New
Colorado Science and Social Studies Assessment
(scheduled to be administered beginning 2014)
Draft Frameworks
CDE is currently reviewing feedback received from the field.Draft Science Frameworks (pdf) Draft Social Studies Frameworks (pdf)
Invitation to be included in the Educator Pool
Dear Colorado Educator,
The Colorado Department of Education and Pearson invite you to be included in the database from which participants for Colorado Educator Committees will be selected throughout the summative and alternate academic assessment development process. Selected committee members may write test items, review items to determine each item’s ability to measure academic standards, suggest item modifications, and/or ensure that tests are free of biases that may affect any group of students. Selected educators will also be invited to serve on committees to review statistical data following field test and operational administrations.
Each committee will be composed of experienced educators from across the state. The goal is to have diverse committee representation in regards to gender, race/ethnicity, district size, and district setting (urban; suburban; rural). The participation of regular education teachers with strong content knowledge, as well as teachers with experience in Special Education and English language acquisition is very important in the test development process. This is a wonderful professional development opportunity. Participants will receive reimbursement for travel expenses and may also receive a substitute pay or honorarium.
If you are interested in participating in assessment development committees, please click on the following link to access the database questionnaire. Educator Database
Once your name has been entered into the Colorado educator database, you will be eligible to participate in committee meetings for the Colorado Program. You will be contacted via email if you have been selected to participate in an assessment development meeting.
If you have questions, please contact Deandrea White, Pearson Meeting Planner, via email at Deandrea.White@Pearson.com or via telephone at (319) 358-4327.
Recent Communications
High School Social Studies and Science Assessment Administration
Superintendents across the state of Colorado were asked to consider the high school administration schedule for the new science and social studies assessments. The two options that they were asked to consider involved 1) the administration of the high school science and social studies assessments in the spring of the 11th grade and 2) the administration of the high school science and social studies assessments in the fall of the 12th grade. As the Colorado Department of Education (CDE) moves forward with the development and implementation of these assessments, guidance from Colorado districts and schools is critically important and highly valued.
CDE received feedback from many individuals from across the state, and, as expected, the perspectives on the direction that should be taken were diverse and varied. Out of 82 total responses, 43 suggested that they be administered in the fall of the 12th grade, 15 suggested that the high school science and social studies assessments be administered in the spring of the 11th grade, and 24 did not favor either plan or suggested an alternative plan. Many of the alternative plans involved a hybrid of the two plans where one content area would be assessed in the spring of 11th grade and the other content area would be assessed in the fall of the 12th grade.
With careful consideration of these responses, it has been determined that contingent upon legislative approval, the science and social studies assessments will be administered to high school students in the fall of 12th grade. While this response was the most favored by respondents, CDE is aware that issues and concerns surrounding this plan exist. CDE would like to take the opportunity to address a few of those concerns here.
1.
Why can’t science and social studies be assessed in the 10th grade?
Scope and sequence (i.e., course sequence) for science and
social studies varies across the state, especially in grades 9
and 10. It is not until grade 11 that there is significant
overlap in the courses covered. To enable optimal coverage of
the high school standards, the earliest the science and social
studies assessments can be given is 11th grade.
2.
What can be done to encourage student accountability on state assessments in high school?
Both the draft high school graduation guidelines and the
already adopted and more rigorous endorsed diploma criteria
specifically reference performance on the state assessments as
one of several means students might use to demonstrate mastery
of the Colorado Academic Standards. As students are asked to
take responsibility for proving academic competency in order to
earn their diploma, an increased likelihood of greater student
accountability on the state high school assessments is expected.
3.
Why not use ACT in place of other high school assessments?
The Colorado ACT is a college entrance exam that was not
designed to measure the depth and breadth of the Colorado
Academic Standards. An ACT social studies test does not exist at all.
4. Why is Colorado planning on English language arts and mathematics assessments in the 11th grade?
In compliance with legislation, Colorado joined the Partnership
for the Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers (PARCC)
as a governing member this past summer. PARCC is a multi-state
assessment consortium that is developing shared English language
arts and mathematics assessments. Over 20 states participate in
the consortium. As a governing member, Colorado is committed to
relying on the PARCC assessment system. PARCC has English
language arts assessments in grades 3-11 and mathematics
assessments in grades 3-8 with three high school assessments.
PARCC has developed college and career ready determinations that
will be based on the assessments given in 11th grade.
Students with the college and career readiness
designation will be eligible for enrollment in college credit
bearing courses without the need for remediation.
5.
What will happen if students graduate before the fall of their senior year?
This issue is still under discussion. The current assumption is
that students who graduate early and who are not enrolled at the
time of testing would not be expected to test. However,
students who are concurrently enrolled would still be considered
part of the high school’s population, and would thus be expected
to test. Given district authority to determine grade level
assignment, it may be that districts could choose to designate
the year of expected graduation, but no later than the 4th
year of high school, as the 12th grade/senior year.
Alternatively, we may also be able to consider establishing the
fall of 12th grade or the fourth year of high school
as the “no later than” date; so students could take the
assessment in an earlier year if they were prepared. Options that allow some flexibility will continue to be
considered and guidance will
be provided to districts as these options are refined.
6.
When will the social studies and science assessment frameworks be ready?
Releasing assessment frameworks for the new social studies and
science assessments to the field is a top priority. The
Assessment Unit is currently working with its assessment vendor
to ensure that the frameworks will be released for comment to
the field no later than November 19th.
The timing of high school assessment administration is a complicated issue that elicits many unique perspectives. While the selected administration plan is not without limitations, it provides an avenue whereby districts are provided with flexibility in determining scope and sequencing for science and social studies and whereby the testing burden will be decreased for 11th graders.