San Antonio Express News Article
July 2010
WHEN FEDERAL STIMULUS MONEY
WAS FLOWING LAST SESSION, TEXAS
LAWMAKERS DEDICATED $9 MILLION
TO REMEDIAL REFORM. IN THE
UPCOMING SESSION, THEY FACE AN
$18 BILLION SHORTFALL.
Additional Article Comments
• “Developmental education is a huge expense when
it doesn’t have to be,” said Castro, D-San Antonio.
• “The lack of college readiness begins in K-12
classrooms, and state lawmakers have made major
changes aimed at beefing up the rigors of
coursework.”
• Richard Middleton, superintendent of the North
East Independent School District, said it’s time for
higher education to step up to the plate
The Road to Remediation in Math
Math placement is given
for Algebra courses. The
results from this placement
exam will determine if
student is placed into
remediation or regular,
credit baring math
courses.
Students Who Are College Ready for Math at the Time of Freshman Orientation
Orientation
Term
Total # of
Students
Overall
NCR
Status
NCR
Status in
Math
CR Status
Math
Ready in Math
Fall 2008
(200910)
4626
1173
716
457
39%
Fall 2009
(201010)
4585
1021
649
372
36%
Fall 2010
(201110)
5178
915
573
342
37%
College Readiness in math determinants in Texas and
UTSA
 ACT/SAT or TAKS exit level scores at the time of
admittance determine if an incoming student is exempt
Texas Success Initiative.
 What is the Texas Success Initiative?
 Why is it important in terms of remediation and working
with students and faculty?
Remediation or Developmental Education in Texas
 The Texas Success Initiative is law in the state of Texas. First
time Freshman who have not met exemption standards per
the ACT/SAT or TAKS test must take and pass a TSI exam
such as Accuplacer, Compass, ASSET or THEA at certain
levels in reading/math and writing in order to continue on
regular, credit bearing courses.
 If a student fails to pass certain minimum TSI exam cut
scores, those students are placed in remediation or
development.
Texas Success Initiative History
 The 78th Texas Legislature replaced TASP by the Texas
Success Initiative (TSI). Under the Texas Success
Initiative, Texas public institutions of higher education
are required to assess the academic skills of each
entering undergraduate student to determine the
readiness of the student to enroll in freshman-level
course work. For students failing to meet the
assessment standards, the institution may refer the
student to developmental course work.
Exemption Standards ACT, SAT and TAKS
 ACT composite of 23 (without the essay portion) with
subscores of 19 or greater provides exemption on the TSI.
 SAT composite of 1070 (without the essay portion) with
subscores of 500 or greater provides exemption on the TSI.
 TAKS Math and ELA of 2200 or greater with 3 on the essay
portion.
Texas Success “gray areas” in Math
 Students may pass the minimum cut-off standards on a TSI
exam such as Accuplacer math (63) but fall into a “gray
area” that needs more assessment (63-84).
 When students fall into “gray areas” and need further
assessment math placement is required by the University of
Texas at San Antonio.
Math Placement Initial Pass Data
Year
Algebra
Participants
Pass
Rates
Algebra
(1st)
Algebra 2nd
Attempt
Participants
Pass Rates
2nd Attempt
2007 - 2008
2087
28%
471
49%
2008 - 2009
1994
29%
469
52%
2009-2010
2365
25%
525
43%
PreCalculus/Calculus Data
Year
Participants
1st Attempt
Pass Rates
2nd Attempt
Participants
2nd Attempt
Rates
2007 - 2008
1290
47%
257
38%
2008 - 2009
1375
51%
295
33%
2009 - 2010
1296
55%
285
37%
Algebra Placement
2500
2000
1500
02xx
1023
1073
1000
500
0
2007-08
2008-09
2009-10
Initial Algebra Placement
1800
1600
1400
1200
1000
02xx
1023
1073
800
600
400
200
0
2007-08
2008-09
2009-10
Algebra Placement Retest
350
300
250
200
02xx
1023
1073
150
100
50
0
2007-08
2008-09
2009-10
Partnership to Accelerate Remediation
Math professor had
an idea to offer
Boot Camps and
had first had
knowledge of the
skills our students
needed to build.
Testing Services Office
administered, collected the
fee for the math placement
exam and held the data for
the placement and TSI
exams.
Math department agreed to provide the teacher and tutors and Testing provided the
funding, advertising, registration and other logistical set-up (room reservations) for
the Boot Camps.
Math Boot Camp





2008
79 Participants
19% Gained 1 level
40% Gained 2 levels
43 Improved
7 Did not retest
+2 levels
+1 level
No improvement
Did not retest
Math Boot Camp





+3 levels
+2 levels
+1 level
No improvement
Did not retest

2009
106 Participants
51% Gained 1 level
28% Gained 2 levels
1% Gained 3 levels
72 Improved
16 Did not retest
Math Boot Camp





2010
46 Participants
28% Gained 1 level
52% Gained 2 levels
38 Improved
8 No improvement
+3 levels
+2 levels
+1 level
No improvement
Resources
•My Math Test (Pearson) software
Advertisement Example
Is Math Boot Camp for you?
•If you achieved a lower score/course placement on your UTSA New
Algebra test than you believe you are capable, refresh your skills and
knowledge with Math Boot Camp taught by Dr. Carol Dyas, UTSA
College of Mathematics faculty member.
•This camp is designed for students who placed into developmental
courses (MAT 0203 or 0213).
•Camp participation should be prior to taking the alternate math
placement test in order to maximize the opportunity to be placed in a
higher level math course.
•Camp sessions are: July 12-15 or August 3-6; (9 am – 4 pm each day)
•To register, log on to ASAP, choose Testing Services link, continue to Register for
a Test Session, choose Math Boot Camp and select a session. Be sure to print
confirmation pages.
•There is no cost for the camp. However, participants must pay for their own
parking and lunches.
•Spaces are limited! The need is high. Therefore, registration on ASAP is first
come, first serve with no waiting list available.
IS 1403
B U S I N E S S I N F O R M AT I O N S Y S T E M S F L U E N C Y
IS 1403
 Business Information Systems Fluency
 Word processing, spreadsheets, data management, and
presentation graphics
 Mandated course by UT System
 Requirement for admission to COB
 Many students have prior experience
myitlab
 Web-based course using MS Office simulation (myitlab)
as platform for both course and test-out option
 Access Code Packet available at UTSA bookstore or online
 Runs on the Internet, no CD necessary
IS 1403 Test-Out Option
 Collaboration between COB and Testing Services
 Register software, then practice
 Schedule first appointment
 Identification and disclaimer
 One-time payment
 Four (4) tests
 Overall average of 70%
myitlab
 Practice Lessons and Practice Tests for each module
 Exam covering the practice material for each module
 Online support available to students
 Student results stored within myitlab
myitlab
www.myitlab.com
How would I do this at my school?
 Identify the appropriate course
 Partner with the course faculty
 Identify the skills being assessed
 Choose a simulation/testing platform
 myitlab (Pearson - Julianne Peterson, Sales Director, 281-989-1201)
 SAM (Cenage – Rick Ungerman, Executive Sales Rep, 210-834-1363)
 SimNet (Irwin – Ray Lesikar, Senior Account Mgr, 512-261-7039)