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COMMUNITY
our schools
communicating assessment results By James J. Brescia, Ed.D. County Superintendent of Schools
“The one size fits all approach of standardized testing is convenient but lazy.” —James Dyson California is faced with shifting expectations in schools as our system works to create a culture of student readiness for the 21st century. American College Testing (ACT) is encouraging states like California that are implementing new educational standards and assessments aligned with college and career readiness to communicate clearly with the public about test scores. Educators need to explain how the new expectations for students differ from the expectations made by previous state standards and assessments. When the shifts to college and career readiness standards occur, there is typically
a change in proficiency levels because of the new testing rigor. Student performance categories associated with each score range on the test (e.g., advanced, proficient, basic, below basic) becomes more challenging with a more rigorous test. As a consequence, fewer students will likely achieve the advanced and proficient levels previously reported for the older testing instruments.
readiness is a wonderful first step, but incomplete and counterproductive if we do not honestly communicate about these changes. It is my hope that this article will help to familiarize the public with the shift to higher standards. We need to prepare students, parents, and schools for a change in proficiency rates that almost always accompanies a shift to higher expectations.
Deciding whether to adjust proficiency levels to reflect higher expectations and how to communicate performance results aligned to these higher expectations to students, parents, and schools are critical decisions the California State Board of Education must address. Changing the content of an assessment to reflect college and career
Recent research conducted by the California County Superintendents Educational Service Association (CCSESA) and the ACT underscored the importance of this kind of public outreach. Kentucky and New York reset their proficiency levels to reflect the alignment of their new state assessments with college and career readiness standards. Meanwhile, the District of Columbia retained its previous proficiency levels to maintain continuity with test results from prior years. Each met with a different response from the public, and California is now faced with a similar situation. CCSESA and ACT recommend that we communicate two main points. 1) The expectation of what students must know and be able to do on state assessments has become more rigorous, and 2) student ability is not suddenly dropping with these new tests. These proficiency scores do not reflect a drop in performance, but rather a raising of standards to reflect college and career readiness in the 21st century. Basically, the new tests are different from the old tests.
Partnership for the Children of San Luis Obispo County with Gold Sponsors
Sunset present the 9th Annual
barbecue
To benefit Tolosa Children’s Dental Center, a nonprofit office providing care for thousands of underserved children in SLO County since 2003
Saturday
June 6th, 5pm
San Luis Obispo Country Club, 255 Country Club Dr., SLO Beer & Wine Tasting Dunbar Brewing Co., Enfold Wines, St. Hilaire Vineyards, Tolosa Winery No Host ‘Cash Only’ Bar also available Appetizers & Barbecue Dinner (includes wine on table) prepared by Chef Troy Tolbert Live Music & Dancing featuring “Unfinished Business” - 60’s Rock-n-Roll Band Auctions: Chance • Live • Dessert Attire: Your best Island Chic; Grass Skirts optional. No denim jeans, please.
TICKET DONATION
$100 per person • $800 table for 8 Order online at www.tolosachildrensdental.org or call 805-801-5433 Mail PO Box 15259, San Luis Obispo, CA 93406 Partnership for the Children of San Luis Obispo County dba Tolosa Children’s Dental Center is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization, Fed. Tax ID 77-0346861
M A Y
2015
Journal PLUS
We should consider the historical proficiency rates from the state’s Standardized Testing and Reporting (STAR) alongside anticipated proficiency rates for the Smarter Balanced Assessments this year. Similar shifts occurred in the states that have already implemented a more rigorous testing instrument. In a recent interview with The Sacramento Bee, California State Board of Education President, Michael Kirst explained his belief that any proficiency rate decline would be the result of higher expectations as well as weaknesses in the state’s implementation of the new standards. He feels that may take until 2019 for success of the new rigorous state standards to be fully realized by California students.