1. ACT Data… Friend or Foe? OSCA ALL OHIO CONFERENCE November 5, 2009 Laura Beach, ACT Ann Bruce, Solon High School Wendy Dingman, Solon High School

2. Solon High School Suburban, diverse public high school located 18 miles outside of Cleveland 1850 students grades 9-12 Six counselors - each with alpha caseload of 325 students and specific duties

3. EXPLORE - all 9 th graders PLAN - all 10 th graders  Purpose  Prepare for ACT  Recognize/address academic strengths and weaknesses  Discover career interests  Cost  District pays for all students to test  Logistics  “Testing Morning” in November for all 9 th /10 th  11 th /12 th graders have late arrival  All staff assigned to administer/proctor  All classrooms available for testing “Pre-ACT” TESTING

4. Individual Student Conferences EVERY YEAR with EVERY STUDENT  Conference with Counselor: ◦ Review test score results ◦ Review scheduling for next academic year ◦ Complete/review four-year plan ◦ Review and guide college and career ideas  Finding the time… ◦ Priority ◦ Commitment ◦ Culture of the School Sharing Score Reports with Students

5. EXPLORE & PLAN RESULTS “Your Score Report” provided by ACT for each student Provides detailed information including: Test scores for each sub-test Estimated PLAN or ACT Score Range College readiness indication based on benchmark scores Self-reported academic and career plans Career possibilities based on career assessment Detailed skills report in each subject area

6. Estimated ACT Range College Readiness Composite and Sub-scores Career Guidance Specific Jobs in Career Areas

7. PLAN test results - Correct Answer - Your Answer - Subscore Area ex. Alg or Geometry - Unanswered questions Suggestions for improving skills based on student’s scores

8. Additional Resources using EXPLORE/PLAN: Your Score Report EXPLORE and PLAN Score Report Guides for Students www.explorestudent.org www.planstudent.org www.actstudent.org Ohio Career Information System http://ocis.ode.state.oh.us/ http://ocis.ode.state.oh.us/ Solon Schools Guidance Webpage Links

10. How did we get started? Test & student results provided to MATH and ENGLISH departments English Department Chair: analyzed data presented areas of weakness to teachers modified English 10 curriculum to address needs Counselor attended ACT Workshop learned more about interpreting/using data ordered Item Response Summary Reports for departments Using Results with Teachers to Improve Curriculum

11. Item Response Summary Report EXAMPLE: EXPLORE Item Response Summary Report

12.  Overview of Assessments  Review of Reports  Collaboration with Colleagues  “Best Practices” in Ohio for Data Implementation  Round Table Discussion of Ideas  ACT Resources

13.  Counselor shared/interpreted with ENGLISH, MATH & SCIENCE Departments:  Copy of test booklets  Item Response Summary Reports  College Readiness Standards for each academic area  PLAN/EXPLORE test results for our students

15.  Counselor shared with Administrator information about Career Readiness Workshop  In attendance at workshop: 2 – Teacher leaders from English 1 – Department head from Math 2 – Teacher leaders from Science 1 – Counselor Additional Training Using PLAN/EXPLORE Data

16. Common Planning Time for Teachers Teachers reviewed the PLAN/EXPLORE tests, Item Response Summaries and released ACT tests Administrator & Teachers reviewed College Readiness Standards Teams planned curricular changes to fill gaps to improve learning and meet benchmarks Additional Training Using PLAN/EXPLORE Data

17. Additional Resources ACT Website Matching Ohio Standards to ACT College Readiness Standards http://www.act.org/education/statematch/ http://www.act.org/education/statematch/ Sample reports, Data Interpretation Guides, Testing Materials, Power Point Presentations http://www.act.org/ew/resources/index.html http://www.act.org/ew/resources/index.html College Readiness Standards and sample test questions http://www.act.org/standard/instruct/index.html http://www.act.org/standard/instruct/index.html “Connecting the College Readiness Standards to the Classroom” http://www.act.org/standard/guides/act (/plan or /explore) http://www.act.org/standard/guides/act Essay View http://www.act.org/essayview/index.html http://www.act.org/essayview/index.html

18.  Communication tool at PTA and Board Meetings  Comparison to other similar districts  Tool for students and parents to use in career/college search process  Recognition of student and faculty academic progress and achievement Using EXPLORE/PLAN Data at the District Level

24. This Power Point is posted: www.solonschools.org/guidance