College Readiness and the ReadiStep Assessment

Angela JeffreyDirector of Secondary Education

Pender County Schools

Why take the ReadiStep?

• Required for all 8th graders.

• Purpose:Provides formative assessment, feedback regarding the student’s progress toward college readiness.

Why 8th Grade?

• Provides feedback while there is still time to make necessary instructional adjustments.

• Time to target academic areas that need attention.

• Students who are not on target by the end of 8th grade often do not achieve college readiness.

Why ReadiStep?

• ReadiStep is designed by College Board, the same company that creates the PSAT and the SAT.

• ReadiStep is a predictor of a student’s PSAT and/or SAT score.

• Pender County Schools students will take the PSAT in 9th and 11th grades and likely the SAT in 11th or 12th grade.

What is College Readiness?• Historical, descriptive research helps us understand

what scores are needed to be college ready.

• College readiness is defined as the level of preparation a student needs to enroll and succeed—without remediation—in a credit-bearing general education course at a postsecondary institution.

• One in three U.S. college students are required to take one or more remedial classes because entry scores did not meet the college readiness standard.

College Readiness

• College Board and ACT have developed college readiness standards, and they are measured on the SAT and ACT.

• ReadiStep is the College Board’s 8th grade assessment and Explore is the ACT’s 8th grade assessment.

Critical Success Factors

• Achievement of academic content knowledge, evidenced by completion of a rigorous high school core curriculum aligned to college readiness standards.

• Attainment of advanced academic skills, developed through an instructional focus on critical thinking, reasoning, problem solving, writing, and strong study skills.

Critical Success Factors

• Successful completion of college-level and other advanced courses taken in high school.

• Acquisition of college planning skills, demonstrated by an understanding of college and career options and the college admission and financing process.

Topsail Middle School Results

Critical Reading Section

• Score range of 2.0 –8.0• Target score for college readiness is 5.0• TMS Mean Score of 5.1 (National Percentile =46)

Topsail Middle School Results

Writing Section

• Score range of 2.0 –8.0• Target score for college readiness is 5.0 • TMS Mean score of 5.4 (National Percentile=62)

Topsail Middle School Results

Math Section

• Score range of 2.0 –8.0• Target score for college readiness is 5.0 • TMS Mean score of 5.5 (National Percentile=63)

College Readiness Benchmarks for PSAT

CR Math Writing PSAT/NMSQT Composite

11th GradePSAT/NMSQT

50 50 49 152

10th GradePSAT/NMSQT

49 47 48 145

District Assessments for College Readiness…What next?

• 8th Grade: Explore (ACT)

• 9th Grade: PSAT (College Board)

• 10th Grade: PLAN (ACT) and SAT Prep course (NCVPS)

• 11th Grade: PSAT (College Board) in the Fall and SAT (College Board) and ACT in the Spring

What Should You Do? College Readiness

• Take rigorous courses – Honors Level Courses– Advanced Placement (AP)– Career and College Promise (CFCC Classes)

• Read and write, read and write, read and write. Read, read, read. Write, write, write.

Start Thinking About College

• Start making a potential college list by the end of 8th grade

• Talk about college and career interests

• Begin to make college visits early

• Identify what is important in a college choice and seek best fit rather than best bumper sticker

NC Career and College Promise• Four College Transfer Programs (CFCC)

– Business & Economics – Engineering and Mathematics– Humanities & Social Science– Life and Health Sciences

• Be a high school junior or senior• Demonstrate College Readiness• Weighted GPA of 3.0 • Maintain a 2.0 GPA on college coursework • Courses offered on North Campus

NC Career and College Promise• Seven CTE Programs

– Business Administration– Collision Repair & Refinishing– Computer Engineering– Construction Management– Cosmetology– Criminal Justice Technology– Welding

• Be a high school junior or senior; • Be enrolled in a High School Career Cluster that is approved to align with the

certificate area; • Have a weighted GPA of 3.0 on high school courses or your principal’s

approval; • Meet any Accuplacer requirements• Maintain a 2.0 GPA in your college courses (after taking at least two courses). • All courses offered on North campus except Collision Repair which will remain

at PCS Bus Garage

NC Career and College Promise

Costs• Tuition is waived for students• Students are responsible for fees (course,

technology, activity, and parking/security fees)• Students are responsible for textbooksChallenges• Transportation to and from the North Campus• School calendar/Student scheduling

Resources

• www.readistep.com• www.collegeboard.com• www.act.org• www.cfnc.org• http://www.careercollegenc.org/ • http://cfcc.edu/gateway/ • http://www.dpi.state.nc.us/ccpromise/