts o Direct link to college and work readiness o Literacy standards for science and social studies o Clear vertical progressions across grades ELA Standards Advances

o Focus in early grades on number (arithmetic and operations) to build a solid foundation in math o Evened out pace across the grades o High school math focus on using math and solving messy problems, similar to what would see in the real world o Problem-solving and communication emphasized Math Standards Advances

Tools and training, blending online and face-to-face learning experiences to help educators increase effectiveness and transition to new standards and assessments. Included are the creation of instructional toolkits, NC Falcon formative assessment training modules, new standards roll-out, using data to make decisions and Response to Instruction. Professional Development

Tools Professional Development OnlineFace-to-Face & for Teachers and Leaders

Professional Development A combination of online and face-to-face learning that includes different combinations of technologies, pedagogies, and contexts. (Graham, 2006; Stacey & Gerbic, 2001; Garrison and Vaughn, 2008) RESA Partnership Conferences Summer Institutes Online modules Professional Development System Virtual PLCs Face to FaceVirtual

Assessment Formative Summative Benchmark A comprehensive assessment system with a focus on using assessments to improve instruction and assess learning and instructional effectiveness. Plan includes updated EOG and EOCs, a tool to build common benchmark assessments and a variety of formative assessment tools including progress monitoring tools, writing assessments, in-class formative assessment training, portfolio assessments and data tools to improve instruction.

Next Generation Assessments A comprehensive balanced assessment system Updated EOG and EOCs (online, innovative item types, computer adaptive) Tools to build common benchmark assessments and a variety of formative assessment tools Data tools to improve instruction

Comprehensive Balanced Assessment System Formative Assessments: A process used by teachers and students during instruction that provides feedback to adjust ongoing teaching and learning to help students improve their achievement of intended instructional outcomes. Formative Assessment includes: Questioning Discussions Learning Activities Feedback Conferences Interviews Student Reflections Summative Assessments: A measure of achievement to provide evidence of student competence or program effectiveness Summative Assessment includes: Selected Response Items Multiple-Choice True/False Matching Short Answer Fill in the Blank 1-2 Sentence Response Extended Written Response Performance Assessment Statewide, Benchmark, and Classroom Classroom

Online EOCs and EOGs NC is moving towards online only assessments, accessed through the IIS (by ). Online assessments will allow the state to incorporate technology-enhanced items and implement computer adaptive testing, which will allow for a more accurate assessment of student learning. Support for moving to online assessments includes working with LEAs/Charter Schools to ensure that schools have the logistical and technical knowledge and skills to move rapidly to an online testing environment and a Best Practices Guide for Online Assessments (July 2011).

Online EOCs and EOGs NOW: All EOCs are available online; All LEAs are expected to participate 2012/2013: While all EOCs will be available online, the following assessments will be developed specifically for an online environment, some with technology-enhanced items. LEAs are encouraged to complete them online. EOG Science at Grades 5 and 8 NCEXTEND2 Science at Grades 5 and 8 NCEXTEND2 Mathematics and ELA Grades 3-8 EOC English I EOC Algebra I EOC Biology NCEXTEND2 English I NCEXTEND2 Algebra I NCEXTEND2 Biology 2014/2015: The plan is to have all EOCs/EOGs developed specifically for an online environment with limited use of an alternate paper and pencil version.

Instructional Improvement System (IIS) Single, user-friendly online platform to house and deliver new tools, particularly the delivery of formative and summative assessments, provision of data analysis tools, delivery of professional development and instructional resources to teachers and establishment of online learning communities.

Instructional Improvement System (IIS) The IIS will be: An online resource An integrated repository of shared tools and applications A tool to help educators improve instruction A device to integrate data from multiple sources, including NC WISE

Tools will be available for managing formative assessment, student work and organizing classroom activities. Classroom and Instruction Management Tools (potential tools) Student Artifact Repository for evidence of learning such as digital work, including documents, video files, photographs, etc. Classroom grouping, organization, and seating tools. Tools to document use of formative assessment such as teacher observations about student skill and behavior. Grade management tools, such as grade books, student work reports, etc. IIS Tools

The Educator Evaluation System will be available, with direct links to professional development modules. Leadership Respectful environments Content knowledge Facilitating learning Reflective practice Professional Development Modules (e.g., NC FALCON) Educator Evaluation System IIS Tools for Teachers

IIS Assessment Tools Secure item pool LEAs create assessments Non-secure item pool Teachers create assessments High-quality Item Bank Variety of item types, including: open-ended technology-enhanced multiple-choice scenario-based Can be used with: student response clickers handheld devices Assessments scored online, using: artificial intelligence scoring rubrics Test Generator 2/10/2014 The assessment tool can be used to create classroom, grade, or LEA assessments.

IIS ToolRelease Date Assessment Tool Science/Social StudiesJuly 2012 ELA/MathJanuary 2013 Data Dashboard Phase IJuly 2012 Phase II (optional…)January 2013 Digital Artifact Repository January 2013 Data Guides Using Data for InstructionDecember 2011 Best Practices for Using the IISJuly 2012 IIS Timeline (Key Dates)

Accountability A revised model that includes measures of post-secondary readiness, robust, fair growth measures, revised reporting functions and motivates behavior that improves student outcomes.

Student Achievement Post-Secondary Readiness Based on authentic assessments Metric to be determined Robust measures using more historical data 5-year Cohort Students meeting the Future-Ready Core requirements Indicators Student Growth Graduation Rates Math Course Rigor

Lower Performance Higher Growth Higher Performance Higher Growth Lower Performance Lower Growth Higher Performance Lower Growth Performance Index Growth Index Matrix

Uses Reward and Sanction Target Assistance Report

Levels at which indicators might be used State LEA School Classroom Student o Revised Student Accountability o RttT and Educator Effectiveness Workgroup o Teacher Evaluation Tool o Much is decided; key issues remain outstanding

Future-Ready Core Inclusion More Robust Growth Model Five-Year Grad Rate Index System (including bonus points) Student Accountability Updated Outstanding Issue Post-Secondary Readiness State LEA School Decisions