Pathways to Persistence and Success

Policies and programming in support of the Texas Success Initiative

PRE-ASSESSMENT ACTIVITIES

Pre-Assessment Activities (TAC §4.55)—No students take the

TSI Assessment “cold turkey”

Activities address • Importance of assessment • Testing process and sample questions/feedback • Remediation options • Institutional and community resources 2

TSI ASSESSMENT

MATHEMATICS, READING, AND WRITING

• TSI Statute (51.3062) applies to new students not otherwise exempt • Classifications • College Ready (entry-level courses) •

Developmental Education

• •

Knowledge and Skills levels - 9th to 12th grade equivalents

Developmental Education Diagnostic, or ABE Diagnostic Levels 5 and 6 •

Adult Basic Education (ABE)

•

Knowledge and Skills levels - 1st to 8.9

th

ABE Diagnostic Levels 1 to 4

grade equivalents

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NATIONAL REPORTING LEVELS (NRS)

EDUCATIONAL FUNCTIONING LEVEL DESCRIPTORS (EFLD). NRS is an outcome based reporting system for the state-administered federally funded Adult Education program.

LEVEL 1

(grade equivalency 0-1.9)

LEVEL 2

(grade equivalency 2 - 3.9)

LEVEL 3

(grade equivalency 4 - 5.9)

LEVEL 4

(grade equivalency 6 – 8.9)

LEVEL 5

(grade equivalency 9 -10.9) DEVELOPMENTAL EDUCATION

LEVEL 6

(grade equivalency 11 - 12) DEVELOPMENTAL EDUCATION

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BACKGROUND QUESTIONS

1. Pre-Assessment Activity: Were you provided with information and/or an activity to help you understand all of the following: (1) the importance of this assessment, (2) sample questions, (3) course options, and (4) resources for students? 2. High school graduate or GED certificate: Which statement best describes your high school status? 3. Time since credential: How long ago did you graduate from high school or receive a GED? 4. Years studied English in high school: What is the total number of years you studied English in high school? Count less than a full year as a year, but do not count a repeated year of the same course as an additional year of study. 5. Years since last math course: How long has it been since you took a mathematics course or other formal mathematics training?

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BACKGROUND QUESTIONS

6.

Years studied math in high school: What is the total number of years you studied mathematics in high school? Count less than a full year as a year, but do not count a repeated year of the same course as an additional year of study.

7.

Ethnic origin: How do you describe your ethnic origin?

8.

Racial description: How do you describe your race?

9.

International: Are you an international student? 10. Education Father/Male Guardian Revised: What is the highest level of education completed by your father or male guardian?

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BACKGROUND QUESTIONS

11. Education Mother/Female Guardian Revised: What is the highest level of education completed by your mother or female guardian? 12. Language First: What language did you learn to speak first? 13. Language Read Best: What language do you read/write best? 14. Language Speak Best: What language do you speak/understand best? 7

WHAT DOES THE ASSESSMENT COVER

Mathematics

Multiple-choice assessment. Approximately 20 items on the TSI placement test and 10 items in each section of the TSI diagnostic test • • • • Elementary Algebra and Functions Intermediate Algebra and Functions Geometry and Measurement Data Analysis, Statistics and Probability 8

WHAT DOES THE ASSESSMENT COVER

Reading

Multiple-choice assessment. Approximately 24 items on the TSI placement test and 10 to 12 items in each section of the TSI diagnostic test • • • • Literary Analysis Main Idea and Supporting Details Inferences in a Text or Texts Author’s Use of Language 9

WHAT DOES THE ASSESSMENT COVER

Writing contains a multiple-choice section and an essay section.

Multiple-choice section has approximately 20 items on the TSI placement test and 10 to 12 items in each section of the TSI diagnostic test • • • • Essay Revision Agreement (

subject–verb agreement and pronoun agreement)

Sentence Structure Sentence Logic 10

WHAT DOES THE ASSESSMENT COVER

Writing Essay Five-paragraph persuasive essay (approximately 350–500 words) on a controversial issue or one of current interest.

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TSI ASSESSMENT – TESTING PROCESS

MATHEMATICS/READING

Student takes TSI Placement Component

• Meets or exceeds CR threshold? (M=350; R=351) • Yes = enrolls in credit course • No= takes Diagnostic Component • DE Diagnostic (M=336-349; R=342-350) OR • ABE Diagnostic (M=310-335; R=310-341) 12

TSI ASSESSMENT DIAGNOSTIC PROFILE MATHEMATICS

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TSI ASSESSMENT DIAGNOSTIC PROFILE READING

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TSI ASSESSMENT – TESTING PROCESS

WRITING

Student takes TSI Placement Component

• Meets or exceeds ABE threshold? (350) • Yes = takes Essay component • Essay 4 and 363+ = CR (student enrolls in credit course) OR • Essay 5-8 = CR (student enrolls in credit course) • Essay 0-3 OR Essay 4 and <363 = takes DE Diagnostic • No= takes ABE Diagnostic Component (no essay is administered) • ABE Diagnostic Results = Levels 4, 5 and 6 → takes Essay component (see above), OR • ABE Diagnostic Results = Levels 1-3 15

TSI ASSESSMENT DIAGNOSTIC PROFILE WRITING

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HOLISTIC ADVISING AND DIFFERENTIATED PLACEMENT

• • • • • • •

Based on individual strengths and needs

TSI Assessment Diagnostic Profile HS GPA/Class Ranking Prior coursework Workplace experience Non-cognitive Factors (motivation, self-efficacy, etc.) Family-Life issues that impact persistence and success (work, transportation, finances, child care, etc.) 17

ACCELERATED OPTIONS

• • • Integration of Developmental Education Reading and Writing (upper-level) Mainstreaming/Course-pairing Non-Course Competency-Based Options (NCBOs) • Modular/Emporium-style delivery 18

TSI RESOURCES

    TSI Statute THECB Rules TSI/Exemptions TSI-DE Frequently Asked Questions 19

TSI ASSESSMENT RESOURCES

         TSI ASSESSMENT Approved Cut Scores TSI ASSESSMENT Test Content TSI ASSESSMENT Background Questions TSI ASSESSMENT Sample Test Questions TSI ASSESSMENT WritePlacer Sample Essays TSI ASSESSMENT Student Informational Brochure TSI ASSESSMENT Interpreting Your Score TSI ASSESSMENT CB Overview Blueprint TSIA ABE Diagnostic - Level Descriptors 20

THECB CONTACTS:

• • • •

Suzanne Morales-Vale

Director, Developmental and Adult Education [email protected]

(512) 427-6262

Terri Daniels

Assistant Director, Developmental Education [email protected]

(512) 427-6267

Alan Bugbee

Director, TSI Assessment [email protected]

(512) 427-6244

Linda Munoz

Director, Adult Education [email protected]

(512) 427-6525 21