staar ppt - Houston Independent School District

End of Course Assessments:Recommendations for Impact onCourse Grades, Grade Point AverageOctober 6, 2011HOUSTON INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT

A new accountability system2

How is STAAR different?Time limit None Four hoursPerformancecategoriesPassing andcommendedLevel I – Unsatisfactory AcademicPerformanceLevel II – Satisfactory Academic PerformanceLevel III – Advanced Academic PerformanceGraduationRequirementsRigorGoalFour exit-leveltestsMultiple stepswith some openendedquestionsMeasure studentachievementEnd-of-course exams (EOCs)for 12 high school coursesHigh level of cognitive complexity, multiplesteps, critical analysis, open-ended questionsMeasure college and career readiness; makeTexas students more competitive nationallyand internationally3

STAAR transition planGrades 3-8Grade 9Grade 10Grade 11Grade 12& out-of-school2011-2012 2012-2013 2013-2014 2014-2015 2015-20164

ModificationsSimilar to TAKS, STAAR EOCs will be modified toaccommodate: Special Education Studentso STAAR Modifiedo STAAR Alternate English Language Learnerso STAAR L5

The ABCs of the EOCAStudents on Recommended and DistinguishedAchievement plans need 12 EOCs to graduate.Math English Science Social StudiesAlgebra IEnglish I(Reading & Writing)BiologyWorldGeographyGeometryEnglish II(Reading & Writing)ChemistryWorld HistoryAlgebra IIEnglish III(Reading & Writing)PhysicsU.S. History6

The ABCs of the EOCBEOC exam counts as 15% of final grade.… TAC 74.26(c), regarding credit for high schoolgraduation, stipulates that “credit for courses forhigh school graduation may be earned only if thestudent received a grade which is the equivalentof 70 on a scale of 100, based upon the essentialknowledge and skills for each course.” A studentwhose final grade for a course is less than theequivalent of a 70 on a scale of 100 may not begiven credit for that course, since by law thegrade must include the student’s score on theEOC assessment.** State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness (STAAR) Q&A, 8-26-117

Understanding cumulative scores9

Decisions to be madeat the district levelHow will the EOC assessment count as 15%of the final course grade?What impact will the EOC assessmenthave on GPA?How will EOC retakes be counted?10

Process of developingrecommendation on EOCs• Starting in July,convenedmeetings withhigh schoolprincipals, SIOsand central officeadministrators todiscuss options.HISD inputOther districts,TEA• Reviewed optionsfrom other districts,regional servicecenters and TEAdocuments re: EOCs.• Attended state-widemeetings with otherdistricts and TEAofficials to discussEOC policy options.Legislation• Considered boththe intent andspirit of thelegislation.11

The options we considered1:EOC applied to final course grade – not impacting creditor GPA.Semester 1Semester 2Final grade ongrade gradetranscript:EOC=15%GPA, classrank12

The options we considered2:EOC is 15% of second semester grade only.First semester is calculated differently.Semester 1Semester 285% 15%85% 15%coursework final exam coursework EOC examAveraging bothsemesters, EOC wouldequal 7.5% of final grade13

3:The options we consideredEOC score applied to second semester and retroactivelyto first semester.Semester 1Grade* PENDING CREDITSemester 285% 15%coursework EOC exam85%courseworkSemester 115%EOC exam14

The options we considered4:EOC is 30% of second semester grade only – 15% of thefinal grade.Semester 11 st sixweeks2 nd sixweeks3 rd sixweeksFinalexam:25%Semester 24 th sixweeks5 th sixweeks6 th sixweeksFinalexam:25%75% 75%Semester 1Semester 21 st sixweeks2 nd sixweeks3 rd sixweeksFinalexam:30%4 th sixweeks5 th sixweeks6 th sixweeksEOCexam:30%70% 70%15

Grading at a glanceStudents may retake an EOC: Until a minimum score is reachedor to raise Coursework cumulative score. Coursework At anySemestertimeexamin the testing EOC examschedule.Semester 1: Semester 2: Final Course Grade:30%30%Scores on retakes 70% will not impact70%astudent’s GPA.CourseworkSemester examEOC exam15%15%70%16

Additional information TEA FAQ II – expected on October 15, 2011. Standards for STAAR EOCs will not be set untilFebruary 2012. TEA will seek the U.S. Department of Educationapproval on AYP plan – implications for middle schoolaccountability. Other districts’ recommendations.17

More work ahead Updating Grading Regulations and Secondary Guidelines. Creating presentations for all principals to share with theircommunities. Converting EOC scaled scores into HISD grading system. Determining percentages the Reading and Writing tests aspart of the ELA EOC assessments. Reviewing implications for decision making aroundappropriate assessments for SPED students. Planning for summer school for EOC acceleration and retakeopportunities. Examining credit recovery, scheduling, and credit-by-exam.18

Questions