February 11, 2011
Big Picture: How Does It All Connect?
Two-thirds of all new jobs require
at least some postsecondary education
It’s critical that we prepare all students to graduate high school with the potential
to continue their studies and grow their skills.
New Graduation Requirements and Assessments:
•Designed to help all students, beginning with the class of 2015, demonstrate
proficiency in state academic standards
•Complement the standards that guide instruction in Pennsylvania’s high schools
•Grounded in Pennsylvania’s comprehensive approach to supporting student
achievement using the Standards Aligned System (SAS) portal
Graduation Requirements
School district graduation policies must at least include:
Graduation Policy Phases
PHASE ONE: Students graduating in
2015 and 2016 must demonstrate
proficiency in:
PHASE TWO: Students graduating in
2017 and beyond must demonstrate
proficiency in:
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•
•
•
•
English Composition
Literature
Algebra I
Biology
•
•
•
Both English Composition and
Literature
Two of three Mathematics (Algebra I,
Algebra II, or Geometry)
One of two Sciences (Biology or
Chemistry)
One of three Social Studies (American
History, Civics and Government or
World History)
Keystones as % of Course Grade
In addition to scale scores, each Keystone Exam is
graded on a 100-point scale:
Performance Level
Points
Below Basic
0
Basic
50-69
Proficient
70-89
Advanced
90-100
Test Format
Keystone Exam Questions:
•
•
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Includes multiple-choice questions and constructed-response, or open-ended questions.
Algebra I and Biology: 60%-75% of the total score from multiple-choice questions and;
25%-40% of the total score from constructed-response questions
English Composition: 20% of the total score will come from multiple-choice, and 80% from
constructed-response questions
Keystone Exam Scoring:
•
•
Each correct multiple-choice question is worth one point
Partial credit could be given on constructed-response questions, depending on the rubric
Keystone Exam Format:
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•
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Online and paper/pencil formats available for all Keystone Exams
Each district will individually determine if online, paper/pencil or both formats will be used
Each exam will take approximately 2 to 2.5 hours to complete
Constructed Response Items: Math
1.
2.
Scaffolding Completion Items: elicit 2 to 4
distinct responses from a student
Extended Scaffolding Completion Items:
respond entirely or in part with
extemporaneous text/explanation/show
work
All Math CR items are scored on a 0 – 4 scale
Preparation Resources
Item and Scoring Sampler:
• Sample questions and scoring for each Keystone Exam will be available to
help prepare both students and teachers. The Item and Scoring Sampler
will include:
– Multiple-choice and constructed-response practice questions
– Examples of how constructed-response questions will be scored
• The Item and Scoring Sampler will be available on the SAS website
(www.pdesas.org) by the end of February.
PA Online Assessment Student Tutorial:
• Each online Keystone Exam will have a PA Online Assessment Student
Tutorial
– Learn the properties and features of the PA Online Assessment system
– Full exploration of the system will take 30 minutes
Preparation Resources
Online Tools Training:
•
Each online Keystone Exam will have an Online Tools Training
– Provide an introductory experience using the online assessment software
– Sample questions allow students to use and familiarize themselves with the online
tools available while taking the exam
– Students should be given at least 30 minutes to go through all the sample
questions
User Guides and Directions for Administration Manuals:
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User guides will be delivered as hard copies to the administration building of each
school district
Guides also will be available online on the PA eDIRECT website
(www.pa.drcedirect.com)
Students are strongly encouraged to use both the PA Online Assessment Student Tutorial and
the Online Tools Training prior to taking any online Keystone Exam
Recent State Board Actions
Stand-Alone Option:
Some districts may choose to require proficiency on a Keystone Exam as a
stand-alone graduation requirement.
This allows:
• District discretion on how to weigh the assessment in course grading –
meaning that the 33% weight is not required.
• Districts to be deemed approved for validation requirements in a content
area without having to undergo a local validation process.
Recent State Board Actions
State Assessment Validation Advisory Committee:
• Task: Could the NOCTI serve as an alternative pathway to state
graduation requirements?
• Findings:
– NOCTI is a rigorous assessment for purposes of determining readiness
for an occupation;
– Though it is NOT aligned with academic content;
– And end-of-program administration creates a very high-stakes
dynamic
• Not a substitute, but rather a last chance
Local Assessments
Validation Requirements:
•
To meet the state graduation requirements all local assessments must:
- Align with state academic standards
- Meet rigorous expectations, comparable to those used for the Keystone Exams
- Be administered to all students
Validation Cost Share:
•
For districts creating local assessments, the state will provide:
- Technical assistance to help meet criteria
- Half the cost of the assessment validation
Validation Timeline:
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A detailed timeline will be available on the SAS website (www.pdesas.org) in spring
2011
Project-Based Assessment
A student who does not achieve proficiency on a Keystone Exam after 2
attempts will be eligible to complete a project-based assessment.
Projects will be:
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Aligned with Keystone Exam modules
•
Developed by the department and administered by school staff
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Scored by regional panels of educators
Guidance for IEP Teams
• Students with Individualized Education Programs
(IEPs) should participate in the Keystone Exam or the
local assessment with accommodations as necessary
immediately following completion of the related
course.
• Students can retake the exam during any subsequent
administration.
Guidance for IEP Teams
• Students with IEPs enrolled in courses designed to
replace Algebra I, Biology, or Literature shall have
their participation in the Keystone Exams, local
assessment, or another assessment (alternate) as
determined by the IEP Team.
• Students with IEPs not enrolled in related courses
assessed by the Keystone Exams or local assessment
would be required to participate in another
assessment (alternate) as determined by their IEP
Team.
Guidance for IEP Teams
• A student with a disability will have the same
opportunity as the non-disabled student to
“test out” of the course by passing a Keystone
Exam and scoring “advanced” if the school
district has made this allowance. The student
may be awarded credit for the course without
actually taking the course.
Consistency in Policy
• The revised Chapter 4 regulations maintain the same
graduation requirements for students with IEPs as
the prior Chapter 4 regulations.
• Students with disabilities who satisfactorily complete a
special education program shall be granted a high
school diploma.
• 4.24. High school graduation requirements.
http://www.pacode.com/secure/data/022/chapter4/
s4.24.html
Planning for 2011 and Beyond
By early 2011, expect the following:
1. notice to the field about participation in the Keystone
Exams, local assessment, or other local assessment
(alternate) through a Penn Link.
2. statewide training on inclusion of students with IEPs in
the Keystone Exams, local assessment, or other local
assessment (alternate).
3. guidance documents including a revised Section IV of the
IEP and annotated IEP that allows IEP Teams to select
and document the appropriate assessment option.
Adequate Yearly Progress:
The transition from the
11th Grade PSSA to Keystones
Planning for 2012-13:
Keystone Exams:
– Algebra 1
•
In place of 11th grade Mathematics PSSA
– Literature
•
In place of 11th grade Reading PSSA
– Biology*
•
In place of 11th grade Science PSSA
*Not included in calculation for AYP
USDE Decisions
• Petition U.S. Department of Education
to allow the Keystone Exams to replace
the 11th grade PSSA.
• Submit standards and assessment peer
review packet to USDE for approval.
USDE Decisions
• Bank scores
– Student’s 8th or 9th grade score not used for AYP until
student is in 11th grade
• Use scores from 2013 administration
– Student’s 8th or 9th grade score is used in the same year
the student completes the Keystone
• Retest
– Should student’s retest score be included in AYP?
– Can higher score be used for AYP?
Classroom Diagnostic Tools: Overview
• Provide a diagnosis of student’s strengths and
weaknesses to guide instruction and/or remediation
• Available in grades 6 through high school
• Online assessments delivered in a Computer
Adaptive Test (CAT) format
• Multiple-choice items
• Multiple assessments per year
• Real-time reporting linked dynamically to curriculum
resources in SAS
CDT Reporting
• Reporting for the CDT will be available on
DRC’s eDirect system
• Results will be linked to Materials and
Resources on SAS
• Three types of reports will be provided
1. Group Diagnostic Map
2. Student Diagnostic Map
3. Learning Progression Map
Group Diagnostic Map – Algebra I
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Contact Us:
For more information, questions,
or comments about
Pennsylvania’s new Graduation
Requirements email
ra-gradreq@state.pa.us