TEA Science Assessment TEA Science Assessment UpdateUpdate

Cyndi Louden, Ph.D.Cyndi Louden, Ph.D.TAKS Science Manager TAKS Science Manager

Student AssessmentStudent AssessmentTexas Education AgencyTexas Education Agency

End-of-Course ExamsEnd-of-Course Exams

Executive Order RP53Executive Order RP53RationaleRationale

Increase number of students Increase number of students – enrolling in higher educationenrolling in higher education– completing post-secondary degree completing post-secondary degree

programsprograms– being successful in the world economy being successful in the world economy

by having strong backgrounds in by having strong backgrounds in science, technology, engineering, and science, technology, engineering, and mathmath

Decrease number of studentsDecrease number of students– Requiring remediation in higher Requiring remediation in higher

educationeducation

Proposed Legislation

Senate Bill 1031-Shapiro&

House Bill 2236-Eissler

??????

December 16, 2006Executive Order RP53

EOC ExamEOC Exam DevelopmentDevelopment Online onlyOnline only Live test is voluntaryLive test is voluntary Convened educator focus groups Convened educator focus groups

and advisory committees to and advisory committees to discuss blueprint, assessed discuss blueprint, assessed curriculum, and prototype itemscurriculum, and prototype items

Biology End-of-Course Biology End-of-Course ExamExam

Field test window April 23-May 18, Field test window April 23-May 18, 20072007

Live test window May 12-30, 2008Live test window May 12-30, 2008

Chemistry End-of-Chemistry End-of-Course ExamCourse Exam

Field test window May 5-23, 2008Field test window May 5-23, 2008 Live test window May 11-29, 2009Live test window May 11-29, 2009

Physics End-of-Course Physics End-of-Course ExamExam

Field test window May 5-23, 2008Field test window May 5-23, 2008 Live test window May 11-29, 2009Live test window May 11-29, 2009

Curriculum

Reporting Objectives

Assessed Curriculum

Guidelines Produced

Test Blueprint

Items Written by Professional Item Writers

Items Edited by TEAScience Specialists

Items Reviewed at Educator Meetings

Items Revised Based on Input

Items Field Tested

Data-Review Committee

Accepted Items Entered Into Item Bank

Items Selected for Test Based on Blueprint

ParticipationParticipation Committee member selection based Committee member selection based

upon demographicsupon demographics Recommendation forms available at Recommendation forms available at

http://www.tea.state.tx.us/student.asseshttp://www.tea.state.tx.us/student.assessment/develop/recform.pdfsment/develop/recform.pdf

What’sWhat’s

NewNew

withwith

TAKS Science?TAKS Science?

Grade 8 Science TAKSGrade 8 Science TAKS

First live test in Spring 2006First live test in Spring 2006 School accountability ratings in School accountability ratings in

20082008 Covers TEKS from grades 6, 7 and 8Covers TEKS from grades 6, 7 and 8 Formula Chart with RulerFormula Chart with Ruler Periodic TablePeriodic Table No calculatorsNo calculators

TAKS-InclusiveTAKS-Inclusive

Science Grades 5, 8, 10 and Exit Science Grades 5, 8, 10 and Exit LevelLevel

For students working at or near For students working at or near grade levelgrade level

No field test itemsNo field test items Larger font, more white spaceLarger font, more white space Expanded accommodationsExpanded accommodations Same passing standardsSame passing standards

TAKS-AltTAKS-Alt

For the severely cognitively For the severely cognitively disabled studentsdisabled students

Online checklist of TEKS-based Online checklist of TEKS-based activitiesactivities

http://k12testing.tx.ncspearson.com/AssessmentResults/

Items Correct by Items Correct by Objectives (Percent Objectives (Percent

Items Correct) Items Correct) All Students All Students

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

Nature ofScience

Life Physical EarthScience

Grade 5Grade 8Grade 10Grade 11

Demographic Summary Demographic Summary (Percent Items Correct)(Percent Items Correct)Grade 5Grade 5

0102030405060708090

100

Natureof

Science

Life Physical Earth

MaleFemaleAfrican AmericanHispanicWhite/ Asian

Demographic Summary Demographic Summary (Percent Items Correct)(Percent Items Correct)Grade 8Grade 8

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

Natureof

Science

Life Physical Earth

MaleFemaleAfrican AmericanHispanicWhite/ Asian

Physical Science NotePhysical Science Note

88thth grade students did much better grade students did much better on on Motion, Forces, and EnergyMotion, Forces, and Energy than than Structures and Properties of MatterStructures and Properties of Matter

Least variation in Asian Scores (7%)Least variation in Asian Scores (7%) Most variation in White Scores Most variation in White Scores

(15%)(15%) Other groups had score variations of Other groups had score variations of

12 or 13, including males, females, 12 or 13, including males, females, African Americans and HispanicsAfrican Americans and Hispanics

Demographic Summary Demographic Summary (Percent Items Correct)(Percent Items Correct)Grade 10Grade 10

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

Natureof

Science

Life Physical

MaleFemaleAfrican AmericanHispanicWhite/ Asian

Demographic Summary Demographic Summary (Percent Items Correct)(Percent Items Correct)Grade 11Grade 11

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

Natureof

Science

Life Physical

MaleFemaleAfrican AmericanHispanicWhite/ Asian

Life Science NoteLife Science Note

In 11In 11thth grade all student groups grade all student groups had average percent items had average percent items correct about 10 points higher for correct about 10 points higher for Interdependence of OrganismsInterdependence of Organisms and the Environmentand the Environment than for than for Organization of Living SystemsOrganization of Living Systems

http://http://www.tea.state.tx.us/www.tea.state.tx.us/student.assessment/student.assessment/develop/recform.pdfdevelop/recform.pdf www.tea.state.tx.us/student.assewww.tea.state.tx.us/student.asse

ssment/reporting/results/itemssment/reporting/results/item analysis/ analysis/ indexindex

For UpdatesFor Updates

Join the curriculum and Join the curriculum and assessment listserves at assessment listserves at http://tea.state.tx.us/list/http://tea.state.tx.us/list/

Cyndi LoudenCyndi Loudenscience.test@tea.state.tx.us

(512) 463-9536