[Assessment_Advisory_Committee] Testing Before the 66% Instructional Threshold

[Karen Brown Smith]

Good Morning,
Thank you for asking for input. I think my input bounces around a bit because I need more information, but here goes.
I don't recall if the 66% of the instructional calendar rule was first initiated by Smarter Balanced or by Oregon, but either way, it is part of Oregon's assessment system, and this is its 2nd year in place. If ODE and/or the committee is considering changing the 66% rule because it no longer makes sense, then I think we should allow some flexibility with the schools that started too early.
I tend to agree that it doesn't seem fair for a student's test to be invalidated because of an adult initiated test impropriety. However, I believe ODE has invalidated tests in the past for adult initiated improprieties. If we have invalidated tests in the past due to an adult initiated test impropriety, when the student only had one opportunity, i.e. ELPA or Smarter Balanced, and we still agree that the 66% rule makes sense, then I think the tests should be invalidated. If not, then I agree with others who have noted that we should allow flexibility, and I think it should be allowed for all of them rather than set a timeline for now.
For next year, if we still believe 66% is a key factor to instruction and student success, then no flexibility should be allowed except for the schools on trimesters where the instruction has already been delivered, and we should advertise the repercussions clearly and repeatedly. To assist schools, if possible, we need to enhance the tools to help them do a better job blocking students from testing too early. To improve functionality of the Test Window setting application it would be helpful to add grade and subject, and the ability to select multiples or all. We already have the ability to block individual tests and the file upload for it doesn't need simplified, it may just need advertising.
If we could add a test valid code which would allow the test to be valid for the student only for essential skills and for a college and career readiness score, and invalid for the school and district, I would go for that.

Karen
________________________________
[IMESD]

Karen Brown Smith | ESD Partner, Data Specialist & Accountability Support
Karen.Brown at imesd.k12.or.us
InterMountain ESD | www.imesd.k12.or.us
541.966.3124 or 800.706.4447 x3124


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 | ?503-947-5905

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