Curriculum Night Middle School

What do I as a parent need to know to support student assessments at CCAS? Essential Question

CCAS Assessments State Assessments Milestones Update Assessment Q&A Principal’s Chat Top Five Closing Remarks Agenda

CCAS Assessments

MAP (6 th – 8 th )  3 Subjects Tested  Reading, Math and Science  Independent reading  Computerized Response  Assessed three times throughout the school year CCAS Assessments NWEA Benchmarks

Percentile Rank This number indicates the percentage of students in the NWEA norm group for this grade that this student’s score equaled or exceeded. The norm group is established at the 50% of all students who take the assessment nationwide. NWEA Assessments Scoring and what does it mean?

RIT Tests developed by NWEA use a scale called RIT (Rasch Unit) to measure student achievement and growth to simplify the interpretation of test scores. The RIT score relates directly to the curriculum scale in each subject area. It is an equal-interval scale, like feet and inches, so scores can be added together to calculate accurate class or school averages. RIT scores range from about 100 to 300. RIT scores make it possible to follow a student’s educational growth from year to year. It is important to understand that the MAP test is one test at one point in time. It does not measure intelligence or a student’s capacity for learning. NWEA Assessments Scoring and what does it mean?

Lexile Levels A Lexile measure represents both a child’s reading ability and the difficulty of a text, like a book or magazine article. Lexile measures provide you with valuable information about your child’s reading ability and helps to make reading practice more meaningful. Using the Lexile Book Database and an automated library media catalog, you can help your child choose books and other materials within his or her Lexile range (about 50L above and 100L below his or her Lexile measure). NWEA Assessments Scoring and what does it mean?

While Lexile measures target the difficulty of a text, they do not measure the appropriateness of the content. For example, a text with a low Lexile measure may not contain appropriate material for the students within that text’s range. Lexile measures do not translate specifically to grade levels. Within a classroom, there will be a range of readers and a range of materials to be read. Lexile measures track reading growth over time and across content areas, no matter what grade your child is in. NWEA Assessments Scoring and what does it mean?

Student data (scores) are used to help create student Personal Learning Plans and Learning Goals and Targets Growth goals reflect range from a 1.5 to 2.0 years academic growth Student data is also used to target instruction and facilitate learning cohorts (groups). NWEA Assessments How is the data used?

CMAs provide information on grade level standards mastery. Type: Paper or online, multiple choice How often: Every weeks Data provided: If a student masters or does not master grade level standards. Used to formulate instructional focus calendars to ensure student mastery of standards. Grade levels: 6 th -8 th grades ELA and Math CMA Assessments Common Monthly Assessments

Developmental Reading Assessment Sixth through Eighth grades. Assessed 2-3 times per year. It allows teachers to systematically observe, record, and evaluate change in a student’s reading performance over time. The DRA2 provides teachers with information that helps them determine a student’s independent reading level and to focus on specific goals that the student needs to learn next. CCAS Assessments DRA/RRR

State Assessments

Georgia Milestones Grades 6 – 8 End of Grade (EOG) in language arts, mathematics, science, social studies End of Course (EOC) in language arts and science Blend of Criterion-Referenced and Norm Referenced State Assessments

Georgia Milestones Grades 6 – 8 End of Course (EOC) in language arts and science As part of our state’s recently approved ESEA Flexibility Waiver, middle school students who enroll in high school mathematics and science courses associated with an End of Course (EOC) measure will no longer take the corresponding End of Grade (EOG) measure beginning this school year (2015 – 2016). These students must take the EOC associated with the mathematics and/or science high school course, such as Coordinate Algebra, Algebra I, or Physical Science. Please note that this flexibility does not currently extend to the content areas of English Language Arts and Social Studies. Middle school students who are enrolled in high school courses in those two content areas must continue to take both the associated EOC and the corresponding content-area EOG. State Assessments

Georgia Milestones Unique Features Inclusion of constructed-response items in ELA and Mathematics Inclusion of writing in response to text at every grade level Transition to online administration Technology enhanced items Promotion/Retention Retest Policy is in effect for grade 8 State Assessments

Milestones Scoring State Assessments

Beginning Learners do not yet demonstrate proficiency in the knowledge and skills necessary at this grade level/course of learning, as specified in Georgia’s content standards. The students need substantial academic support to be prepared for the next grade level or course and to be on track for college and career readiness. State Assessments Scoring

Developing Learners demonstrate partial proficiency in the knowledge and skills necessary at this grade level/course of learning, as specified by Georgia’s content standards. The students need additional academic support to ensure success in the next grade level or course and to be on track for college and career readiness. State Assessments Scoring

Proficient Learners demonstrate proficiency in the knowledge and skills necessary at this grade level/course of learning, as specified in Georgia’s content standards. The students are prepared for the next grade level or course and are on track for college and career readiness. State Assessments Scoring

Distinguished Learners demonstrate advanced proficiency in the knowledge and skills necessary at this grade level/course of learning, as specified in Georgia’s content standards. The students are well prepared for the next grade level or course and are well prepared for college and career readiness. State Assessments Scoring

Initial Statewide Data State Assessments

Richard Woods, Georgia’s School Superintendent “Educating Georgia’s Future” gadoe.org English Language Arts Due to rounding, percentages may not total 100% Georgia Milestones Preliminary State Results

Richard Woods, Georgia’s School Superintendent “Educating Georgia’s Future” gadoe.org Mathematics Georgia Milestones Preliminary State Results

Richard Woods, Georgia’s School Superintendent “Educating Georgia’s Future” gadoe.org Science Georgia Milestones Preliminary State Results

Richard Woods, Georgia’s School Superintendent “Educating Georgia’s Future” gadoe.org Social Studies Georgia Milestones Preliminary State Results

Assessments Q&A

1. Lockers 2. Teacher Retention 3. Curriculum 4. Extra Curricular Activities 5. Communication Top Five