The National External Diploma Program Laying the Foundation for the Future Presentation for The CASAS Summer Institute June 2007 CASAS - June 2007 1
Presenter Contact Information Jim Harrison CASAS Senior Research Associate jharrison@casas.org 858-292-2900 CASAS - June 2007 2
EDP Background 1972: A Ford Foundation grant to the Syracuse Research Corporation (SRC) launched a study to discover the reasons why the more mature adult population was not earning their credential through existing high school completion programs CASAS - June 2007 3
The NEDP Created 1975: A competency-based, performance assessment system now recognized as the National External Diploma Program made its debut in Syracuse District. 1979: Through the efforts of the SRC staff, the Joint Dissemination Review Panel (JDRP) of the National Institute of Education and the U.S. Office of Education validated the External Diploma Program for national dissemination CASAS - June 2007 4
EDP History After NY, American Council on Education assumed the rights to NEDP MATC acquired rights to NEDP in 2000 With minor attempts at revising the NEDP over the years, it is essentially the same as it was when it was first created CASAS - June 2007 5
CASAS Approached. For several years a variety of NEDP stakeholders requested that CASAS consider assuming the rights to the program CASAS conducted an extensive feasibility study CASAS - June 2007 6
NEDP Feasibility Study Selected Findings Current materials are outdated NEDP needs to reflect more rigorous high school graduation requirements, including a greater focus on technology NEDP needs to be aligned with states secondary level content standards, post secondary entry level requirements, and with national workforce skills standards NEDP needs to be automated; currently very heavily paper driven Assessments need to meet current APA/NCME testing standards CASAS - June 2007 7
This Takes Money. Significant Investment required Estimates consistently concur that at least $1,000,000 needs to be invested in revamping the NEDP CASAS - June 2007 8
CASAS Acquires Rights to NEDP Effective July 1, 2006 Feasibility report distributed to a wide variety of stakeholders CT, MD and NY (all major users of NEDP) provided funding to CASAS to assist in acquiring NEDP rights from Madison Area Technical College (MATC) CT, MD, and NY is providing support to upgrade the NEDP over the next 3 years New NEDP sites can be trained starting midsummer 2007 CASAS - June 2007 9
Some Proposed Changes Revamp curriculum to reflect more rigorous high school graduation requirements, including the incorporation of an enhanced technology component Align NEDP with states secondary level content standards, with national workforce skills standards, and post-secondary entry level requirements CASAS - June 2007 10
Some Proposed Changes continued Revalidate the 65 NEDP competencies by November 2007(currently underway) Representatives from all states with NEDP sites New competency areas under consideration Revise assessments to meet current American Psychological Association/National Council on Measurement in Education testing standards CASAS - June 2007 11
Proposed Changes continued Utilize 2 standing committees and ad hoc committees as needed: Policy Advisory Committee Assessment Technical Workgroup Ad Hoc Committees (competency revalidation, e.g.) Develop an equitable funding and uniform price structure for purchasing materials and establishing site fees Develop refresher training (distance) for existing programs and a recertification process for trainers CASAS - June 2007 12
Proposed Changes continued Develop an electronic portfolio system ( e.g., post task summary sheet) Develop a marketing plan for a variety of constituencies Convert all materials into an electronic format, where feasible Corrected errata in all forms and manuals (Diagnostic Phase only) CASAS - June 2007 13
Selected Accomplishments (Past Year) Conducted a cut score study using CASAS reading and math assessments to determine the minimum CASAS scale score for entry into the Assessment Phase Replaced NEDP reading with a CASAS Level D reading test, math with a CASAS Level C test (for 18 pilot sites only), and eventually writing diagnostics with new CASAS writing instruments Began initial development of NEDP etest versions of CASAS reading and math Developed a draft version of the Post Task Assessment Summary Sheet (one component of an NEDP database system) Developed a comprehensive assessment accommodations policy Revamped training modules Redesigned NEDP website CASAS - June 2007 14
Selected Changes Years 2-3 Finalize competency revalidation process Revise and pilot Tasks (A E), including spot checks and competency progress reports and appendices Revise self assessment checklist and the Individualized competencies Diagnostic Instrument (ICDI) Investigate, develop and implement the use of an optional workforce skills certification system component Explore using the O*NET Vocational Specialized Checklists and using O*NET s online occupational interest and aptitude inventories Develop a comprehensive database Modify CASAS etest for use in NEDP Diagnostics CASAS - June 2007 15
Non-Pilot Sites (FY 2007) Non-pilot sites used the slightly revised NEDP Diagnostic Phase materials and largely unchanged Assessment Phase materials For non-pilot sites, almost nothing changed this first year CASAS - June 2007 16
Pilot Sites (FY 2007) Used CASAS Life and Work Reading Forms 187-188 and CASAS Employability Series Math Forms 15 16 instead of the NEDP reading and math diagnostics All other assessments and procedures have remained the same for the year 1 10-12 hour monthly commitment on average Preliminary results from the pilot study (FY 2007) presented at the Summer Institute CASAS - June 2007 17
Pilots and Non-Pilots (FY2008) Beginning July 1, 2007: All sites given one of three options: Continue using NEDP Diagnostic reading and math assessments Use CASAS reading and math assessments in lieu of NEDP Diagnostic assessments Use both the NEDP Diagnostic assessments and CASAS assessments (some learners would get CASAS, others NEDP reading and math instruments) All sites will utilize scannable forms for goal setting, collecting demographic information, and outcome information Pilots sites will also use scannable forms for collecting assessment data July 1, 2008 CASAS reading and math assessments exclusively are to be used for Diagnostics CASAS - June 2007 18
Selected Changes to Materials (FY2007) Diagnostic Manual Revised Diagnostic Reading and Math tests some changes Forms Manual (some changes) Writing Diagnostic unchanged ICDI unchanged Occupational Profile unchanged SAC unchanged Registration Agreement Form minor changes Diagnostic Summary Sheet unchanged (except for pilots) Detailed summary of all changes sent to all sites & distance training provided CASAS - June 2007 19
Ordering New Materials New order form and prices for FY2008 finalized Information on how to order has been emailed to NEDP sites New materials may now be ordered All current materials should be consumed first July 1, 2007 everyone should be using new materials CASAS - June 2007 20
Ordering New Materials.Continued NEDP Diagnostic and Assessment materials may be purchased in bundles of 5 instead of 25 Small orders encouraged as materials will change CASAS - June 2007 21
Odds and Ends Volume 1 of the quarterly NEDP newsletter emailed to all NEDP sites Volume 2 to be distributed in August 2007 New web site (www.nedp.org) up an running Recertification trainings for state and national trainers planned for mid summer (Genesys Meeting Center) New Site and New Staff trainings planned for mid summer Train-the-Trainer trainings planned for fall CASAS - June 2007 22
Clearly our work is cut out for us! Any questions.? CASAS - June 2007 23
Any questions.? CASAS - June 2007 24
Need Assistance? Jim Harrison (policy and assessment issues) jharrison@casas.org 800-255-1036 x 191 Or Mary Fox (general assistance) mfox@casas.org 800-255-1036 x 136 Or Andrew Evans (technical issues) aevans@casas.org 800-255-1036 x 184 CASAS 5151 Murphy Canyon Road, Suite 220 San Diego, CA 92123-4339 CASAS - June 2007 25