State Approaches to Improving High School Outcomes: A National Perspective Jennifer Dounay Zinth Education Commission of the States For Legislative Achieving Classroom Excellence Task Force Oklahoma City, Oklahoma October 6, 2009

Education Commission of the States About ECS 50-state education compact estd 1965 Nonpartisan, nonprofit Serves all state-level education policymakers and their staffs: –Governors –Legislators –State board members –State superintendents –SHEEOS and higher education leaders

Any particular questions that have not been addressed by prior presenters to the task force? Education Commission of the States

Overview Middle grades End-of-course exams Exit exams, including alternate exams A few words on ACT Extemporaneous comments and discussion

Why Focus on Middle Grades? Student achievement drops after grade 4 Middle schools most likely not to meet AYP At-risk indicators fewer than at HS level High school is too late to start college and career readiness Education Commission of the States

Key Areas of State Activity IDing at-risk youth beginning grade 6 Helping students explore career options, set goals and see relevance Set high bars in standards and assts. Ensure teachers have knowledge and skills they need Education Commission of the States

Identifying At-Risk Youth MI: Superintendents Dropout Challenge Using data on: –Student achievement –Retention –Attendance –Behavior To ID kids/school for research- based supports (37,000-55,000 students statewide) Education Commission of the States

Helping Students Explore Career Options, Set Goals 2009 Ohio H.B. 1 Requires local boards to address college and career readiness in grades 7-8 (and other grades as determined) Local boards must submit resolution to state DOE Education Commission of the States

Why End-of-Course Exams? Increase academic rigor Measure grade-level expectations (more accurate means of holding schools and students accountable) Improve alignment of curriculum w/standards Hold kids accountable across HS career Let kids know what will be expected of them More syllabus driven, like AP or IB Less gotcha than standards-based exam Way to make sure expectations of students are consistent across state Education Commission of the States

End-of-Course Exams: A Growing Trend Increasingly adopted by states –States amending existing exit exams –States starting exit exams with EOCs –RI: One option for showing proficiency Some for exit purposes, some not April 2007: 14 states had [AR, GA, IN, MD, MA, MS, NY, NC, OK, SC, TN, TX, UT, VA], under devt in D.C. & 7 states [KY, LA, MI, MN, MO, NJ, WV] Education Commission of the States

State Activity re: EOCs since 07 WA 2008 : Math EOCs optional in , may sub. for WASL math for Class of 2013, replace WASL math for Class of 2014 IA 2008 : Must make EOCs available to districts FL 2008: EOCs to earn alternative credit OH 2009: EOCs will replace current exit exam PA 2009 : Still pending leg. approval; students would pass 6 out of 10 EOCs for HS diploma Education Commission of the States

How Are EOCs Being Used? As of spring 2007: NCLB accountability: 9 states [AR, MD, MS, NY, NC, OK, TN, UT, VA] Exit exam: 10 states [AR, MD, MS, NY, NC, OK (2012), SC, TN, TX (future date), VA] Course credit/grade: 7 states [AR, GA, NY, NC, SC, TN, VA] [VA: optional, not mandatory use for this purpose] Advanced diploma: 2 states [NY, VA] Scholarship eligibility: 1 state [NY] Education Commission of the States

EOCs: Best State Practices Indiana College/work-ready standards embedded in Core 40 curriculum EOCs aligned with college/work ready standards College/work readiness = default grad. reqts in 2011 Supports for teachers online –Core standards to help prioritize instruction –Classroom assessments Education Commission of the States

EOCs: More Best State Practice Texas College-ready standards embedded in HS curriculum EOCs to be aligned with college-ready stds. Grade 12 college prep courses for those who havent passed EOCs Teacher prof. devt. available on college- ready standards Education Commission of the States

Exit Exams Why? Motivates teaching of standards Motivates students to learn Sets same statewide expectation for all students Provides info that can inform policymakers on quality of education IDs student strengths/weaknesses to target instruction Education Commission of the States

Exit Exams: Critics Say… Tests too hard? Access to good instruction not consistent among all students Research mixed on impact of exit exams May lead teachers to teach to test May take time away from instruction Inadequate accommodations to English language learners, students with disabilities? Education Commission of the States

Evolution of Exit Exams 1970s: Minimum competency based 1990s: Advent of standards-based 2000s: Transition to EOCs 2007: 22 states required passage –23 w/WA, Class of 2008 –24 w/MD, Class of 2009 –25 w/AR, Class of 2010 –26 w/OK, Class of 2012 Education Commission of the States

How Are Exit Exams Being Used? NCLB accountability: 24 states [AL, AZ, AR, CA, FL, GA, ID, IN, LA, MD, MA, MN, MS, NV, NJ, NY, NC, OH, OK, SC, TN, TX, VA, WA] Red = EOC exit exam, Orange = State has developed EOC but is not using it for NCLB accountability at this time Course grade (for EOC exit exams): 6 states [AR, NY, NC, SC, TN, VA] [optional, not mandatory use for this purpose in VA] Advanced diploma: 3 states [LA, NY, VA] Financial award/scholarship: 2 states [AZ, MA] Certificate of mastery: 1 state [MA] Education Commission of the States

Alternatives for Students Who Dont Pass (As of March 2008) Reciprocity with other states: Seven states [Moot point given provision in interstate military compact] Substitute assessments: Ten states [AL, AR, FL, ID, MD, NJ, NY, TX, VA, WA] Evaluation of course grades: Six states [IN, MA, MS, NY, OH, WA] Evaluation of classroom evidence: Seven states [GA, IN, MA, MS, OH, TN, WA] Evaluation of other criteria [attendance, letters of recommendation, etc.] : Seven states [GA, IN, MA, MS, NY, OH, TN] Education Commission of the States

Substitute Assessments Diverse state approaches Most common: Valid scores on AP, IB, ACT, SAT in same subject area Education Commission of the States

Arkansas ACT, SAT, AP or IB exam All exit EOCs must be given by grade 10 Students must pass alt. asst. directly related to alternate exit course [i.e., Alg. I or Eng. II] After 3 failed attempts, student must take an alt. exit course and pass alt. asst. Alt. exit course may be online, outside school day Sources: ARK. CODE ANN. § ; CARR Education Commission of the States

Florida Legislation req. state board to analyze PSAT, PLAN, SAT, ACT, and common College Placement Test for potential concordant scores Student must fail FCAT 3x before taking alt. exam State board IDd SAT, ACT reading, math scores College placement exam option for student with certificate of completion Sources: FLA. STAT. ANN. § (10), Education Commission of the States

Idaho Fall of senior year: Student may appeal to district for opportunity to demonstrate proficiency via locally established mechanism. All such mechanisms must be: –Approved by state board –Aligned at a min. to 10 th grade content standards –Aligned to state standards in subject in question –Valid and reliable –90% of criteria of measure(s) must be based on academic proficiency and performance. Source: I DAPA Education Commission of the States

Maryland Student who has not passed HSA may: Earn overall combined score [as determined by DOE] Earn score on DOE-approved alt. asst [AP, SAT, IB] If student is unable to do either, student may: Complete reqts. for Bridge Plan for Academic Validation (project-based demonstration of knowledge and skills). Prerequisites apply. Source: MD. REGS. CODE tit. 13A, § Education Commission of the States

New Jersey Special Review Assessment has been under attack Performance asst. tasks assigned by teachers New SRA released this year –No longer unlimited opportunities to take –Teachers will not score own students Sources: Education Commission of the States

New York With commissioner approval, Regents scores may be substituted for exams measuring equivalent levels of knowledge and skill. Such exams must: –Measure state standards in content area –Be at least as rigorous as corresponding state test –Be consistent with technical criteria for validity, reliability and freedom from bias –Be developed by entity other than school district –Be available for any school to use –Be administered under secure conditions Source: NY. COMP. CODES R. & REGS. tit. 8, § 100.2(4)(f) Education Commission of the States

Texas Legislation requires commissioner to adopt method allowing AP, IB, SAT or other test determined just as rigorous as EOC to be substituted FYI: Students must achieve cumulative score that is at least = to the product of the # of EOCs admin. in that subject and 70; minimum score of 60 for score to count toward cumulative score Source: TEX. EDUC. CODE ANN. § (a), (a-1) Education Commission of the States

Virginia Establishes alternative means for earning verified units of credit. Any test for earning verified credit must: Be standardized and graded independently of school or district where test is given Be knowledge-based Be administered on multistate or intl basis, or as part of another states accountability system. Measure content that incorporates or exceeds state stds. content in the course for which verified credit is given. Source: 8 VAC (c) Education Commission of the States

Virginia and CTE State board must incorporate into CTE courses math, science, English, social studies standards, as may be appropriate. State board may authorize sub. of industry cert. and state licensure exams for verified units of credit for CTE courses, where appropriate. State board must provide the option of industry cert. and state licensure exams as student-selected verified credit. Sources: VA. CODE. ANN. § , :3( C ) Education Commission of the States

Virginia Quality Control in CTE Statute establishes quality control division in DOE. With funds as may be appropriated, unit must assist in developing and revising local career and technical curriculum to integrate the Standards of Learning. Source: VA. CODE. ANN. § Education Commission of the States

More on CTE, SOLs and Virginia State board rule: Students who complete a CTE program sequence and (1) pass an exam or occupational competency asst. in a CTE field that confers certification, or (2) earn occupational competency credential from recognized industry, or (3) earn professional license in a CTE field may sub. the cert., credential or license for (a) student selected verified credit and (b) either a science or history verified credit when the cert., license or credential confers more than one verified credit. Exam must be approved by state board as addl test to verify student achievement. Source: 8 VA. ADMIN. CODE § Education Commission of the States

OK, Really the Last Thing on Virginia Every person seeking initial licensure or renewal of a license must receive professional development in instructional methods tailored to promote student academic progress and effective preparation for the Standards of Learning end-of-course assessments. Source: VA. CODE ANN. § (D)(3) Education Commission of the States

A Few Words on ACT Six states administer ACT to all juniors [CO, IL, KY, MI, TN, WY] (WY = ACT or WorkKeys) Four additional states will give ACT to all juniors [ID, either COMPASS, SAT or ACT, Spring 2012; AL, ND and OH –unclear at this time] ACT typically not used for: –Exit purposes (OH only state exploring this) –HS accountability (used partially for these purposes in MI and IL, not at all in CO, KY, WY) Education Commission of the States

Further discussion… Education Commission of the States

Education Commission of the States