Measures of Student Learning/ Common Exam Update WS/FCS Board of Education November 13, 2012

Purpose of Common Exams: To measure educator effectiveness

Setting the Context For those grades and subjects that are currently non-tested, we need ways to measure growth: Common Exams

Setting the Context

Measures of Student Learning/Common Exams Exams designed for currently non-tested subjects (does not replace any existing tests) Built by the state – every district will have the same exams Intended to replace final exams in high school Not part of the accountability model

Measures of Student Learning/Common Exams FALL :

Measures of Student Learning/Common Exams SPRING 2013: *Elementary subjects are not required * * *

Elementary CEs Elementary CEs are not required, as teachers will have EOG reading and/or math measures

Measures of Student Learning/Common Exams HIGH SCHOOL EXAMS: 80-minute test –Two 40-minute sessions constructed responseMultiple-choice and constructed response –Students write in answers; for example: Math – students provide numeric answer and show their work English – short answer (paragraph or less) and extended response (up to 3 paragraphs)

Measures of Student Learning/Common Exams HIGH SCHOOL EXAMS: Constructed responseConstructed response is weighted based on how much time is spent on CR items –If students are expected to spend 25% of the test time on CR items, then approximately 25% of the score will be based on CR responses measures/specifications/

Constructed Response % of time on CR % of total pts attributed to CR # of CR items # of MC items ELA20-25%17-23% Math (Adv. F. and Pre-Cal) 20-25%34-44% Science25%23-28%540 Social Studies 50%48-52%

Measures of Student Learning/Common Exams How/if it counts as grades are determined by each school system –High School: just like a final exam - 25% of final grade –Middle School: just like how EOGs are currently counted – 20% of final grade in the respective subject Scores returned by software will be percent of total possible points (no proficiency cut score) –We will be creating a district ‘curve’ that reflects a similar pattern to EOC grades

One Grading Option A1A2BICIE1GEPSUSCE A B C D F

Measures of Student Learning/Common Exams Each school system is responsible for scoring the exams –Multiple choice – scanned at central office –Constructed response - scored by school personnel Scoring processes are determined by each district; DPI offers the possibility of one or two scorers –Teacher of record cannot be the sole scorer –WS/FCS will have two scorers; the teacher of record and another subject matter expert

Concerns Constructed Response –Amount of time it takes to score –Availability of scorers –Training on rubrics/scorer reliability –Items not field tested Other –Senior Exemptions: while students will not be allowed to exempt, seniors will be allowed to test early

Measures of Student Learning/Common Exams Middle School –We expect the length of the test to be similar, but no specifics released for these yet

Questions and for more Information: /educatoreffect/measures/ /educatoreffect/measures/