Status of the Appeals, PSAT/SAT/ACT and WASL/Grade Comparison Options Robert Butts Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction WERA Conference December 8, 2006

2 PSAT/SAT/ACT Math Equivalency May meet math standard by meeting/exceeding score on PSAT, SAT, or ACT Must take WASL twice. Need not meet attendance/remediation requirements in SLP Minimum scores: PSAT - 47 SAT ACT – 19 May ”bank” scores earned before taking WASL twice Form being developed to document student has met standard – see website after February 15 Will need copy of original score report Need to develop a process for including in Student Information Systems

3 PSAT/SAT/ACT Math Equivalency Of 24,000 matched students (2003 WASL/2005 SAT), 2,049 met/exceeded 470 on SAT and did not meet the WASL math standard Reimbursement/Fee Waivers Legislation requires school districts to reimburse students for taking these tests “for the purposes of an alternative assessment” OSPI exploring feasibility with ACT and SAT of providing fee waivers for eligible students in lieu of reimbursement  Must have taken WASL twice, not met standard  Funding currently available through June 2007  Check website in January for more information

4 WASL/Grades Comparison Must take WASL twice and meet any attendance and remediation requirements in Student Learning Plan Compares the course grades of the applicant with the grades of students who: Were in same school Took same courses (e.g., Algebra 1); and Met or slightly exceeded standard. Compares applicant’s grades with mean grades of this “comparison cohort” Use equivalent of classes that earn 2 credits For mathematics, reading, writing Been concerns about correlation, esp. in reading/writing

5 WASL/Grades Comparison  Highest Math WASL score = 390  Took Algebra I and Geometry  Average grades for the two classes: 2.9 Frank Students in the high school who took Algebra I and Geometry Students who met or slightly exceeded the math standard (scores of ) Mean grades of this “cohort”: 2.7 Frank’s average grades: 2.9 Meets the mathematics standard

6 WASL/Grades Comparison Draft rules distributed for comment prior to January 2 Goal is to adopt rules by early spring Will not be ready for use until this spring or fall Outstanding issues: Are data for prior school years available and accessible? Can a statewide electronic tool be developed? Should this be available only after junior year?

7 Transfer Students and Special Cases SB 6475 requires OSPI to develop guidelines and appeal procedures for waiving CAA/CIA requirement for students: Who transfer into a WA school in junior or senior year; and Who have special, unavoidable circumstances

8 Transfer Students Principles Makes sense and considered to be fair by students, parents, educators Not overly complex and can successfully be implemented Maintains the integrity of the CAA Recognizes transfer student may not have had a opportunity-to-learn Must work for children of parents in the military and others who relocate frequently

9 Transfer Students Two different options currently under consideration: Waive CAA/CIA requirement for students who arrive after October 1 in junior year or in senior year  Would be able to graduate, but would not get a CAA/CIA Waive CAA requirement only for students who have passed another state high school assessment or out- of-country students who demonstrate skills  Math/Reading-Writing-English language Arts  Would be able to graduate, but would not get a CAA/CIA

10 Transfer Students Option 1 (Broad Waiver) Clearer and easier to implement Recognizes lack of opportunity-to-learn for transfer students Raises issues regarding fairness to students who have been in WA but not met standards Option 2 (Other state tests/out-of-country) More difficult to implement, esp. out-of-country Does require that students demonstrate skills, but not necessarily “comparable skills”

11 Special Circumstances Current Draft: Students with “special, unavoidable circumstances” could file an appeal to SPI Would go to a statewide Appeals Board  Principals/teachers  Meets times a year  Makes recommendation to SPI Definition  No fault of their own  Include, but not limited to:  Could not take assessment in senior year due to illness, injury, or loss of a parent  Major error in test administration  Accommodations not provided

12 Timeline for Appeals Draft rules distributed for comment prior to January 2 Goal is to adopt rules by early spring.