Math SOL Test Changes School Board Work Session March 8, 2012

New Standards  Math Standards of Learning were adopted in Spring 2009 to reflect increased rigor from K-12.  Teachers were expected to teach two sets of standards in the school year.  This year only the 2009 Standards are being taught and assessed.

New Assessment  The new SOL assessments are being used this year at grades 3-8 and High School End of Course  Multiple Choice items will reflect increased rigor (multiple concepts, higher level of thinking)  Technolgy Enhanced Items  Graphing  Hot Spot (more than one right answer)  Fill-in-the-blank  Drag and Drop

What do some items look like?

Elementary  Standard: 4.13 The student will a) predict the likelihood of an outcome of a simple event; and b) represent probability as a number between 0 and 1, inclusive.

Previous Test Item

New Test Item

Middle School  Standard: 6.14 The student, given a problem situation, will a) construct circle graphs; b) draw conclusions and make predictions, using circle graphs; and c) compare and contrast graphs that present information from the same data set.

Previous Test Item

New Test Item

High School Algebra I  Standard: A.7 The student will investigate and analyze function (linear and quadratic) families and their characteristics both algebraically and graphically, including  a) determining whether a relation is a function;  b) domain and range;  c) zeros of a function;  d) x- and y-intercepts; …

Previous Test Item

New Test Item

Pass-Rate Changes  The State views these tests and the results as “a new trend-line in mathematics student achievement”.  Predicted pass rate drops from 30-40%.  Cut scores are being developed as students take the test.  Algebra II Advanced Pass designation now designated “College Ready”.

End of Semester Results  State pass rates:  ACPS pass rates TestFall 2011Fall 2010 Algebra I49.2%84.1% Geometry63.0%78.5% Algebra II53.7%84.5% TestFall 2011Fall 2010 Algebra I43.3%58.1% Geometry79%82.5% Algebra II57%82.1%

Some Clarifying Points  186 students tested in Alg. II  12 were “College-ready” (No state average available).  Scores in Fall 2011 only come from Monticello and Murray.  State averages in Algebra I are harder to compare due to middle school Algebra I policies across the State.

Next Steps  Communication  State Practice items and resources  Teacher Collaboration  Updating Testing Logistics

Take- Aways  The actual items on the test are more aligned with our ACPS values than previous tests.  The pass rates are primarily determined by the state cut scores – which are being set in order to begin a new trend line.  We are working diligently on communication, internal and external, in order to clarify what new scores mean, and how we can best prepare our students for May.

Additional Take-aways or Questions?