1. HCS School Innovation Plan
On Course for Success
Cathy C. McNeal , Ed.D.
May 17, 2012

2. Innovation School Plan
Huntsville City Schools expects this Innovation School Plan to waive the graduation requirements for an Alabama diploma of passing the Alabama High School Graduation Exam (AHSGE) for
Reading,
Math,
Language,
Social Studies, and
Biology
to begin in the school year.

3. List of the schools included in the district’s Innovation School Plan:
0020 Butler High School
0052 Columbia High School
0340 Grissom High School
0160 Huntsville High School
0176 J.O. Johnson High School
0200 Lee High School
0460 New Century High School for Technology

4. AHSGE or QC End-of-Course
Students must pass five sections of the Alabama High School Graduation Exam (AHSGE) in Reading, Mathematics, Language, Social Studies, and Biology or pass the ACT Quality Core End-of-Course exam in English 11, Algebra II, Biology, and U.S. History to meet the graduation requirements for an Alabama diploma.
AHGE Reading or ACT English 11 Quality Core End of-Course Assessment
AHSGE Language or ACT English 11 Quality Core End of-Course Assessment
AHSGE Mathematics or ACT Algebra II Quality Core End of-Course Assessment
AHSGE Social Studies or ACT U.S. History Quality Core End-of-Course Assessment
AHSGE Biology or ACT Biology Quality Core End-of Course Assessment

5. End-of-Course Assessments?
Why ACT Quality Core
End-of-Course Assessments?
Quality Core End-of-Course Assessments measure the learning outcomes all students must attain in order to succeed in college and careers.
QualityCore increases students’ college and career readiness by raising the overall quality of high school core courses.

6. ACT Quality Core End-of-Course Assessment
Students in grades 9-12 must take the AHSGE and the ACT Quality Core End-of-Course Assessments in the following areas for the through school year or until the AHSGE is no longer a graduation requirement for an Alabama Diploma:
English 9,
English 10,
English 11,
English 12,
Algebra I,
Geometry,
Algebra II,
PreCalculus,
Biology,
Chemistry,
Physics, and
U.S. History.

7. ACT Quality Core End-of-Course Assessment
QualityCore is a research-driven solution used to raise the quality and intensity of high school core courses for all students

8. ACT Quality Core End-of-Course Assessment
QualityCore is a research-driven solution used to raise the quality and intensity of high school core courses for all students

9. QC Components used to support curriculum:
Rigorous ACT Course Standards
Instructional Resources
Formative Item Pool
End-of-Course Assessments
Progress Monitoring
Custom Reports
Professional Development

11. QC End-of-Course Assessment
Testing Methods:
computer- based testing (CBT)
Format Options:
Multiple-Choice plus Multiple-Choice or Multiple-Choice plus Constructed-Response
Each test is comprised of two parts and each part requires 45 minutes for completion, or 1 hour 30 minutes for the set.

12. Benefits of QC End-of-Course
Enables educators to focus on fewer, clearer, and higher course standards, which are essential for college and career readiness
Uses formative assessments to guide instruction and make targeted interventions
Measures student progress and reports the data online for teachers and administrators to track
Provides professional development resources and training for teachers and leaders
Offers customizable instructions that meets the needs of all students, classrooms, schools, and districts

13. May 1, 2013 HCS QC Test Date Results will be available immediately

14. HCS will be charged for Students that TAKE the ACT Quality Core End-of-Course Assessment Spring 2013
Average cost per test $19.85
COST - ACT Quality Core
End-of-Course Assessment $372,690.50
ASAP - FY $227,000.00
HCS General Funds -$145,690.50
HCS will ONLY be charged for Students that TAKE the
ACT Quality Core End-of-Course Assessment Spring 2013