Assessment Revision Home
UPDATE
CDE recently released a memo outlining the next steps in updating and aligning the early childhood education assessment system. Specifically, the State Board of Education will be updating the Colorado Basic Literacy Act rules and reviewing the approved literacy assessment tools. In addition, the State Board will be identifying a protocol for assessing numeracy and creating a plan to for measuring school readiness of all kindergarten students.
CBLA Update: Early childhood Assessment Memo - September 30, 2011
The CAP4K Legislative Progress Report was submitted on February 15, 2011. It is an in-depth review of the activities and goals achieved during the implementation of SB08-212 in 2010. Please click here to download a copy.
Introduction
CAP4K sets forth a common purpose – readying all students for postsecondary and workforce success – and a significant step toward achieving that goal was adopting new state academic standards that are fewer, clearer and higher. A key deliverable in 2010 was the development of the new assessment system which will provide ongoing signals and measurement of students’ progress toward college and career readiness.
The attributes of the new system include: statewide summative assessment for grades 3-11 to measure math and reading and writing; statewide summative assessments in science and social studies at least once in elementary, middle and high school; school readiness measurements for grades preschool through grade 2; formative instructional supports and interim assessments; the Individual Career and Academic Plan (ICAP); an 11th-grade nationally recognized college placement assessment; and that the assessments are capable of being administered online where applicable and fiscally practicable. (Please see below for the final assessment attributes adopted by the State Board of Education and Colorado Commission on Higher Education.)
The new assessment system will not be implemented until 2014. In the meantime, the state begins the transition to the new system in 2012, with the Transition Colorado Assessment Program ("TCAP"). The transition assessment will look like current assessment but will only test, where possible, the material found in both old and new standards. CDE will issue a description of what content that means for each grade in April 2011. The TCAP will have no shift in content grade expectations and no new content, such as the personal financial literacy or summative social studies assessments. Finally, the use of the same test blueprint will not change growth model or accountability ratings until 2014. Please see below for the assessment transition timeline:
The Assessment Transition Plan
Spring 2011 - CSAP as usual
Spring 2012 - Transitional Colorado Assessment Program (TCAP) administered
In 2012, where the current blueprint allows, TCAP items will represent the overlap between the old Colorado Model Standards and the new Colorado Academic Standards.
Spring 2013 - TCAP administered
New assessment pilot conducted
Spring 2014 - New Colorado Assessment administered
On March 10, 2011, Jo O'Brien, Assisstant Commissioner, Office of Standards and Assessment, provided an update to the State Board on the transition assessment and what districts can expect from CDE. Please click here to view her powerpoint presentation.
After a year-long, inclusive, stakeholder-led process, CDE and DHE received unanimous approval of the new assessment attributes. On Nov. 29, 2010, the Colorado State Board of Education and Colorado Commission on Higher Education jointly adopted the assessment design attributes. On Dec. 6, 2010, the state board voted to unanimously approve the assessment components that included more specific attributes, concluding the process to design the new system.
THE REVISION PROCESS
The new assessment system was built in three steps, which are stakeholder-driven, nationally researched and vetted across the state. The following describes the assessment Assessment Stakeholders Committee and subcommittees, surveys, and joint regional tours with CDE and DHE. All of these activities were focused on providing feedback and input from diverse constituents across Colorado to inform the process of redesigning the state’s assessment system.
ASSESSMENT STAKEHOLDERS COMMITTEE
A stakeholder advisory group was assembled to help frame the issues of the current state assessment system, recommend improvements, and define the work of subcommittee groups. There were 35 members with representatives from each key professional sector: business, higher education, military, K-12 educators, school district administration, early childhood education, special education, English language learner specialists, and local school board members. From October 2009 through 2010, the stakeholders met 13 times in day-long meetings. The committee advised the process, gave expert opinion on assessment attributes, selected subcommittee members and reached consensus on final recommended attributes. Please click here for more information about the Assessment Stakeholder Committee.
To assist in the work of the Stakeholder Committee, it has created the following subcommittees:
1. School Readiness and Early Childhood Assessments
2. Postsecondary and Workforce Readiness Assessments
3. Summative Assessments
4. Formative Instruction and Interim Assessments
5. Assessments for Special Populations
Please click here for more information about the subcommittees.
SURVEYS
The Colorado Department of Education asked the public to help determine what aspects of the current assessment system are important, including what should be considered when potential changes are discussed. CDE constructed a survey to help gather some of this information. The conclusions from this survey were compiled and presented at the January 11, 2010 Assessment Stakeholders Meeting in Pueblo, CO.
As a next step in preparation for rolling out a new system of balanced and instructionally relevant assessments—a “Next Generation” assessment system—CDE determined what support teachers and districts might need to most effectively use assessment data to help improve student learning. In order to do this, CDE is conducted another survey surrounding questions about the perceived capacity of local districts to implement a new assessment system.
Please click here for more information about the Assessment Capacity Survey.
REGIONAL PUBLIC FEEDBACK TOURS
SB 08-212 is very clear about the need for public input and involvement in the development, planning and implementation of the CAP4K initiatives. For the third year in a row and in another joint effort by the Colorado departments of education and higher education, three regional tours took place across the state in order to convene educators, students, parents, business and community leaders and other interested citizens. The purpose of these tours was to gather more public input about the next generation assessment system. In addition, an online survey link was made available to allow those who were unable to attend a meeting in person. These state-wide tours were very useful in soliciting feedback from Coloradans on what they would like from a new assessment system and gathering reactions about the proposed design. The combined 23 regional meetings garnered feedback from more than 800 participants (600 in attendance and 220 online ) from early childhood educators, K-12 teachers and administrators, college and career counselors, personnel from postsecondary institutions (deans of colleges of education, admissions officers, professors, and academic affairs representatives), business owners, military personnel, students and parents.
Information on the assessment revision regional meetings can be found at: Assessment Revision Regional Meetings
FEEDBACK, QUESTIONS AND COMMENTS
If you would like to give us your feedback or have questions, please contact Emmy Glancy at glancy_e@cde.state.co.us or call 303-866-6118.