Ohio’s State Assessments: What do families need to know? August 2015

1.Ohio’s Learning Standards and Assessments 2.Update on Ohio’s State Tests 3.Local Unit/Council Grant Program 4.Additional Resources for Parents 1 Overview of Workshop

About Ohio’s Learning Standards & Assessments

Ohio’s Learning Standards In 2010, Ohio adopted higher, more focused standards to better prepare students for college, technical schools, and careers. Our education system was falling short in developing the critical-thinking and problem-solving skills needed to compete with students from anywhere in the world. This is the 6 th year that Ohio school districts and teachers will be using their own locally developed curriculum based on the Ohio Learning Standards. New standards required new state tests that better measure these skills and allow students to show what they know and what they can do. 3

How Do I Know What My Child is Expected to Learn? PTA developed grade-specific “Guides to Student Success” so you could understand the skills your child should master and what he or she is expected to know every year: 4

State Tests Aligned to Ohio’s Learning Standards State Tests help to: Measure students’ progress toward mastering state learning standards Enable educators to identify gaps in student progress and tailor instruction for each child’s specific needs as they move forward into the next grade Facilitate communication between teachers and parents about student progress and specific needs for additional support Compare student performance across schools and districts statewide to help identify additional support or resources needed Ensure all children have equal access to high quality education 5

The Academic Checkup 6

Types of Assessments/Tests  Formative Assessments: Short activities teachers engage in throughout the year to assess knowledge and skills in specific areas and adjust instruction: Observation of student work Quick daily checks such as exit tickets Assignments and quizzes  Progress Monitoring: Tests given at various points during the school year to measure students for adequate progress  Summative Assessments: These include most standardized tests, end of unit tests, and end of course tests. These show parents and teachers where students are in mastering grade level content and skills. 7

What the Ohio State Tests Measure... 8 English Language Arts Whether students can read and understand texts of varying complexities. How well students use information from several sources to make a persuasive argument. Whether they can write, using what they’ve read and using print and other multi-media sources to support their arguments. Math Whether students can understand and use important math ideas (i.e., number sense, algebraic thinking, geometry, and data analysis). How students use math facts and reasoning skills to solve real- world problems. How well students can justify their answers using math concepts.

What was Different About these Tests? The new tests go beyond the “bubble test.” Students show their work through: Extended writing and multi-step questions which require students to apply the skills they have learned. They measure: Problem-solving Writing Critical thinking Reading Comprehension 9

How To Interpret Test Results

New Tests = New Baselines These tests are considered more thorough and rigorous than previous Ohio Achievement Assessments (OAAs and OGTs). With a greater emphasis on deeper learning, we have raised the bar for our students, parents, and teachers. This new bar cannot be compared to the old one. The scores are not higher or lower, just different because we are measuring different things. 11

What Will Results Look Like From The Ohio PARCC Tests for ELA and Math ? 12

How Will Scores be Used? Test results will help schools to: Make instructional decisions for the next school year. Determine individual needs of students:  Extra support?  More challenging work?  Recommendations for future classes? By Ohio law, scores do not impact GPA, class ranking, or grade promotion. 13

Ohio’s Assessment Test Updates for

State Test Updates for As part of the state’s budget, the General Assembly directed the Ohio Department of Education (ODE) to transition to new tests in mathematics and English language arts for the school year. Ohio will no longer use PARCC (The Partnership for Assessment of Readiness of College and Careers) tests in mathematics and English language arts. 15

State Test Updates for The state’s budget also requires that tests will be: Shorter than tests given last school year Administered once per year in a single testing window Given during the second half of the school year And further: High schools may give end-of-course tests in the first semester if they are on a block schedule Third grade reading results will return no later than June 15 Results will be provided no later than June 30 of each school year 16

State Test Updates for How will Math and English Language Arts differ this year? American Institutes for Research (AIR) is working with ODE and Ohio teachers to build the English Language Arts and Math State Tests for Ohio for the school year. The Ohio State tests will be based on our Ohio Learning Standards. All Ohio State Tests will be on the AIR platform for Ohio teachers and students are familiar with the AIR technology platform because it was used for the Ohio Science and Social Studies tests in

State Test Updates for

State Test Updates for Test Dates The testing dates for English Language Arts, mathematics, science and social studies are posted on the ODE website. Each test will be approximately 3 hours long. Districts can choose to use the paper/pencil or online version or a combination of both. 19

State Test Updates for

State Test Updates for Safe Harbor on Test Results As part of the transition to the new state tests, the legislature extended a number of safe harbor provisions. Gives schools, teachers and students time to adjust to the new tests. No consequences for students tied to the results of the state tests given in the , and school years. Ohio School Report Cards will not have an overall letter grade until the report card released in Teacher Evaluations will begin using state test data again in Spring of 2018 using data from test. 21

State Test Updates for Third Grade Reading The Ohio Achievement Assessments (OAA) will no longer be administered. Ohio’s State Test in grade 3 English Language Arts replaces the third grade reading OAA and will meet the requirements of the Third Grade Reading Guarantee. As part of the Third Grade Reading Guarantee, Ohio’s Third Grade English Language Arts State Test will be administered during a 5 day window each district can select between Nov. 30 to Dec. 11. It will also be administered in the Spring. 22

23 How Your PTA Can Help Parents Understand Assessment Tests and Results...

Be a Learning Hero and Host An Event! GRANT OPPORTUNITY TO ALL PTA UNITS WHO PARTICIPATE AND COMPLETE ALL TERMS OF THE GRANT: BOGO 2016 Ohio PTA Convention Registration Plus TWO tickets for the Saturday Night Event! (BOGO = two registrations) Value $ Special Sign-Up Incentive (by 9/15/15) Drawing for tickets for ALL food events for two at convention! 24

Be a Learning Hero!  Join Ohio PTA’s efforts to inform parents about Ohio’s assessment tests and how they can support their children at home.  Host an event this Fall – September, October, or November  Partner with your school personnel to provide this information to parents and families.  MUST complete all requirements of the grant to be eligible. 25

How Can Your PTA Help Parents Understand Assessment Tests and Results?  Ohio PTA will provide all the necessary resources in an easy-to-use online toolkit, including an event planning checklist, a completed presentation, script, FAQs, and parent take homes.  A Leader’s Guide will be available to walk you through the steps to hosting an event.  The toolkit combined with training and support from the Ohio PTA will help you conduct a successful event! 26

27 Resources for More Information

Where Can I Find More Info? 28 Great Web Sites PARCC : Reading, Writing, Math : Ohio Computer Based Assessments: Science and Social Studies Parent Friendly Information : BeALearningHero.org and Facebook.com/bealearningheroBeALearningHero.orgFacebook.com/bealearninghero Ohio Department of Education : Ohio PTA : The Ohio Standard:

Ohio’s State Assessments: What do families need to know? Questions?