[Assessment_Advisory_Committee] FW: 2014-15 test administration window

[BROWN Derek]

Feedback from Bill Stewart...

d

Derek Brown
Director of Assessment
Office of Learning
Oregon Department of Education
255 Capitol St. NE
Salem, OR 97310
Ph. 503-947-5841
Fax 503-378-5156
derek.brown at state.or.us<mailto:derek.brown at state.or.us>

From: Bill Stewart [mailto:stewartw at bctonline.com]
Sent: Sunday, June 29, 2014 10:20 AM
To: BROWN Derek
Cc: assessment_advisory_committee at listsmart.osl.state.or.us; Jon Wiens
Subject: Re: [Assessment_Advisory_Committee] 2014-15 test administration window

Derek and colleagues,

>From my limited perspective, I think this is a definite value-added schedule....not only for my district but likely for many others.  Personally, I don't see anything that further restricts flexibility for districts. I think the extension at the end AND the earlier opening for high schools give considerable opportunity for districts to make SBAC testing as workable as possible for their schools/staff/students.

Regarding the statement - "...and require districts to police themselves".  I think the kicker here will be to make sure that districts are FULLY aware of the threshold criteria and related rules  so they can accurately calculate and implement the correct test windows, based on the annual calendar of instruction and/or schedule of their school(s).  I can imagine that some districts might revert to the 6 & 12 week 'rules' that have been mentioned frequently and simply miss the mark regarding the percentage of instructional time that must be met BEFORE the 6-12 rule even applies.

I would strongly encourage ODE to provide early and frequent communication to DTCs, Supts and other director lists regarding these rules...even if this test window proposal is NOT implemented.  A few specific examples would go a long way toward enhancing the value of this sort of communication.

Thanks for considering our input and creating a value-added proposal. I realize that this is NOT a done deal....yet!  Hopefully it will be, soon...before the Summer Assessment Institute, at the latest!

Bill

Bill Stewart
503-805-8680 - c

On Jun 27, 2014, at 4:47 PM, BROWN Derek <derek.brown at state.or.us<mailto:derek.brown at state.or.us>> wrote:


Assessment Advisory,

Many thanks for the rich dialogue and feedback regarding the 2014-15 test administration window.  As you know, the administration of Smarter Balanced assessments presents several issues we haven't dealt with in recent years, most specifically the test administration window and number of testing opportunities.  Based on your feedback, it seems clear there is a need to extend the back end of the window and an understanding of the potential impact such an action will have on accountability reporting.  You've also expressed the need to create more time on the front end, in particular for high schools on trimester schedules.

Given those points, please give me your thoughts on the following test administration window for Smarter Balanced ELA and Math assessments:

Grades 3-8, and high school (grade 11): Mar 3 - Jun 12

Regardless of the statewide test window set for these assessments, districts will be required to establish local windows that meet the threshold criteria of instructional days delivered prior to beginning testing, at the respective grade levels.  In essence, I believe we can set a wider window at the state level and require districts to police themselves.

Please note we've asked AIR for feedback regarding the impact of a wider statewide window, as suggested above, and will weigh their feedback as part of the decision making process.  As you know, we're planning on releasing the interim 2014-15 TAM in early August, and would like to provide an updated Smarter Balanced test window at that time.

Thanks in advance for your thinking and feedback on this important topic.

Derek

Derek Brown
Director of Assessment
Office of Learning
Oregon Department of Education
255 Capitol St. NE
Salem, OR 97310
Ph. 503-947-5841
Fax 503-378-5156
derek.brown at state.or.us<mailto:derek.brown at state.or.us>



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