Changing Landscape of Assessments
in WV Schools
2014 School Counselor Conference
Dr. Beth Cipoletti, Assistant Director
Office of Assessment and Accountability
WESTEST 2
2013-2014
• Testing Window
o Statewide testing window: April 7 – June 11
o Each county has unique testing window
o Two unique testing period per day
• Online delivery
• Universal student tools
Practice Test
• March 10 – June 11
• Students may take practice test more than
once
• Students may be provided assistance on using
tools, online calculator and entering responses
TDC Student Tools
Blocking Ruler
Eraser
Highlighter
Manipulatives (ruler, calculator)
Mark for Later Review
Option (Answer choice) Eliminator
Reference card (grades 5-11)
Slide 4
Daily Deltas
• February 14 – Data pulled for Testing
Administration System
• February 17 – June 11 – Daily file of changes
“Daily Deltas”
• Changes captured for grade changes,
enrollment, accommodations and transfers
– Students must be released from former school
before new school can complete enrollment
Grade 11, Transition Mathematics for Seniors and English 12 CR
COMPASS
§18-2-39
• (c) The results on the comprehensive statewide student assessment
program in grade eleven in English/language arts and mathematics
shall be used to determine whether a student has met the collegeand career-readiness standards adopted pursuant to subsection (b)
of this section. Beginning with the 2015-2016 school year, instead
of using the comprehensive statewide student assessment
program, the state board may develop and implement end-ofcourse exams in English/language arts and math courses it
determines appropriate. These exams are designed for determining
whether a student has met the college- and career-readiness
standards. In order to allow for the enrollment in transitional
courses in the twelfth grade if necessary pursuant to subsection (e)
of this section, the courses, assessments and exams, as applicable,
shall be administered before the twelfth grade.
§18-2-39
• (e) The state board shall develop a twelfth-grade transitional course
for both English/language arts and math for those students who are
not on track to be college and career ready based on the
assessment or exam, as applicable, required pursuant to subsection
(c) of this section. The transitional courses shall be aligned with the
standards adopted pursuant to subsection (b) of this section. The
state board in collaboration with the West Virginia Higher Education
Policy Commission and the Council for Community and Technical
College Education shall use the American College Testing Program’s
Computerized Adaptive Placement Assessment and Support System
(COMPASS) or other mutually agreed-upon assessment to
determine whether a student has met the college- and careerreadiness standards after completion of the transitional course
WVBE Policy 2340
4.6 All public school students enrolled in 11th
grade with the exception of those students
participating in APTA shall participate in the ACT
COMPASS mathematics and in the ACT
COMPASS writing skills test with
accommodations as determined by their
respective IEP Teams, Section 504 Committees
or LEP Committees in the fall of each year.
WVBE Policy 2340
4.7 All public school students enrolled in
Transition Mathematics for Senior and/or
English 12 College and Career (English 12 CR)
courses with the exception of those who meet
the criteria to take APTA will take COMPASS
mathematics and/or ACT COMPASS writing skills
test with accommodations as determine by their
respective IEP Teams, Section 504 Committees
or LEP Committees as the end of the course(s).
Goals of COMPASS Testing
• Opportunity for more students to be
college/career ready
• Less remediation at post-secondary
• Opportunity for colleges and universities to
place students into credit-bearing English and
mathematics courses without additional
testing
COMPASS Scores and Placement
• Not a college admissions test
 COMPASS will not replace ACT or SAT as
an admissions exam
• If the student has achieved the required ACT
or SAT score for admission to a baccalaureate
program, the COMPASS score will not be used.
The ACT or SAT score will take precedence
over the COMPASS score.
ADMISSIONS VERSUS PLACEMENT
ADMISSION VS. PLACEMENT
• Two distinct processes
• Both utilize some form of test scores
ADMISSION STANDARDS (4-YEAR)
• Regular Admission
2.0 high school GPA and ACT score of 18/19; or
GED and 18/19 ACT; or
High school diploma and 3.0 high school GPA
Note: COMPASS has no role in admission
decision
ADMISSION STANDARDS (4-YEAR)
• Conditional Admission
Involved when GPA or ACT standards not met
Evidence that student has potential to successfully
complete college-level work
Limit on number of students admitted
conditionally
PLACEMENT STANDARDS
(2 and 4 YEAR)
• Standards for placement into credit-bearing
courses in mathematics and English
• Institutions may utilize an array of tests
including ACT and COMPASS
PLACEMENT STANDARDS - MATH
• ACT Math – 19
• COMPASS –
59 Pre-Algebra test and
36 Algebra test
PLACEMENT STANDARDS - ENGLISH
• ACT English – 18
• COMPASS English Skills - 71
IMPLICATIONS OF COMPASS
IMPLEMENTATION
• With a “passing” COMPASS score, students
with less than an 18/19 ACT can avoid
developmental education and can take creditbearing college courses.
• A “passing” COMPASS score as noted on the
high school transcript will allow the student to
avoid placement testing.
IMPLICATIONS OF COMPASS
IMPLEMENTATION (CONT’D)
Without a “passing” COMPASS score, students
with less than an 18/19 ACT must be admitted
with conditional admission status and must
successfully complete developmental
education courses prior to enrolling in creditbearing courses.
DEVELOPMENTAL EDUCATION
• Developmental courses must be completed
within the first four semesters of enrollment.
• The HEPC and CCTCE systems have placed an
emphasis on revising developmental
education.
SMARTER BALANCED ASSESSMENT
CONSORTIUM
WV Next Generation (NxG) CSOs
• Common Core State Standards adopted by
WVBE in May 2010.
• NxG CSOs for Mathematics and English
Language Arts aligned to the CCSS.
• Office of Instruction developed crosswalks of
the Next Generation CSOs numbers to the
CCSS numbers.
• Full implementation in grades 3-12 for 20142015.
WESTEST 2 vs. Smarter Balanced Field Test
WESTEST 2
Smarter Balanced Field Test
Who
All Schools
Grades 3-11
Selected Schools for Scientific Sample
Practice Tests for all Schools
Format
Online with Online Writing Online plus Performance Task
Session
Content
Reading/Language Arts,
Mathematics, Science and
Social Studies
English Language Arts/Literacy and
Mathematics
Test Items
Selected Response
(Online Writing –
Extended Response)
Selected Response, Constructed
Response, Technology-Enhanced Items
and Performance Task
WESTEST 2 vs. Smarter Balanced Field Test
Alignment
WESTEST 2
Smarter Balanced Assessment Field Test
West Virginia CSOs
Common Core State Standards
(West Virginia Next Generation CSOs)
Length/Duration Untimed
Untimed
Development
WV educators
Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium
WVDE staff and WV educators
Reports
Student reports
School reports
No student or school reports
(Reports available for operational test
2014-15)
DYNAMIC LEARNING MAPS
ALTERNATE ASSESSMENT CONSORTIUM
Federal Support
• Office of Special Education Programs, United
States Department of Education, funded two
General Supervision Enhancement Grants in
2010 to support the development of alternate
assessments linked to the Common Core
Standards (CCSS).
• DLM and the National Center and State
Collaborative (NCSC) at the University of
Minnesota were awarded five-year grants.
WV NxG Extended Standards
• DLM CCEE incorporated into
– Alternate Academic Standards in Mathematics
(WVBE Policy 2520.162)
– Alternate Academic Achievement Standards in
English Language Arts (WVBE Policy 2520.161 )
• Effective date: July 1, 2013
APTA vs. DLM
APTA
DLM
Format
Paper-and-Pencil
Online
Content
Reading/Language Arts,
Mathematics, and
Science
English Language Arts/Literacy
and Mathematics
Alignment
Extended Standards
Extended Standards (Common
Core Essential Elements)
Length
Untimed
Untimed
Development
WV Educators
DLM Consortium
WVDE Staff and WV Educators
Contact Information
Dr. Beth Cipoletti, Assistant Director
Office of Assessment and
Accountability
304.558.2546
dcipolet@access.k12.wv.us