Southern

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HSTW

Administering the 2012 HSTW Assessment for

HSTW Sites

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HSTW

About the HSTW Assessment

HSTW is a research-based school improvement model

HSTW Assessment is used to set baselines, acknowledge progress, identify areas for improvement, and set priorities

Only initiative combining student achievement data with students’ perceptions of school and classroom practices

Required of HSTW sites in even-numbered years

Administered to seniors to collect data on entire high school experience

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HSTW

New in 2012

HSTW Teacher Survey will be conducted online

There will be no constructed response items in the assessment

The overall assessment time will be shortened by 20 minutes

Sites that have not paid by April 30, 2012 will not receive their school report until they do so

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HSTWExamples of How Schools

Use the Results

Lobby for state actions to support school improvement

Identify a need for improvement Gain support for school improvement Engage the entire faculty in school

improvement Set priorities for school improvement Improve classroom practices

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HSTW

Five Components

Reading testMathematics test Science testStudent survey

Course-taking patternsSchool and classroom experiences

Teacher survey

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HSTW

Reading Test

75 minutes80% informational texts; 20%

literary non-fiction textsIncludes meaning vocabularyIncludes paired texts (to assess

critical analysis)Does not include literary fiction or

poetry

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HSTW

Mathematics Test

80 minutesContent

11% Number Properties and Operations

29% Measurement/Geometry24% Data Analysis, Statistics and

Probability36% Algebra

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HSTW

Science Test

55 minutesContent

43% Life Sciences42% Physical Sciences15% Earth and Space Science

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HSTW

Student Survey

Section 1Course-taking patterns

Sections 2 and 3School and classroom experiencesBased on HSTW Key Practices

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HSTW

Teacher Survey

School and classroom experiencesSchool missionHigh expectations and extra helpGuiding and supporting studentsCurriculum content and engaging

students in learningTransitionsLeadership and professional growth

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HSTW

Results

HSTW Award of Educational Achievement

Student reportsSchool report

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HSTWHSTW Award of Educational

AchievementMailed to schools in late April,

2012Awarded to students who:

Meet all three readiness goalsComplete at least two parts of the

HSTW-Recommended Curriculum• English/language arts, mathematics,

science

Complete a concentration• Career/technical, mathematics/science,

humanities

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HSTW

Student reports

Mailed to schools in late April, 2012

Performance on reading, mathematics and science testPerformance level

Completion of recommended curriculum and concentration

Award status

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HSTW

HSTW Assessment Report

Mailed to schools by late June, 2012 Executive Summary

One page summary of performance and implementation

OverviewSlightly longer summary

Full reportTables breaking out achievement by experiencesTeacher survey results

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HSTW

Administering the Assessment

1. Place orderOrder window

• September 1 – October 31, 2011

Orders must be placed online on SREB website

• State may require paper copies be sent to State Coordinator

All communication and materials will be sent to contact person listed on order form

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HSTW

Information needed to place order

If your school has previously participated in an assessment

Name, email address and phone number of contact person (will receive all materials and communication via mail and email through summer 2012)

Complete shipping address (no P.O. boxes)Principal name, email address and phone numberSampling method and number of students to be

assessedPayment information and billing addressDates the school plans to assess within windowNumber of teacher surveys (estimate)

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Payment Information

The cost is $34 per student.If your school or district is paying for the

assessment, a purchase order is due to SREB by November 18, 2011 to confirm your order

Final payment is due to SREB by April 30, 2012

SREB will accept payments beginning immediately (call Fran Cowart at 404-879-5611 to request an early invoice)

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HSTW

Optional/Additional Costs

Cancellation Fee

The cancellation fee of $13 per student applies if orders are cancelled after materials have been

printed and/or shipped.

ITEM COST

Composite Report $465

Color Copy $210

Black and White Copy $80

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HSTW

Administering the Assessment

2. Review administration materialsAvailable on SREB website

beginning September, 2011A link also will be included in the

order confirmation email sent upon placing an order

Review materials immediatelySet timeline for preparation and

administration

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HSTW

Administration Materials

Test Administration GuideSampling InstructionsStudent Roster FormCourse Description GuideCourse Matching ChartChecklistHSTW Student Bulletin (with Sample

Questions Booklet)Information for SitesTasks and Timelines

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HSTWTask Schedule Estimated Time

Identify students Sept. – Nov. 2011 3 hours

Identify assistants Sept. – Nov. 2011 1 hour

Schedule time and place Sept. – Nov. 2011 2 hours

Notify students and teachers Sept. – Nov. 2011 2 hours

Prepare student roster Oct. – Dec. 2011 1 hour

Complete course matching chart Oct. – Dec. 2011 5 days

Prepare student transcripts Jan. 2012 5 days

Receive and check materials Jan. 23, 2012 1 hour

Assign answer documents to students

Jan. 24-26, 2012 3 hours

Complete section 1 of student survey for students

Prior to Scheduled Testing

3 days

Administer assessment and teacher survey

Jan. 27 – Feb. 17, 2012

2-4 days

Return materialsNo later than Feb.

17, 20121 hour

Sample Timeline

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Administering the Assessment

3. Identify studentsUse sampling plan selected on order

• All seniors• Random sample of 60+ seniors• All CT seniors• Random sample of 60+ CT seniors

Include all currently enrolled students in sampling

• Only exclude students if IEP exempts them from state assessments

Use sampling instructions provided to select sample

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HSTW

Identifying Students to Participate

Only include seniorsIf selecting a sample, select a true random

sample using the instructions providedOnly exclude students if their IEP exempts

them from state assessmentsAccommodations provided for state

assessments should be provided for this assessment

• Contact ETS by October 31, 2011 to request large-print or CD materials

Accommodations exist for English language learners

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Administering the Assessment

4. SchedulingIdentify assistants

• One assistant per 15 students is ideal

Schedule dates, times and locations• Include make-up sessions• SREB recommends administering

assessment over 2-3 days

Schedule date, time and location for teacher survey

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HSTW

Administering the Assessment

5. NotificationNotify students, parents and

teachersProvide informational materials

and/or schedule an informational meeting

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Administering the Assessment

6. Prepare student roster form Include names of all participating studentsWill need to include each student’s Assessment ID

number from the answer document he or she is assigned

Keep fully completed roster on file with testing records for five years

Include students’ email addresses to assist with Follow-Up Survey of 2012 Graduates (very important!)

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Administering the Assessment

7. Course-taking preparationWork with department chairs to complete

course-matching chart, using course description guide

• Used to link local course titles to generic SREB course titles

Include all courses current seniors could have taken during high school

Collect transcripts and course schedules for participating students, including spring courses

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Administering the Assessment

8. Receive assessment materialsMaterials scheduled to arrive by January 23, 2012

• HSTW Teacher Survey materials will NOT be included with student materials from ETS

Verify contents according to instructions immediately

• This gives ETS time to send new materials should an error have occurred

Keep secure (locked) until testing beginsThese are secure testing materials and all materials

(used and unused) will need to be returnedKeep the boxes – you will need them to return

materialsKeep ALL materials

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Administering the Assessment

9. Prepare assessment materialsAssign each student an answer document

• Record each student’s Assessment ID number from the answer document on the student roster form

Complete section 1 (transcript analysis) for students

• Strongly recommended, but not required• Reduces testing time• Increases accuracy

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Administering the Assessment

10. Review testing arrangementsConfirm dates, times and locations

(for students and teachers)Remind participantsReview administration plan with

assistants

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Administering the Assessment

11. Administer assessmentStudent and Teacher Window: January 27 –

February 17, 2012Administration guide includes scripts and

complete instructions for administering the student assessment

Students must complete all four components

All materials must be postmarked for return using the enclosed instructions and labels no later than February 17, 2012

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Administering the Assessment

12. Return materialsPack student and teacher materials using enclosed

instructions• Completed answer documents will be packed in a

different envelope and use a different return label than the test books and other materials

• If the necessary envelopes and labels are not included, you must call ETS (Lisa Rion at 609-734-5646) for replacement materials

• HSTW Teacher Survey is online, so you won’t need to return anything

All materials must be postmarked for return no later than February 17, 2012

Keep the receipt and tracking number!!!

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Administering the Assessment

VERY IMPORTANT:

Only return answer documents that you want scored. Your school will be responsible for paying for all

answer documents sent to ETS for scoring, even if the number is

over what you ordered.

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Important Dates to Remember Order window

September 1 – October 31, 2011

Administration materials available online September, 2011

Test materials arrive at sites By January 23, 2012

Student and teacher administration window January 27 – February 17, 2012

Final return deadline February 17, 2012

Awards and student reports mailed to sites By April 30, 2012

Payment due to SREB April 30, 2012

School reports mailed to sites Late June, 2012

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HSTWMaking the 2012 Assessment

a Success

CommunicationLetters/informational sessions for

students and parentsAnnouncements to faculty and staffStress importance, intended use,

and value of assessment

Southern

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HSTWMaking the 2012 Assessment

a Success

CooperationImportance of the assessment to the

school’s improvement goalsImportance of students,

administration and faculty taking it seriously

Handling make-up workCooperation from teachers whose

classes might be interrupted by the assessment

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HSTWMaking the 2012 Assessment

a Success

Encourage all students to do their bestPromote the HSTW Award of Educational

AchievementRecognize those who receive the HSTW Award of

Educational AchievementExplain the student readiness reports and how it

can help with their resumesBuild enthusiasmBe honest – explain how this helps the school and

future studentsMake students feel special for participating in the

assessment and thank them for their participationSee “PUBLICATIONS” column athttp://www.sreb.org/page/1329/hstw_assessment.html

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HSTWFor More Information…

Go to SREB’s Web pages on assessment for more ideas and information!

http://www.sreb.org/page/1144/assessments__surveys.html

Fran Cowart, Coordinator of Assessmentfran.cowart@sreb.org

(404) 879-5611