Westerville City School District Assessment Inventory

Westerville City School District Assessment Inventory 2018-2019 (updated 01.07.19) Assessment Grade Level(s) District, State or National Assessment Page # Advanced Placement (AP) 9-12 National 3 Alternate Assessment for Students with Significant Cognitive Disabilities (AASCD) 3-8, 10 State 4 American College Testing (ACT) 9-12 National 5 Career and Technical Education Assessment (CTE) 9-12 State 6 Elementary Reading Diagnostics K-3 State 7 Fountas & Pinnell (F&P) Benchmark Assessment System in Reading K-5 District 8 International Baccalaureate (IB) 11-12 National 9 Kindergarten Readiness Assessment (KRA) K State 10 1

National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) Ohio English Language Proficiency Assessment (OELPA) K-12 National 11 K-12 State 12 Ohio Graduation Test (OGT) Graduation Cohort 2017 State 13 Ohio s State Tests (OST) in English Language Arts (Reading), Mathematics, Science, and Social Studies 3-12 State 14 Preliminary Scholastic Aptitude Test (PSAT) 9-12 National 15 Project Lead the Way (PLTW) 9-12 National 16 Renzulli Scales K-12 District 17 Riverside Iowa Algebra Aptitude Test 6 District 18 Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) 9-12 National 19 STAR and STAR Early Literacy K-8 District 20 TerraNova / InView / Naglieri Nonverbal Ability Test-Second Edition (NNAT) 2, 5 District 21 TerraNova 3 Survey 3 District 22 *ACT vs. SAT Comparison Chart 9-12 District 23-25 2

Advanced Placement (AP) AP Assessments are given during the first two full weeks of May and are used to measure a student s mastery of the AP course content. Based on the students scores, 1 to 5, they could earn college credit. High School AP Biology AP Environmental Science AP Calculus A/B AP Physics 1 & 2 AP Calculus B/C AP Physics C: Mechanics AP Chemistry AP Statistics AP Computer Science AP U.S. History AP English Language AP U.S. Government & Politics AP English Literature AP World History May 6-17, 2019 Cost The cost of each AP Exam is $94 (as of 06.19.18). Fee waivers are available to those who qualify. Students should see their guidance counselor for more information. Future Changes/Recommendations No changes expected. 3

Alternate Assessment for Students with Significant Cognitive Disabilities (AASCD) The AASCD is given to students who, per their IEP, are to take an alternate assessment of the required state testing. The assessment measures a student s mastery of the Ohio Academic Content Standards Extended. Based on their performance, students are placed into one of five performance levels: advanced, accelerated, proficient, basic, or limited. Student achievement from the AASCD is factored in the calculation of the Performance Index on the state report card. Grades 3-8: English Language Arts (ELA) & Math Grades 5 & 8: Science Grades 4&6: Social Studies Grade 10: ELA, Math, Science and Social Studies (or until proficiency) February 19 through April 12, 2019 Future Changes/Recommendations No changes expected. 4

American College Testing (ACT) The ACT is a national college admissions examination that consists of subject area tests in: English, Reading, Mathematics, and Science. The ACT includes 215 multiplechoice questions and takes approximately 3 hours and 30 minutes to complete, including a short break (or just over four hours if you are taking the ACT Plus Writing). Actual testing time is 2 hours and 55 minutes (plus 30 minutes if you are taking the ACT Plus Writing). The ACT is administered on six test dates within the US. ACT results are accepted by all four-year colleges and universities in the US. The main three tests are scored individually on a scale of 1 36. Writing is scored on a scale of 2-12. The Composite Score is the average of a student s three test scores, rounded to the nearest whole number. Fractions less than one-half are rounded down; fractions one-half or more are rounded up. - High School* Throughout the year. Visit this link for specific dates: http://www.actstudent.org/regist/dates.html Cost The cost of the ACT (without writing) is $46.00; ACT (with writing) is $62.50 (as of 06.19.18). Additional registration fees and services may apply. Fee waivers are available to those who qualify. Students should see their guidance counselor for more information. Upcoming Changes - No changes expected. * Some middle school students may participate in ACT testing as part of academic talent search organizations. * Difference between ACT and SAT on pages 23-24 5

Career and Technical Education (CTE) Assessment Today, most every secondary CTE program has a required pathway test or portfolio available. Many programs are using new pathway tests comprised of a sequence of end-of-course tests, including the Biomedical, Engineering, and Business & Administrative Services pathways. All tests are administered electronically through a web-based application. All CTE tests are developed and administered by The Ohio State University through a proprietary system called WebXam. Cut scores were set for courses in the Business & Administrative Services pathway after field testing ended in May 2016. The term cut score refers to the lowest possible score on an exam, standardized test, high-stakes test, or other form of assessment that a student must earn to either pass or be considered proficient. High School Career and Technical Education Courses At the end of the CTE course. Recent Changes/Recommendations No changes expected. 6

Elementary Diagnostics The primary purpose of the diagnostic assessments is to check the progress of the students towards meeting State standards. Results from the diagnostics are used by classroom teachers to inform their instructional planning. Subjects/Grade Levels READING Kindergarten: KRA English Literacy Portion / STAR Early Literacy Grade 1: Reading (STAR Early Literacy or STAR) Grades 2-5: Reading (STAR) MATHEMATICS Grades 1-8: Math (STAR) KRA (Kindergarten) - By November 1, 2018 Reading - Dec. 3-14; May 1-14 (Benchmarking Kindergarten) Reading and Mathematics - Sept. 4-14; Dec. 3-14; May 1-14 (Benchmarking Grades 1-5) Recent Changes/Recommendations Through Senate Bill 3 passage, the requirement to administer diagnostic assessments in grades 1-2 for writing and math, and grade 3 writing, is eliminated; therefore, only State required diagnostics in reading will be administered in grades K-3. Students in grades 4 and 5 will also be administered district reading diagnostics using STAR. District math diagnostics for grades 1-8 will also be administered using STAR. 7

Fountas & Pinnell (F&P) Benchmark Assessment System in Reading Teachers conduct F&Ps for the purpose of evaluating student reading and comprehension. This tool determines each child's instructional and independent reading level. For more detailed information on the F&P assessment, go to http://www.heinemann.com/fountasandpinnell K-5 As needed during the course of the year. Future Changes/Recommendations No changes expected. 8

International Baccalaureate (IB) These summative assessments, combined with projects, interviews, and lab reports, determine a student s final IB grade, which could earn college credit. Founded in 1968, the International Baccalaureate (IB) is a non-profit educational foundation offering four highly respected programs of international education that develop the intellectual, personal, emotional and social skills needed to live, learn and work in a rapidly globalizing world. Schools must be authorized, by the IB organization, to offer any of the programs. Westerville South High School is the only approved IB High School in the Westerville Schools. IB coursework is available to 11th and 12th graders. English French Spanish Business History Sports, Exercise, and Health Science Psychology Biology Chemistry Physics Math Music Theory Visual Arts May 2 through May 23, 2019 Cost Initial registration fee of $172 and an exam fee of $119 per course (as of 06.19.18). Future Changes/Recommendations No changes expected. 9

Kindergarten Readiness Assessment (KRA) The Kindergarten Readiness Assessment (KRA) replaced the KRA-L in the 2014-15 school year, and was developed as an assessment tool to identify early reading skills. It is a required assessment for all children entering kindergarten for the first time. The KRA is a more comprehensive assessment to measure a child s school readiness in the following six components: social skills, mathematics, science, social studies, language and literacy, and physical well-being and motor development. Kindergarten August through October 2018 Future Changes/Recommendations Ohio Department of Education personnel continue looking for ways to make more items available that allow students to use technology/digital devices to answer the questions. 10

National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) The National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) is the largest nationally representative and continuing assessment of what America's students know and can do in various subject areas. Assessments are conducted periodically in mathematics, reading, science, writing, the arts, civics, economics, geography, U.S. history, and Technology and Engineering Literacy (TEL). Grades K-12 at Specific Buildings Randomly Chosen Each Year to Participate February through March 2019 Future Changes/Recommendations NAEP is transitioning to computer-based assessments. 11

Ohio English Language Proficiency Assessment (OELPA) The OELPA fulfills the state and federal requirement to annually assess K-12 students who are Limited English Proficient (LEP) and measures their English language proficiency. The test measures four areas: Reading, Writing, Speaking and Listening. Student scores are used to measure the district s performance on the Annual Measurable Achievement Objectives (AMAO). The Ohio English Language Proficiency Assessment for the 21st Century (OELPA) replaced the OTELA during the 2015-2016 school year. Grades K 12: Reading, Writing, Speaking & Listening February 4 through March 29, 2019 Future Changes/Recommendations No changes expected. 12

Ohio Graduation Test (OGT) Students in Graduation Cohort 2017 and prior must pass all five parts of the Ohio Graduation Tests (OGT) in order to receive a high school diploma (also refer to Alternative Pathway for Eligibility for a Diploma). The OGTs are aligned to Ohio's academic content standards, which were adopted by the State Board of Education in English language arts, mathematics, science and social studies. Graduation Cohort 2017 and prior - 2 times during school year October 22-24, 2018 and March 11-13, 2019 Noteworthy Changes/Recommendations House Bill 487 updated Ohio s graduation requirements to ensure that all students are ready for success in college and work. As a result, the Class of 2017 was the last graduating class to take the current OGT. New in SY18-19, all OGT tests will be administered online using the same platform as the Ohio State Tests. 13

Ohio s State Tests (OST) in English Language Arts (Reading), Mathematics, Science, and Social Studies All districts and schools with eligible students are required to administer State tests in English Language Arts, Math, Science and Social Studies. Each test is divided into specific units. Tests are aligned to Ohio s academic content standards. American Institutes for Research (AIR) is the vendor for these tests. Grades 3-8 In High School, tests include: Geometry, Algebra I, English I, English II, Biology (Physical Science - 2014-2015 School Year), American History, and American Government. Varies by grade level, but starts in *April 2019 *Grade 3 English Language Arts Test, October 23-24, 2018, and April 9-10, 2019 (Due to Third Grade Reading Guarantee) Retakes in all high school tests to earn additional points are scheduled for December 3-6, 2018. Future Changes/Recommendations No changes expected. 14

Preliminary Scholastic Aptitude Test (PSAT) - The PSAT helps students become college ready by providing detailed feedback on skills, access to scholarships and personalized online tools, and practice for the SAT. The PSAT assesses the critical reading, mathematics, and writing skills of students. Students taking the PSAT are automatically screened for the National Merit Scholarship Program; it s usually juniors who meet entry requirements. For additional information, go to the following link: https://collegereadiness.collegeboard.org/psat-nmsqt-psat-10?navid=gh-pn - High School - October 10, 2018 Students will take this assessment free of charge for the first time each fall of their sophomore and junior year and registration for this specific administration is taken care of through each high school. Cost - The test is free to all sophomores (graduation cohort 2021) and juniors (graduation cohort 2020). For all other students, the cost of each PSAT Exam is $16 (as of 06.19.18). Fee waivers are available to those who qualify. Students should see their guidance counselor for more information. Recent Changes/Recommendations - In SY18/19, the PSAT will now be administered free of charge in WCS to all sophomores and juniors. Also, students can connect via their College Board and Khan Academy accounts to get free personalized SAT study recommendations. Category Pre-2015 PSAT New PSAT Total Testing Time 2 hrs. 10 min. 2 hrs. 45 min. Components Critical Reading, Writing, Mathematics Evidence-Based Reading and Writing Important Features Emphasis on general reasoning skills Emphasis on vocabulary, often in limited contexts Complex scoring (a point for a correct answer and a deduction for an incorrect answer; blank responses have no impact on scores) Focus on the knowledge, skills, and understandings that research has identified as most important for college and career readiness and success Greater emphasis on the meaning of words in extended contexts and on how word choice shapes meaning, tone, and impact Rights-only scoring (no penalty for guessing) Score Reporting Scale ranging from 60 to 240 Scale ranging from 20 to 80 for Critical Reading, Mathematics, and Writing The scale ranges for the PSAT 10 scores are 320 1520 for the total score, 160 760 for each of two section scores, and 8 38 for test scores. Subscore Reporting None Subscores for every test, providing added insight for students, parents, educators, and counselors 15

Project Lead the Way (PLTW) PLTW assessment program includes a summative assessment series for 11 of the 13 high school courses. All assessments are administered online, eliminating the need for teachers to grade and manually enter test scores. Each course contains a single End of Course assessment composed of approximately 60 selected response items. Students have a total of 80 minutes to complete the online assessment. Since most class periods will not allow for a single 80-minute testing block, the assessment system allows for the test to be broken up into two 40-minute subtests. The End of Course assessments are constructed to be indicators of student achievement. Test users utilize the scores in many ways, including as the basis for student recognition by colleges, universities, and other institutions, as well as for accountability decisions at local schools, post-secondary institutions, and state departments of education. PLTW also uses the aggregated information to make datadriven curricular and professional development adjustments. High School PLTW courses Principles of Biomedical Sciences Human Body Systems Medical Interventions Introduction to Engineering Design Principles of Engineering Civil Engineering and Architecture At the end of a PLTW course Future Changes/Recommendations No changes expected. 16

Renzulli Scales for Rating the Behavioral Characteristics of Superior Students (Renzulli Scales) The Renzulli Scales are used nationally to identify gifted students. Designed as a series of checklists that are completed by teachers, the Scales gather information on student characteristics in Learning, Creativity, Motivation, Leadership, Artistic, Musical, Dramatics, Communication (Precision), Communication (Expressiveness), Planning, Mathematics, Reading, Technology and Science. WCS uses the Renzulli Scales to identify students in creative thinking ability and as candidates for evaluation in the areas of visual and performing arts. The Scales are completed online by teachers. The Scales can be used to identify students K-12. WCS uses the Scales to identify students in the areas of creative thinking ability and visual and performing arts in the following grades: Creative Thinking Ability - Grades 2 and 5 Visual and Performing Arts - K-12 The Scales are used throughout the year to identify students as candidates for evaluation in the areas of visual and performing arts. The Scales are used in the spring to identify students in the area of creative thinking ability. The exact time depends on the receipt of scores from the InView test, which students take in January/February. Changes/Recommendations The Renzulli Scales have replaced the Torrence Test of Creative Thinking, previously used to identify students in grade 2, and the GATES checklist, previously used to identify students in grade 5, to identify students in the area of creative thinking ability. To help teachers become comfortable with completing the Renzulli Scales checklist, the WCS Gifted Education Team has created a training video detailing how to access and complete the checklist. The video is automatically sent on an individual basis to teachers preparing to complete the checklist. 17

Riverside Iowa Algebra Aptitude Test The Riverside Assessment is used as one of several data points to support decisions about student placement into advanced mathematics courses. The assessment emphasis is on the skills needed to be successful in preparation for Algebra. The four subtests focus on the following areas: Pre-Algebraic Number Skills and Concepts, Interpreting Mathematical Information, Representing Relationships, and Using Symbols. These areas are reflective of the state standards and National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM) recommendations. Grade 6 Week of March 19, 2019 Future Changes/Recommendations No changes expected. 18

Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) The SAT is a globally recognized college admission test that tests a student s knowledge of reading, writing and math, with an optional SAT Essay. Most students take the SAT during their junior or senior year of high school, and almost all colleges and universities use the SAT to make admission decisions. For more specific and additional information, go to the following link: https://collegereadiness.collegeboard.org/sat High School - Throughout the year. Visit this link for specific dates: https://sat.collegeboard.org/register/sat-us-dates Cost (as of 06.19.18) - Other than on March 6, 2019 when the test is administered free of charge to all juniors, fee waivers are available to those who qualify. Students should see their guidance counselor for more information. SAT with Essay - $60.00 SAT without Essay - $46.00 Recent Changes/Recommendations In School Year 2018-2019, the test will be administered free March 6, 2019 to all students that are juniors. Registration for this specific administration is taken care of through each high school. The SAT was redesigned with the first test administration of the new test in March 2016. Changes in scoring have recently taken place. Go to this link for more information: https://collegereadiness.collegeboard.org/sat/scores/understanding-scores/sat-scoreconverter * Difference between ACT and SAT on pages 23-24 19

STAR Early Literacy (Reading) and STAR (Reading / Math) STAR Reading and Math includes skills-based test items and new in-depth reports for screening, instructional planning, progress monitoring, and Ohio s Learning Standards benchmarking. Educators have immediate access to skill-specific, actionable data to target instruction and practice, select students for intervention, and predict performance on Ohio s State Tests. STAR Reading is also used to provide a Student Growth Percentile (value-added) for teachers in grades K through 3. Kindergarten (STAR Early Literacy in Reading) Grades 1-8 (STAR) Benchmarking windows for grades 1-8 are September 4-14, December 3-14, and May 1-14. Kindergarten Early Literacy benchmarking windows are December 3-14 and May 1-14. STAR can be used throughout the year for instructional purposes. Future Changes/Recommendations To ensure that every child has an opportunity to meet the State s benchmark/score for grade 3 promotion, Westerville City Schools will administer on May 2, 2019 the STAR Alternative Reading Assessment to identified students. Students who do not have a score because they were absent or moved into our State after the Fall 2018 OST test administration are also required to take this assessment. Students must attain the State required score on the STAR Assessment for promotion to grade 4 ODE Resource Links: 3GRG Alternative Reading Assessments (click here) 3GRG ODE Guidance Manual (click here) 20

TerraNova / InView / Naglieri Nonverbal Ability Test-Second Edition (NNAT) The TerraNova is a norm-referenced assessment, which means it ranks students based on scale scores and assigns students a national percentile. This assessment is a standardized way to compare our students performance to students from across the nation. The TerraNova is also used for gifted identification. The InView is a test of cognitive skills and provides a Cognitive Skills Index (CSI). This score is also used for gifted identification and fulfills the State requirement to give students an ability assessment. The InView Assessment measures a student s ability to work with words and visual concepts. Students with English as a Second Language are usually given the Naglieri Nonverbal Ability Test (NNAT) in lieu of the InView. Both the InView and NNAT are group-administered, and the results of both help teachers and parents evaluate a child s progress according to his or her ability. In our district, this data is used for the following purposes: TerraNova tests are used as one way to identify students as gifted in Reading and Math, based upon scoring in the 95 th percentile or above on one or more of the domains. The InView or NNAT is used as one way to identify students as Cognitively Advanced (gifted). In Grade 5, student InView and TerraNova scores will serve as one of many pieces of data used for middle school placement in Grade 6 courses. InView and TerraNova scores are used by the building level intervention assistance team to help better identify students who may need support or intervention within the building. Grades 2 and 5 January 14 through February 1, 2019 Recent Changes/Recommendations In 2014-2015, the TerraNova was eliminated from testing in grades 3, 4, 7, and 8. In 2015-2016, students were administered the TerraNova/InView in grades 2 and 5 for the purpose of gifted identification - the school district is required to conduct gifted assessment two times one time in grades K-3, and one time in grades 4-8. For the 2018-2019 school year, the TerraNova/InView will continue to be administered in grades 2 and 5. TerraNova 3 Survey 21

To ensure that every child has an opportunity to meet the State s benchmark/score for grade 3 promotion, Westerville City Schools administers the TerraNova 3 Survey for reading to all students scoring below the required established score by ODE. The TerraNova 3 Survey consists of 30 multiple choice items. ODE Resource Links: 3GRG Alternative Reading Assessments (click here) 3GRG ODE Guidance Manual (click here) Grade 3 Summer 2019 Future Changes/Recommendations Students have to obtain a score of 18/30 to meet grade 3 promotion requirements (per ODE requirements) ACT vs SAT: which test is a better fit for your student? Students may take whichever test they prefer (assuming there are available testing locations for both tests). If you're not sure which test your child would prefer, consider the key differences between the ACT and SAT. 22

Some students find that the ACT caters to their strengths more so than the SAT, and vice versa. You may wish to consider the various points made in this link: https://blog.prepscholar.com/is-the-act-easier-than-the-sat Need a quick side-by-side comparison of the tests? Check out the ACT vs. SAT Comparison Chart below. Can also be accessed via this link: http://www.studypoint.com/ed/act-vs-sat/ SAT VS ACT Content-based test Type of Test Content-based test Reading: 1, 65-min section; Math: 1, 25-min section (no calculator) & 1, 55-min section (w/ calculator); Writing & Language: 1, 35-min section; Essay: 1, 50- min section (optional) Test Format English: 1, 45-min section; Math: 1, 60-min section; Reading: 1, 35-min section; Science: 1, 35-min section; Writing: 1, 40-min essay (optional) Reading, relevant words in context, math, grammar & usage, analytical writing (optional) Content Covered Grammar & usage, math, reading, science reasoning, and writing (optional) 23

Questions are evidence and context-based in an effort to focus on real-world situations and multi-step problem-solving Test Style Straightforward, questions may be long but are usually less difficult to decipher Math and Evidence-Based Reading & Writing are each scored on a scale of 200-800. Composite SAT score is the sum of the two section scores and ranges from 400-1600 Scoring English, Math, Reading, and Science scores range from 1-36. Composite ACT score is the average of your scores on the four sections; ranges from 1-36 No you do not lose points for incorrect answers Penalty for Wrong Answers? No you do not lose points for incorrect answers Yes you can choose which set(s) of SAT scores to submit to colleges. However, some colleges require or recommend that students submit all scores. Students should review the score-reporting policy of each Score Choice? Yes you can choose which set(s) of ACT scores to submit to colleges. However, some colleges require or recommend that students submit all scores. Students should review the scorereporting policy of each 24

college to which they plan to apply. college to which they plan to apply. Math questions generally increase in difficulty level as you move through that question type in a section. Reading passage questions generally progress chronologically through the passage, not by difficulty level. Writing & Language passage questions do not progress by difficulty level. Difficulty Levels For the English and Reading sections, the difficulty level of the questions is random. For the Math section, questions generally increase in difficulty as you progress through the section. For the Science section, passages generally increase in difficulty as you progress through the test, and questions generally become more difficult as you progress through a passage. Arithmetic, problem-solving & data analysis, heart of algebra, geometry, pre-calculus, and trigonometry; formulas provided Math Levels Arithmetic, algebra I and II, functions, geometry, trigonometry; no formulas are provided 25

Seven times per year: March or April, May, June, August, October, November, December (note that some states offer the SAT as part of their state testing requirements; these tests are not administered on the national test dates) Offered when? Six times per year: February, April, June, July, September, October, December (note that some states offer the ACT as part of their state testing requirements; these tests are not administered on the national test dates) Typically about four weeks before the test date Registration deadline? Typically about five to six weeks before the test date www.collegeboard.com More Information www.act.org Related Topics: SAT or ACT? Find out which test is more popular in your state. Want to learn more about the ACT? Visit our ACT Test page. Want to learn more about the SAT? Visit our SAT Test page. 26