Policy Capturing Approaches to Cut Scores of College Readiness Kentucky Department of Education – CCSSO 2015 National Conference on Student Assessment 1 Kentucky

Agenda Introduction – Kentucky Department of Education Cut Score Approach - HumRRO Kentucky Department of Education – CCSSO 2015 National Conference on Student Assessment 2

Introduction The Kentucky Performance Rating for Educational Progress (K-PREP) system shall have a link to the ACT tests and the ACT benchmarks. March 29, Governor Steve Beshear signed into law Senate Bill 1 (SB1). This significant piece of legislation led to the implementation of several education initiatives impacting college readiness and degree completion in Kentucky. SB1 was codified into law as Kentucky Revised Statute KRS Kentucky Department of Education – CCSSO 2015 National Conference on Student Assessment 3

Introduction Mandate for the Kentucky Council on Post Secondary (CPE), the Kentucky Board of Education and Education (KBE) and the Kentucky Department of Education (KDE): Develop a unified strategy to reduce college remediation rates of recent high school graduates by at least fifty percent by 2014 from the rates in Increase the college completion rates of students enrolled in one or more remedial classes by three percent annually from 2009 to Kentucky Department of Education – CCSSO 2015 National Conference on Student Assessment 4

Introduction CPE is the state agency that defines college and career readiness for the P-16 educational system in the Commonwealth. Kentucky’s Definition of College Readiness Standards of Readiness What ACT and Scores Determine College Readiness for Kentucky Students Kentucky Department of Education – CCSSO 2015 National Conference on Student Assessment 5

Introduction Kentucky’s definition of college readiness: College readiness is the level of preparation a student needs to succeed in credit-bearing courses in college. “Succeed” is defined as completing entry-level courses at a level of understanding and proficiency that prepares the student for subsequent courses. Kentucky’s system-wide standards of readiness guarantee students access to credit-bearing coursework without the need for remediation in high school or college coursework or intervention programming. The CPE college-ready definitions have been accepted and implemented by 100% of the public college and universities in Kentucky including the Kentucky Community and Technical College System. Kentucky Department of Education – CCSSO 2015 National Conference on Student Assessment 6

Introduction Standards of Readiness: Most definitions of college readiness include some predictive statement about how well students will do in relevant courses based on national assessments, such as the ACT or SAT. “Success” is defined by ACT as 50 percent or higher probability that a student earning a B or higher in the corresponding college course or courses and 75 percent or higher probability of earning a C or higher in the corresponding college course or courses. Kentucky Department of Education – CCSSO 2015 National Conference on Student Assessment 7

Introduction What ACT scores determine college readiness for Kentucky students: ACT scores of 18 for English, 20 for reading, and a mathematics score of 19 for some introductory courses in mathematics (often statistics or an applied mathematics course), 22 for college algebra, and 27 for calculus. The Kentucky statewide standards of readiness guarantee students access to credit-bearing coursework without the need for transitional, developmental education, or supplemental courses or programs. Established common SAT and placement test benchmark scores will also be used. Kentucky Department of Education – CCSSO 2015 National Conference on Student Assessment 8

Introduction The psychometric goal was to identify a methodology that links the K-PREP assessments in grades 3-8 to the ACT benchmarks that define college readiness. The methodology was developed and implemented with the assistance and work of the National Center for Educational Achievement (NCEA/ACT), a department of ACT, Inc. and Human Resources Research Organization (HumRRO). Kentucky Department of Education – CCSSO 2015 National Conference on Student Assessment 9

Roger Ervin Systems Administrator Kentucky Department of Education Office of Assessment and Accountability Contact Information Kentucky Department of Education – CCSSO 2015 National Conference on Student Assessment 10