Early Assessment Program California State University Dr. Beverly Young, Assistant Vice Chancellor

2 Goal of the CSU Board of Trustees Reduce the percentage of those who need remediation in English and mathematics to 10% of the students entering the CSU

3 Percentage of First-Time Freshmen Entering with College- level English Proficiency The California State University

4 Percentage of First-Time Freshmen Entering with College-level Mathematics Proficiency The California State University

5 Collaboration  California State Board of Education  California Department of Education  California State University

6 Components of EAP  11 th grade testing  Supplemental high school preparation in 12 th grade available  Teacher/administrator professional development  Parent/family communication  Preservice teacher preparation

7 EAP Test  Voluntary  Administered in Spring of 11 th grade with California Standards Test  Contains 15 additional multiple-choice items in English and math  Essay required in English  Selected items from CST and additional EAP items (including essay in English) are scored to determine student readiness for college English and/or mathematics

8 EAP Results  Students receive the CST score report, which also indicates whether they are –College ready at end of grade 11  Exempt from taking CSU’s placement tests  Exempt from remediation upon enrollment –Not college ready yet  Advised to take mathematics in 12 th grade  Advised to take 12 th grade Expository Reading/Writing class  Access CSU’s English and Math for Success Web sites for additional opportunities to improve English and math skills  Must take CSU’s placement tests

9 Benefits to Students  Early warning  Adjust senior-year coursework to prepare for college-level courses  Earn an exemption from CSU-required English and/or mathematics placement tests  Avoid investing time and money in college remediation courses that do not count toward a baccalaureate degree

10 How CSU Supports Students to Gain Proficiency in English and Math  Advise students and families on how to meet CSU expectations  Provide educational tools and planning resources to help students improve their English and math skills –CSU English and Math Success Web sites  Provide teacher professional development programs  Support high school adoption of specific curricula –ERWC –Specialized support for alternative math offerings

11 English

12 What is Assessed in English  Selected CST questions are those that parallel CSU proficiency expectations, plus 15 additional items and essay  Purpose of the additional items is to better assess analytical reading skills, composing skills, and writing proficiency

13 Expository Reading and Writing Course  Developed by CSU English faculty and high school teachers  Aligned with ELA content standards for 11 th and 12th grades  Structured around assignment template addressing reading and writing  Engages students in a study of rhetoric and composition  Enables students to read and write academic prose effectively and strategically

14 Expository Reading and Writing Course  Increases students’ mastery of academic language  Emphasizes in-depth study of expository, analytical, and argumentative writing  Deepens students’ critical reading, writing, and thinking skills  Approved to fulfill the college prep requirement for English  Not intended as an honors or remedial course

15 Preliminary Evaluation of Expository Reading and Writing Course Effect on Teachers  Experienced strong success with curricular materials  Found material academically rigorous and engaging  Systemic changes in teaching  Observed that... –Depth, rigor, and intensity contributed to strong, positive outcomes for students –College expectations increased –Students experienced increased confidence as writers and readers –Worked well for English language learners

16 Preliminary Evaluation of Expository Reading and Writing Course Effect on Students  Increased skills in reading comprehension, expository writing, and independent thinking –Analyzed text material more thoroughly –Reexamined ideas in text –Read text with different/multiple purposes –Evaluated and analyzed strength of writers’ arguments –Read more, including more complex texts by choice –Applied skills learned with expository texts with traditional English language arts texts  Students enrolled in course using modules scored higher on EPT than students in traditional classes

17 English Success Home Page

18 Mathematics

19 What is Assessed in Math  Selected CST questions are those that parallel CSU proficiency expectations, plus 15 additional items  Purpose of the additional items is to measure depth, not breadth of content knowledge  Depth important because CSU grants exemptions from entrance placement exam

20 Math Success Homepage

21 12 th Grade Course in Mathematics –Under development –Purpose will be to solidify skills by emphasizing connections amongst these skills and by using them to solve complex, real-world problems

22 Professional Development

23 Professional Development in English  Provides teachers with skills necessary to teach the Expository Reading and Writing Course  Reading Institutes for Academic Preparation offered through selected CSU campuses for teachers in grades 9-12 in all subject areas to improve capacity to teach reading/academic literacy across the curriculum

24 Professional Development in English  Offered by County Offices of Education and the CSU to high school English teachers  Heightens teachers’ awareness of college- level English expectations  Emphasizes teaching expository text and rhetorical analysis

25 Professional Development in Mathematics  Offered by County Offices of Education and the CSU to high school math teachers  Increases teachers’ knowledge and understanding of EAP program  Examines student performance on ELM to identify and analyze patterns of student strengths and weaknesses  Increases teachers’ knowledge and understanding of options that exist to increase and sustain student math skills

26 Spring 2006 Results  English EAP –312,167 of 418,154 eligible juniors took English EAP (75%) –15% college ready  Mathematics EAP –137,067 of 184,709 eligible juniors took Math EAP (74%) –55% college ready

27 Resources  Early Assessment Program Home Page: –  Math Success Website: –  English Success Website: –  ALEKS ELM Tutorial: –  Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs): –  California Just for the Kids –  California Department of Education –

28 Summary  EAP helps California students to prepare academically for college or the workforce  Reduces need for remediation  Improves path to degree