1. Understanding Achievement Level Descriptions (ALDs)
Understanding ALDs
Understanding Achievement Level Descriptions (ALDs)
Nancy E. Brito, NBCT,
Department of EDW, Accountability, and School Improvement
, PX47521
Division of Performance Accountability
Nancy Brito, NBCT, Performance Accountability, , PX47521

2. The SDPBC ALDs Format The ALDs cover the assessed NGSSS benchmarks.
Understanding ALDs
The SDPBC ALDs Format
The ALDs cover the assessed NGSSS benchmarks.
The SDPBC reformatted the FDOE’s ALDs, which are arranged by reporting categories.
The SDPBC ALDs are by benchmark for grade levels 3-12 and subjects Reading, Mathematics and Algebra 1.
This PowerPoint describes the SDPBC ALDs format.
SDPBC = School District of Palm Beach County
NGSSS = Next Generation Sunshine State Standards
FDOE = Florida Department of Education
Nancy Brito, NBCT, Performance Accountability, , PX47521

3. Understanding ALDs
The Purpose of the ALDs
“The ALDs provide detailed descriptions of the knowledge and skills that a student needs to be able to achieve at each of the five Achievement Levels…
Florida Department of Education / Office of Assessment, March 2011
Nancy Brito, NBCT, Performance Accountability, , PX47521

4. Understanding ALDs
The Purpose of the ALDs
…in conjunction with the policy definitions that summarize the level of success a student has with the Next Generation Sunshine State Standards (NGSSS).”
Florida Department of Education / Office of Assessment, March 2011
Nancy Brito, NBCT, Performance Accountability, , PX47521

5. How were the ALDs used by the FDOE?
Understanding ALDs
How were the ALDs used by the FDOE?
The ALDs were used by the
standard-setting committees to recommend cut scores on the reporting scale for the new Achievement Levels.
Florida Department of Education (FDOE)/ Office of Assessment, March 2011
Nancy Brito, NBCT, Performance Accountability, , PX47521

6. Explanation of the ALDs in SDPBC Format
Understanding ALDs
Explanation of the ALDs in SDPBC Format
The specific student expectations in the SDPBC format are the same as in the FDOE format; however, they are organized by benchmark(s).
SDPBC = School District of Palm Beach County
FDOE = Florida Department of Education
Nancy Brito, NBCT, Performance Accountability, , PX47521

7. Explanation of the ALDs in SDPBC Format
Understanding ALDs
Explanation of the ALDs in SDPBC Format
Sentence Stem
The Sentence Stem is intended to precede each of the descriptions below it.
SDPBC = School District of Palm Beach County
Nancy Brito, NBCT, Performance Accountability, , PX47521

8. Explanation of the ALDs in SDPBC Format
Understanding ALDs
Explanation of the ALDs in SDPBC Format
Demonstration of Understanding
The Demonstration of Understanding is intended to identify the students’ understanding of the related benchmark(s) ALD statements as indentified by:
Level 5 – consistently,
Level 4 – usually,
Level 3 – generally,
Level 2 – limited, or
Level 1 – inadequate.
SDPBC = School District of Palm Beach County
Nancy Brito, NBCT, Performance Accountability, , PX47521

9. Explanation of the ALDs in SDPBC Format
Understanding ALDs
Explanation of the ALDs in SDPBC Format
Progression of Expectations
The Progression of Expectations describes the logical progression of related benchmark(s) ALDs expectations (e.g., evaluate, analyze, compare, organize, identify).
SDPBC = School District of Palm Beach County
Nancy Brito, NBCT, Performance Accountability, , PX47521

10. Explanation of the ALDs in SDPBC Format
Understanding ALDs
Explanation of the ALDs in SDPBC Format
Related Benchmark
The Related Benchmark column indicates all the related benchmark(s) ALDs statements that are described in Levels 1 through 5 in the Progression of Expectations row.
SDPBC = School District of Palm Beach County
Nancy Brito, NBCT, Performance Accountability, , PX47521

11. Explanation of the ALDs in SDPBC Format
Understanding ALDs
Explanation of the ALDs in SDPBC Format
Related Benchmark
For example:
These four (4) benchmarks might be represented in one or more of the ALDs statements under Level 1, Level 2, Level 3, Level 4 and/or Level 5.
SDPBC = School District of Palm Beach County
Nancy Brito, NBCT, Performance Accountability, , PX47521

12. Explanation of the ALDs in SDPBC Format
Understanding ALDs
Explanation of the ALDs in SDPBC Format
Related Benchmark
SDPBC = School District of Palm Beach County
Nancy Brito, NBCT, Performance Accountability, , PX47521

13. Explanation of the ALDs in SDPBC Format
Understanding ALDs
Explanation of the ALDs in SDPBC Format
Bold Font
Bold font indicates a change or addition from a previous level’s description of related benchmark(s) ALDs statements.
SDPBC = School District of Palm Beach County
Nancy Brito, NBCT, Performance Accountability, , PX47521

14. Explanation of the ALDs in SDPBC Format
Understanding ALDs
Explanation of the ALDs in SDPBC Format
Same as Level…
Same as Level…, indicates the ALDs statement is the same as the description in the Achievement Level noted (e.g., Same as Level 3, Same as Level 4).
SDPBC = School District of Palm Beach County
Nancy Brito, NBCT, Performance Accountability, , PX47521

15. Explanation of the ALDs in SDPBC Format
Understanding ALDs
Explanation of the ALDs in SDPBC Format
Blank Cell
A blank cell indicates that the FDOE did not define the progression of expectation for that Achievement Level.
SDPBC = School District of Palm Beach County
Nancy Brito, NBCT, Performance Accountability, , PX47521

16. Understanding ALDs
Possible Uses for ALDs
Educators, students, parent/guardians, and other stakeholders may use the ALDs as a tool to understand and communicate student achievement and progress on benchmarks assessed on the statewide assessments.
Nancy Brito, NBCT, Performance Accountability, , PX47521

17. Understanding ALDs
Possible Uses for ALDs
In conjunction with and , educators may use the ALDs as a measuring tool to gauge student achievement and progress on District and classroom created assessments that are aligned to the assessed NGSSS benchmarks.
Nancy Brito, NBCT, Performance Accountability, , PX47521

18. Understanding ALDs
Example of ALDs Use
A student scored a Level 2 on the Reading Diagnostic Test.
Nancy Brito, NBCT, Performance Accountability, , PX47521

19. Understanding ALDs
Example of ALDs Use
The student and teacher were able to check three (3) descriptions of knowledge and skills achieved at a Level 2.
Nancy Brito, NBCT, Performance Accountability, , PX47521

20. Understanding ALDs
Example of ALDs Use
They noted that the student demonstrated more than a limited ability for this description of knowledge and skills.
Nancy Brito, NBCT, Performance Accountability, , PX47521

21. Understanding ALDs
Example of ALDs Use
The student and teacher then referred to the next higher level’s description of knowledge and skills, Level 3.
Nancy Brito, NBCT, Performance Accountability, , PX47521

22. Understanding ALDs
Example of ALDs Use
The Achievement Level Description Level states: “Same as Level 2.”
Is the student generally able to identify cause and effect relationships?
Nancy Brito, NBCT, Performance Accountability, , PX47521

23. Understanding ALDs
Example of ALDs Use
The answer was “Yes”. The student and teacher were able to check the description of knowledge and skills achieved at a Level 3.
Nancy Brito, NBCT, Performance Accountability, , PX47521

24. Understanding ALDs
Example of ALDs Use
Now the student and teacher began to strategize on how to move the student from Level 2 to Level 3 on each of the other skills.
Nancy Brito, NBCT, Performance Accountability, , PX47521

25. Understanding ALDs
Summary
The ALDs are a tool that may be used together with EDW, CORE K12, Item Specifications, and Learning Village to understand and communicate student progress that leads to strategy development for:
Instruction
Improvement
Enrichment
Nancy Brito, NBCT, Performance Accountability, , PX47521

26. Where are the ALDs in the SDPBC format?
Understanding ALDs
Where are the ALDs in the SDPBC format?
The Departments of EDW, Accountability, and School Improvement and Research Evaluation and Assessment at:
Setting the Stage for Success – Stage III
thestage/ALDStageIII.asp
SDPBC = School District of Palm Beach County
Nancy Brito, NBCT, Performance Accountability, , PX47521

27. Where are the ALDs in the SDPBC format?
Understanding ALDs
Where are the ALDs in the SDPBC format?
In Learning Village Under…
Elementary
> Mathematics
> Grade Level (3, 4, or 5)
>Additional Resources
Middle School
> Additional Resources
SDPBC = School District of Palm Beach County
Nancy Brito, NBCT, Performance Accountability, , PX47521

28. Where are the ALDs in the SDPBC format?
Understanding ALDs
Where are the ALDs in the SDPBC format?
In Learning Village Under…
Elementary
> Reading
>Additional Resources
Middle School
> Additional Resources
High School
SDPBC = School District of Palm Beach County
Nancy Brito, NBCT, Performance Accountability, , PX47521

29. Understanding ALDs
Acknowledgement
This project has been a collaborative effort between the Divisions of Performance Accountability and Curriculum.
Nancy Brito, NBCT, Performance Accountability, , PX47521

30. Understanding ALDs
Questions?
Contact
Nancy E. Brito, NBCT, Department of EDW, Accountability, and School Improvement , PX47521
Nancy Brito, NBCT, Performance Accountability, , PX47521