[Assessment_Advisory_Committee] Testing Before the 66% Instructional Threshold

[Tami Schild]

?I agree with Brian.  But I also don't think student tests should be invalidated because of this particular adult error -- especially since SB is only one opportunity.


Some high schools that set their window early so 12th graders can test.  I don't think there is a way to set a different window, one for 12th grade, one for 11th grade.

________________________________
From: Assessment_Advisory_Committee <assessment_advisory_committee-bounces at listsmart.osl.state.or.us> on behalf of Bain, Brian <bbain at ttsd.k12.or.us>
Sent: Thursday, March 10, 2016 1:36 PM
To: HEIDE Jordan - ODE; assessment_advisory_committee at listsmart.osl.state.or.us
Subject: Re: [Assessment_Advisory_Committee] Testing Before the 66% Instructional Threshold

I'm not certain the best method by which to have a conversation about this, so I'm going to start the conversation here.

1)  We now have a resource to prevent this from happening.  I went in and set school test windows that will not allow anyone to administer SBAC tests until after Spring break.  I think this should be a strong(er) recommendation if not a requirement of DTCs

2) Setting a secondary cut-off for "when it's REALLY (and this time we mean REAAAAALLY) not ok" seems a little strange.  That said, I have a number in mind, but I want to hear conversation first.  :)


Brian Bain
District Assessment Coordinator
Tigard-Tualatin School District
6960 SW Sandburg St, Tigard, OR 97223
503-431-4120 - bbain at ttsd.k12.or.us<mailto:bbain at ttsd.k12.or.us>

From: Assessment_Advisory_Committee [mailto:assessment_advisory_committee-bounces at listsmart.osl.state.or.us] On Behalf Of HEIDE Jordan - ODE
Sent: Thursday, March 10, 2016 1:28 PM
To: assessment_advisory_committee at listsmart.osl.state.or.us
Subject: [Assessment_Advisory_Committee] Testing Before the 66% Instructional Threshold

Good afternoon,

ODE has received a few reports of students testing before the 66% instructional day threshold has been met. This testing impropriety is outlined in Section  5.2 of the Test Administration Manual where it states, "ODE may invalidate tests if school-level test windows do not meet each of the following criteria..." For those cases reported to us to date (reflecting testing four weeks, three weeks, and one week before the threshold), ODE has so far determined to treat these improprieties as "no impact," meaning the tests stand as valid and the students are allowed to continue testing. However, we wanted to engage with you to help inform ODE's policy to ensure a systematic, coherent, and consistent approach.  Specifically, we'd like your input on the following questions:

·         Should there be a cutoff point at which tests should be invalidated  (i.e. tests administered more than 4 weeks before the threshold is met)?
·         If a cutoff is appropriate, what is the appropriate cutoff?

Please reply with your input by the end of the day this Monday, March 14. Thank you as always for your consideration!


Jordan Heide
Administrative Specialist
Office of Assessment & Accountability
255 Capitol St NE | Salem, OR 97310 | É503-947-5905

Want to stay informed? The Assessment & Accountability Update is a weekly newsletter highlighting news, updates, and changes to the state's assessment efforts. To subscribe to this newsletter, go to http://listsmart.osl.state.or.us/mailman/listinfo/ayprcupdates.