College Readiness and the ReadiStep Assessment Angela Jeffrey Director of Secondary Education Pender County Schools

Why take the ReadiStep? Required for all 8 th graders. Purpose: Provides formative assessment, feedback regarding the student’s progress toward college readiness.

Why 8 th Grade? Provides feedback while there is still time to make necessary instructional adjustments. Time to target academic areas that need attention. Students who are not on target by the end of 8 th grade often do not achieve college readiness.

Why ReadiStep? ReadiStep is designed by College Board, the same company that creates the PSAT and the SAT. ReadiStep is a predictor of a student’s PSAT and/or SAT score. Pender County Schools students will take the PSAT in 9 th and 11 th grades and likely the SAT in 11 th or 12 th grade.

What is College Readiness? Historical, descriptive research helps us understand what scores are needed to be college ready. College readiness is defined as the level of preparation a student needs to enroll and succeed— without remediation—in a credit-bearing general education course at a postsecondary institution. One in three U.S. college students are required to take one or more remedial classes because entry scores did not meet the college readiness standard.

College Readiness College Board and ACT have developed college readiness standards, and they are measured on the SAT and ACT. ReadiStep is the College Board’s 8 th grade assessment and Explore is the ACT’s 8 th grade assessment.

Critical Success Factors Achievement of academic content knowledge, evidenced by completion of a rigorous high school core curriculum aligned to college readiness standards. Attainment of advanced academic skills, developed through an instructional focus on critical thinking, reasoning, problem solving, writing, and strong study skills.

Critical Success Factors Successful completion of college-level and other advanced courses taken in high school. Acquisition of college planning skills, demonstrated by an understanding of college and career options and the college admission and financing process.

Topsail Middle School Results Critical Reading Section Score range of 2.0 –8.0 Target score for college readiness is 5.0 TMS Mean Score of 5.1 (National Percentile =46)

Topsail Middle School Results Writing Section Score range of 2.0 –8.0 Target score for college readiness is 5.0 TMS Mean score of 5.4 (National Percentile=62)

Topsail Middle School Results Math Section Score range of 2.0 –8.0 Target score for college readiness is 5.0 TMS Mean score of 5.5 (National Percentile=63)

College Readiness Benchmarks for PSAT CRMathWritingPSAT/NMSQT Composite 11 th Grade PSAT/NMSQT th Grade PSAT/NMSQT

District Assessments for College Readiness…What next? 8 th Grade: Explore (ACT) 9 th Grade: PSAT (College Board) 10 th Grade: PLAN (ACT) and SAT Prep course (NCVPS) 11 th Grade: PSAT (College Board) in the Fall and SAT (College Board) and ACT in the Spring

What Should You Do? College Readiness Take rigorous courses –Honors Level Courses –Advanced Placement (AP) –Career and College Promise (CFCC Classes) Read and write, read and write, read and write. Read, read, read. Write, write, write.

Start Thinking About College Start making a potential college list by the end of 8 th grade Talk about college and career interests Begin to make college visits early Identify what is important in a college choice and seek best fit rather than best bumper sticker

NC Career and College Promise Four College Transfer Programs (CFCC) –Business & Economics –Engineering and Mathematics –Humanities & Social Science –Life and Health Sciences Be a high school junior or senior Demonstrate College Readiness Weighted GPA of 3.0 Maintain a 2.0 GPA on college coursework Courses offered on North Campus

NC Career and College Promise Seven CTE Programs –Business Administration –Collision Repair & Refinishing –Computer Engineering –Construction Management –Cosmetology –Criminal Justice Technology –Welding Be a high school junior or senior; Be enrolled in a High School Career Cluster that is approved to align with the certificate area; Have a weighted GPA of 3.0 on high school courses or your principal’s approval; Meet any Accuplacer requirements Maintain a 2.0 GPA in your college courses (after taking at least two courses). All courses offered on North campus except Collision Repair which will remain at PCS Bus Garage

NC Career and College Promise Costs Tuition is waived for students Students are responsible for fees (course, technology, activity, and parking/security fees) Students are responsible for textbooks Challenges Transportation to and from the North Campus School calendar/Student scheduling

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