Transcript Document

State Approaches to
Improving High School
Outcomes:
A National Perspective
Jennifer Dounay Zinth
Education Commission of the States
For Legislative Achieving Classroom Excellence Task Force
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
October 6, 2009
About ECS
• 50-state education compact est’d 1965
• Nonpartisan, nonprofit
• Serves all state-level education policymakers
and their staffs:
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Governors
Legislators
State board members
State superintendents
SHEEOS and higher education leaders
Education Commission of the States
Any particular questions that
have not been addressed by
prior presenters to the
task force?
Education Commission of the States
Overview
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Middle grades
End-of-course exams
Exit exams, including alternate exams
A few words on ACT
Extemporaneous comments and
discussion
Education Commission of the States
Why Focus on Middle Grades?
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Student achievement drops after grade 4
Middle schools most likely not to meet AYP
At-risk indicators fewer than at HS level
High school is too late to start college and
career readiness
Education Commission of the States
Key Areas of State Activity
• ID’ing at-risk youth beginning grade 6
• Helping students explore career
options, set goals and see relevance
• Set high bars in standards and assts.
• Ensure teachers have knowledge and
skills they need
Education Commission of the States
Identifying At-Risk Youth
MI: “Superintendent’s Dropout Challenge”
• Using data on:
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Student achievement
Retention
Attendance
Behavior
• To ID 10-15 kids/school for researchbased supports (37,000-55,000 students
statewide)
Education Commission of the States
Helping Students Explore
Career Options, Set Goals
• 2009 Ohio H.B. 1
• Requires local boards to address
college and career readiness in grades
7-8 (and other grades as determined)
• Local boards must submit resolution to
state DOE
Education Commission of the States
Why End-of-Course Exams?
• Increase academic rigor
• Measure grade-level expectations (more accurate
means of holding schools and students accountable)
• Improve alignment of curriculum w/standards
• Hold kids accountable across HS career
• Let kids know what will be expected of them
• More syllabus driven, like AP or IB
• Less “gotcha” than standards-based exam
• Way to make sure expectations of students are
consistent across state
Education Commission of the States
End-of-Course Exams:
A Growing Trend
• Increasingly adopted by states
– States amending existing exit exams
– States starting exit exams with EOCs
– RI: One option for showing “proficiency”
• Some for exit purposes, some not
• April 2007: 14 states had [AR, GA, IN, MD, MA, MS,
NY, NC, OK, SC, TN, TX, UT, VA], under dev’t in D.C. &
7 states [KY, LA, MI, MN, MO, NJ, WV]
Education Commission of the States
State Activity re: EOCs since ‘07
• WA 2008: Math EOCs optional in 2010-11, may
sub. for WASL math for Class of 2013, replace
WASL math for Class of 2014
• IA 2008: Must make EOCs available to districts
• FL 2008: EOCs to earn alternative credit
• OH 2009: EOCs will replace current exit exam
• PA 2009: Still pending leg. approval; students
would pass 6 out of 10 EOCs for HS diploma
Education Commission of the States
How Are EOCs Being Used?
As of spring 2007:
• NCLB accountability: 9 states [AR, MD, MS, NY,
NC, OK, TN, UT, VA]
• Exit exam: 10 states [AR, MD, MS, NY, NC, OK (2012),
SC, TN, TX (future date), VA]
• Course credit/grade: 7 states [AR, GA, NY, NC,
SC, TN, VA] [VA: optional, not mandatory use for this purpose]
• Advanced diploma: 2 states [NY, VA]
• Scholarship eligibility: 1 state [NY]
Education Commission of the States
EOCs: Best State Practices
Indiana
• College/work-ready standards embedded in
“Core 40” curriculum
• EOCs aligned with college/work ready standards
• College/work readiness = default grad. reqts in
2011
• Supports for teachers online
– Core standards to help prioritize instruction
– Classroom assessments
Education Commission of the States
EOCs: More Best State Practice
Texas
• College-ready standards embedded in HS
curriculum
• EOCs to be aligned with college-ready stds.
• Grade 12 “college prep courses” for those
who haven’t passed EOCs
• Teacher prof. devt. available on collegeready standards
Education Commission of the States
Exit Exams
Why?
• Motivates teaching of standards
• Motivates students to learn
• Sets same statewide expectation for all
students
• Provides info that can inform policymakers on
quality of education
• ID’s student strengths/weaknesses to target
instruction
Education Commission of the States
Exit Exams: Critics Say…
• Tests too hard?
• Access to good instruction not consistent
among all students
• Research mixed on impact of exit exams
• May lead teachers to teach to test
• May take time away from instruction
• Inadequate accommodations to English
language learners, students with
disabilities?
Education Commission of the States
Evolution of Exit Exams
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1970s: Minimum competency based
1990s: Advent of standards-based
2000s: Transition to EOCs
2007: 22 states required passage
– 23 w/WA, Class of 2008
– 24 w/MD, Class of 2009
– 25 w/AR, Class of 2010
– 26 w/OK, Class of 2012
Education Commission of the States
How Are Exit Exams Being Used?
• NCLB accountability: 24 states [AL, AZ, AR, CA, FL,
GA, ID, IN, LA, MD, MA, MN, MS, NV, NJ, NY, NC, OH, OK, SC, TN, TX, VA,
WA] Red = EOC exit exam, Orange = State has developed EOC but is not using
it for NCLB accountability at this time
• Course grade (for EOC exit exams): 6
states [AR, NY, NC, SC, TN, VA] [optional, not mandatory use for this
purpose in VA]
• Advanced diploma: 3 states [LA, NY, VA]
• Financial award/scholarship: 2 states [AZ, MA]
• Certificate of mastery: 1 state [MA]
Education Commission of the States
Alternatives for Students Who Don’t
Pass (As of March 2008)
• Reciprocity with other states: Seven states
[Moot point given provision in interstate military compact]
• Substitute assessments: Ten states [AL, AR, FL, ID,
MD, NJ, NY, TX, VA, WA]
• Evaluation of course grades: Six states [IN, MA,
MS, NY, OH, WA]
• Evaluation of classroom evidence: Seven
states [GA, IN, MA, MS, OH, TN, WA]
• Evaluation of other criteria [attendance, letters of
recommendation, etc.]: Seven states [GA, IN, MA, MS, NY, OH, TN]
Education Commission of the States
Substitute Assessments
• Diverse state approaches
• Most common: Valid scores on AP, IB,
ACT, SAT in same subject area
Education Commission of the States
Arkansas
• ACT, SAT, AP or IB exam
• All exit EOCs must be given by grade 10
• Students must pass alt. asst. “directly
related to alternate exit course” [i.e., Alg. I or Eng. II]
• After 3 failed attempts, student must take
an alt. exit course and pass alt. asst.
• Alt. exit course may be online, outside
school day Sources: .
. § 6-15-2009; 005 18
023.28.7
ARK CODE ANN
Education Commission of the States
CARR
Florida
• Legislation req. state board to analyze PSAT,
PLAN, SAT, ACT, and common College
Placement Test for potential “concordant
scores”
• Student must fail FCAT 3x before taking alt.
exam
• State board ID’d SAT, ACT reading, math
scores
• College placement exam option for student with
certificate of completion
Sources: FLA. STAT. ANN. § 1008.22(10), http://fcat.fldoe.org/pdf/fcatpass.pdf
Education Commission of the States
Idaho
Fall of senior year:
Student may appeal to district for opportunity to
demonstrate proficiency via locally established
mechanism. All such mechanisms must be:
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Approved by state board
Aligned at a min. to 10th grade content standards
Aligned to state standards in subject in question
Valid and reliable
90% of criteria of measure(s) must be based on
academic proficiency and performance.
Source: IDAPA 08.02.03.105.03
Education Commission of the States
Maryland
Student who has not passed HSA may:
• Earn overall combined score [as determined by DOE]
• Earn score on DOE-approved alt. asst [AP, SAT,
IB]
If student is unable to do either, student may:
• Complete reqts. for “Bridge Plan for
Academic Validation” (project-based
demonstration of knowledge and skills).
Prerequisites apply.
Source: MD. REGS. CODE tit. 13A, § 03.02.09
Education Commission of the States
New Jersey
• “Special Review Assessment” has been
under attack
• Performance asst. tasks assigned by
teachers
• New SRA released this year
– No longer unlimited opportunities to take
– Teachers will not score own students
Sources: http://www.state.nj.us/education/assessment/hs/sra/,
http://www.state.nj.us/education/assessment/hs/sra/082609update.pdf
Education Commission of the States
New York
With commissioner approval, Regents scores may
be substituted for exams measuring equivalent
levels of knowledge and skill. Such exams must:
– Measure state standards in content area
– Be at least as rigorous as corresponding state test
– Be consistent with technical criteria for validity,
reliability and freedom from bias
– Be developed by entity other than school district
– Be available for any school to use
– Be administered under secure conditions
Source: NY. COMP.
CODES R.
& REGS. tit. 8, § 100.2(4)(f)
Education Commission of the States
Texas
• Legislation requires commissioner to
adopt method allowing AP, IB, SAT or
other test determined just as rigorous as
EOC to be substituted
• FYI: Students must achieve cumulative
score that is at least = to the product of the
# of EOCs admin. in that subject and 70;
minimum score of 60 for score to count
toward cumulative score
Source: TEX. EDUC. CODE
ANN.
§ 39.025(a), (a-1)
Education Commission of the States
Virginia
Establishes alternative means for earning “verified
units of credit”. Any test for earning verified credit
must:
• Be standardized and graded independently of school
or district where test is given
• Be knowledge-based
• Be administered on multistate or int’l basis, or as part
of another state’s accountability system.
• Measure content that incorporates or exceeds state
stds. content in the course for which verified credit is
given.
Source: 8 VAC 20-131-110(c)
Education Commission of the States
Virginia and CTE
State board must incorporate into CTE
courses math, science, English, social
studies standards, “as may be appropriate.”
State board may authorize sub. of industry
cert. and state licensure exams for verified
units of credit for CTE courses, “where
appropriate.” State board must provide the
option of industry cert. and state licensure
exams as student-selected verified credit.
Sources: VA. CODE.
ANN.
§ 22.1-227.1, 22.1-253.13:3(C)
Education Commission of the States
Virginia Quality Control in CTE
Statute establishes quality control division
in DOE. With funds as may be
appropriated, unit must “assist in
developing and revising local career and
technical curriculum to integrate the
Standards of Learning”.
Source: VA. CODE. ANN. § 22.1-227.1
Education Commission of the States
More on CTE, SOLs and Virginia
State board rule: Students who complete a CTE
program sequence and (1) pass an exam or
occupational competency asst. in a CTE field that
confers certification, or (2) earn occupational
competency credential from recognized industry, or (3)
earn professional license in a CTE field may sub. the
cert., credential or license for (a) student selected
verified credit and (b) either a science or history verified
credit when the cert., license or credential confers more
than one verified credit. Exam must be approved by
state board as add’l test to verify student achievement.
Source: 8 VA. ADMIN. CODE § 20-131-50
Education Commission of the States
OK, Really the Last Thing on
Virginia
Every person seeking initial licensure or
renewal of a license must receive
professional development in instructional
methods tailored to promote student
academic progress and effective
preparation for the Standards of Learning
end-of-course assessments.
Source: VA. CODE ANN. § 22.1-298.1(D)(3)
Education Commission of the States
A Few Words on ACT
• Six states administer ACT to all juniors
[CO, IL, KY, MI, TN, WY] (WY = ACT or WorkKeys)
• Four additional states will give ACT to
all juniors [ID, either COMPASS, SAT or ACT, Spring 2012; AL, ND
and OH –unclear at this time]
• ACT typically not used for:
– Exit purposes (OH only state exploring this)
– HS accountability (used partially for these purposes
in MI and IL, not at all in CO, KY, WY)
Education Commission of the States
Further discussion…
Education Commission of the States
[email protected]
303.299.3689
Education Commission of the States