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Alaska Assessment - Spring Presentation Outline Length of Assessment Format of Assessment Quality of Assessment Administration of Assessment 10 th Grade Assessment –HSGQE combined with HS GLE

Alaska Assessment - Spring Length of Assessment Changes in 2006 –Eliminate field test writing prompt, reduces test time by approximately 30 minutes –Eliminate one field test reading passage, reduces test time by approximately 20 minutes –Increase from 10 to 14 field test forms to decrease length of all content areas by reducing the number of field test items on each form

Alaska Assessment - Spring Length of Assessment How does Alaskas assessment compare? –Constructed Response Reading compared to 18 states: 1 with fewer items; 5 comparable; 12 with more items Mathematics compared to 15 states: 2 with fewer items; 2 comparable; 11 with more items Writing compared to four states: Alaska, Rhode Island with 6, Ohio with 5, and New York with 4 items Overall: 5 with fewer items; 13 with more items

Alaska Assessment - Spring Length of Assessment How does Alaskas assessment compare? –Multiple choice compared to 29 states Reading: 16 with fewer items; 3 comparable; 9 with more items Mathematics: 15 with fewer items; 2 comparable; 11 with more items –Field test questions incorporated Alaska generally includes 10 mc, 1 cr Compared to five other states: 20-1; 10-2; 10-1; 8-1; 10-0

Alaska Assessment - Spring Format of Assessment 3 rd grade, 4 th grade, and HSGQE book will be a combined answer/test document –To reduce size of book and utilize efficient methods there will be a reading document and a separate writing/mathematics document 5 th through 9 th grade will have a test book with separate answer document format –Mirror practice materials will be developed

Alaska Assessment - Spring Quality of Assessment Format –Answer document will be formatted to prevent unnecessary pencil marks from transferring from one answer section to another –Reduction of gray pages –Navigation will be improved to help students know when to continue with the assessment –Orientation of test and answer document will be uniform, with form number in a uniform location

Alaska Assessment - Spring Quality of Assessment Content –Each item is written explicitly for Alaska, based on Alaska standards, and reviewed by Alaska teachers –Alaska teachers involved in writing items during item writer workshops (April 2004 & October 2005) –Each item is OWNED by the state of Alaska –Assessments have demonstrated alignment through independent alignment studies

Alaska Assessment - Spring Items Written Internal DRC Content Review Alaska Bias & Sensitivity Review Alaska Content Review Alaska Field Test Psychometric Data Review Alaska Data Review Operational Test Item Item Writer Training Study of Alaska Standards Quality of Assessment

Alaska Assessment - Spring Quality of Assessment Quality Assurance –Data Recognition Corporation (DRC) takes pride in the quality of work and will increase quality assurance steps –EED will review all items before they are placed in a form, including field test items –Test follows Universal Design providing the greatest access to students (removes decorative art and clutter from test)

Alaska Assessment - Spring Administration of Assessment Test window –Increased by 3 days HSGQE (10 th and 10 th +) same 3 days statewide 3-9 district choice within April 3-17 All students in the same grade must take tests on the same day – district uniformity Order of exam must be reading, writing, mathematics Tests MUST be ready for pick-up on April 20 or earlier –Automatic pick-up, no scheduling unless earlier Tight Timeline = testing in April, results in May Session breaks –Split sessions will be eliminated, with breaks built in based on time

Alaska Assessment - Spring Administration of Assessment District Test Coordinator Training –Move training closer to assessment window to increase effectiveness – February 23 and 24 –Add September training only for new DTC for fall HSGQE and Terra Nova Test Administration Directions –More explicit directions on matching test and answer document, including requiring students to check for matching numbers

Alaska Assessment - Spring Administration of Assessment Security Tracking –EED will provide district a choice to tack by total test count by building OR by individual serial number in grades 3-9 Spiral plan change (number of different field test forms a school works with) (14 different forms) 1.47 (small) districts will get the same form 2.7 (largest enrollment) districts will have a common form for read aloud accommodation ordered through the Online Enrollment System

Alaska Assessment - Spring th Grade Assessment Unique HSGQE ItemsDouble Coded ItemsUnique GLE Items 10 th Grade Assessment Re-Take HSGQE Assessment High School Exam Change in 2006 –Accountability – grade level assessment –HSGQE statute – essential skills –One exam, two purposes at 10 th grade Reduces overall length of exam at 10 th grade Maintains motivation for both exams Increased instructional value for schools –Retake exam includes HSGQE items only

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