1. Transition to Smarter Assessment December 2014

2. Why did Delaware need new academic standards? http://vimeo.com/51933492

3. What do the Common Core Standards do? Prepare students to succeed in college and the workforce Ensure that every child—regardless of race, ethnicity or zip code—is held to the same high standards and learns the same material Provide educators with a clear, focused roadmap for what to teach and when

4. What are the Common Core State Standards? A single set of clear standards for English language arts and mathematics A tool to help students and parents set clear and realistic goals for success A first step in providing young people with the high-quality education that will prepare them for success in college and careers

5. For every 100 Delaware ninth graders… 75 graduate from high school on time 37 enter college the next fall 30 still enrolled by sophomore year Why does this matter? Because it’s what our students need

6. What are the new assessments? Smarter ELA and Smarter Mathematics – Replaces DCAS Reading, Mathematics – Field tested in Spring 2014 – First statewide administration in Spring 2015 – Taken once a year (spring)

7. Summative Assessments Available Spring 2015 Year-end English and math assessments administered in grades 3-8 and 11 Students will complete a computer adaptive test and performance task in each subject area Students will receive composite scores for each subject area and the following claim-level scores: English language arts-reading, writing, listening, and research; Math-concepts and procedures, problem solving and modeling/data analysis, and communicating reasoning

8. What are the new assessments? Smarter assessments go beyond multiple- choice questions and include short constructed response, extended constructed response, and performance tasks that allow students to complete an in-depth project that demonstrate analytical skills and real-world problem solving.

9. Summative Assessments – Estimated Testing Time Test TypeGradesCAT Perf. Task OnlyTotal Class ActivityTotal English Language Arts 3-51:302:003:30:304:00 6-81:302:003:30:304:00 112:00 4:00:304:30 Mathematics 3-51:301:002:30:303:00 6-82:001:003:00:303:30 112:001:303:30:304:00 COMBINED 3-53:00 6:001:007:00 6-83:303:006:301:007:30 114:003:307:301:008:30 Times are estimates of test length for most students Smarter Balanced assessments are untimed Testing will occur in multiple sessions over several days Students can take breaks during testing sessions

10. What are the new assessments? Accommodations for students with disabilities and English language learners are built into the system so that the progress of students can be accurately measured.

11. Accessibility and Accommodations Designed for all students, including students with disabilities and English language learners Three kinds of supports: Universal tools available to all Designated supports for those with identified need Accommodations for students with an IEP or 504 plan

12. What are the new assessments? The online reporting system provides clear, easy-to-understand data on student achievement and growth. These reports give parents and educators information they can use to help students make even greater progress.

13. “Students can demonstrate progress toward college and career readiness in English Language arts and literacy.” “Students can demonstrate college and career readiness in English language arts and literacy.” “Students can read closely and analytically to comprehend a range of increasingly complex literary and informational texts.” “Students can produce effective and well-grounded writing for a range of purposes and audiences.” “Students can employ effective speaking and listening skills for a range of purposes and audiences.” “Students can engage in research and inquiry to investigate topics, and to analyze, integrate, and present information.” Overall Claim for Grades 3-8 Overall Claim for Grade 11 Claim #1 - Reading Claim #2 - Writing Claim #3 - Speaking and Listening Claim #4 - Research/Inquiry Claims for the ELA/Literacy Summative Assessment

14. “Students can demonstrate progress toward college and career readiness in mathematics.” “Students can demonstrate college and career readiness in mathematics.” “Students can explain and apply mathematical concepts and interpret and carry out mathematical procedures with precision and fluency.” “Students can solve a range of complex well-posed problems in pure and applied mathematics, making productive use of knowledge and problem solving strategies.” “Students can clearly and precisely construct viable arguments to support their own reasoning and to critique the reasoning of others.” “Students can analyze complex, real-world scenarios and can construct and use mathematical models to interpret and solve problems.” Overall Claim for Grades 3-8 Overall Claim for Grade 11 Claim #1 - Concepts & Procedures Claim #2 - Problem Solving Claim #3 - Communicating Reasoning Claim #4 - Modeling and Data Analysis Claims for the Mathematics Summative Assessment

15. College Content-Readiness Policy for Grade 11 Assessment Results Note: Applies only to students who matriculate directly from high school to college. Not Yet Content-Ready - Substantial Support Needed K-12 & higher education may offer interventions Not Yet Content-Ready – Support Needed Transition courses or other supports for grade 12 Conditionally Content-Ready/Exempt from Developmental In each state, K-12 and higher education must jointly develop grade 12 requirements for students to earn exemption Content-Ready/Exempt from Developmental K-12 and higher education may jointly set grade 12 requirements to retain exemption (optional for states) Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Level 4

16. Why change to the Smarter assessments? All students deserve an education that prepares them for their next step in life— whether that’s going on to postsecondary education or starting a career.

17. Why change to the Smarter assessments? The Smarter assessments will give parents and students accurate information about whether students are on track to graduate high school ready for college and the workplace.

18. Why change to the Smarter assessments? Teachers also are provided with resources to tailor instruction to student needs through a digital library of instructional best practices.

19. Why change to the Smarter assessments? Importantly, educators and parents easily can compare student achievement between schools, districts, and states to ensure that students are making progress.

20. How will the tests be different?

22. Other important information Testing window is March 10 -June 4 for grades 3 to 8 and April 13 - June 4 for grade 11 Schools select when their students will test

23. Other important information Because the tests require hand-scoring, students will not receive immediate results as they did after taking the DCAS Families will receive student reports in July Statewide scores will be released in August

24. Other important information The new assessment will have higher expectations for students than previous state assessments The new baseline will mean that fewer students will meet the expectation in the first year

25. Other important information We are confident our students and schools will improve and meet the higher expectations This does not indicate students, teachers or schools suddenly are performing worse but rather reflects the more rigorous demands of the tests

26. LEA Communication Resources Materials from SBAC, including Delaware video on achievement-level setting Communication support – Make or Break Moments – Resource needs – Please send your asks to alison.may@doe.k12.de.us by Jan. 10 alison.may@doe.k12.de.us

27. Resources for Parents Smarter Balanced factsheet for parents http://www.smarterbalanced.org/wordpress/w p-content/uploads/2012/03/Smarter- Balanced-Parents-Factsheet.pdf http://www.smarterbalanced.org/wordpress/w p-content/uploads/2012/03/Smarter- Balanced-Parents-Factsheet.pdf Council of the Great City Schools Common Core Video http://www.commoncoreworks.org/domain/157 http://www.commoncoreworks.org/domain/157 Parent Roadmaps http://www.commoncoreworks.org/domain/114 http://www.commoncoreworks.org/domain/114 http://www.commoncoreworks.org/domain/149 PTA Parents’ Guide to Student Success http://pta.org/parents/content.cfm?ItemNumbe r=2583 http://pta.org/parents/content.cfm?ItemNumbe r=2583 State Assessment Guides http://www.pta.org/advocacy/content.cfm?Ite mNumber=3816 http://www.pta.org/advocacy/content.cfm?Ite mNumber=3816 DELAWARE DELEXCELS http://delexcels.org/

28. Learn More SmarterBalanced.org Resources in Spanish http://www.smarterbalanced.org/parents-students/como- ayudar-a-todos-los-estudiantes-a-que-tengan-exito/

29. Stay Connected Sign up for Smarter News SmarterBalanced.org/stay-connected Get instant updates Twitter.com/SmarterBalanced

30. Thank you For more information, visit www.DelExcels.org