virginia assessment program overview

SOL Innovation CommitteeJuly 15, 2014

Virginia Assessment Program Overview

Presentation to the Standards of Learning Innovation Committee

July 15, 2014


History of the SOL Assessment Program• 1983 – Initial development of SOL classroom

assessments• 1998 – Initial implementation of statewide SOL testing• 2001 – Introduction of online testing• 2006 – Introduction of reading and mathematics

tests at grades 4, 6, and 7 to meet federal mandates

• 2012 – Introduction of technology-enhanced items• 2013 – Introduction of operational online writing test• 2014 – Computer Adaptive Testing (CAT) Pilot


Implementation of New Tests

• History in 2010-2011

• Mathematics in 2011-2012

• Reading, Writing and Science in 2012-2013


Online Testing in VirginiaSOL Non-Writing Tests Administered Online

Fall 2001

Spr 2002

Spr 2003

Spr 2004

Spr 2005

Spr 2006

Spr 2007

Spr 2008

Spr 2009

Spr 2010

Spr 2011

Spr 2012

Spr 2013

0

500,000

1,000,000

1,500,000

2,000,000

2,500,000

3,000,000

1,700 8,50076,000

265,000

579,000

924,050

1,333,150

1,418,255

1,652,680

1,908,966

2,216,693

2,489,167

2,659,723


Current Standards of Learning Tests


Tests Administered in Elementary Schools

Mathematics Reading Writing ScienceHistory &

Social Science

Grade 3Grade 3

Mathematics Test

Grade 3 Reading

Test

Grade 3 Science

Test

Grade 3 History

Test

Grade 4Grade 4

MathematicsTest

Grade 4 Reading

Test

Grade 5Grade 5

MathematicsTest

Grade 5Reading

Test

Grade 5 Writing

Test

Grade 5 Science

Test

Grade 4or Grade 5

Virginia Studies

Test

Tests eliminated by legislation in the 2014 General Assembly are shown in strikethrough format.


Tests Administered in Middle Schools


Social Science

Grade 6Grade 6

Mathematics Test

Grade 6 Reading

Test

Grade 7Grade 7

MathematicsTest

Grade 7 Reading

Test

Grade 8Grade 8

MathematicsTest

Grade 8Reading

Test

Grade 8 Writing

Test

Grade 8 Science

Test

U.S. Historyto 1865

Test

U.S. History 1865 to Present

Test

Grade 7 or 8 Civics &

Economics Test



Tests Administered at End-of-Course

MathematicsEnglish

Science History & Social ScienceReading Writing

Algebra ITest

EOC Reading

Test

EOCWriting

Test

Earth ScienceTest

World GeographyTest

Virginia & U.S. History Test

GeometryTest

BiologyTest

World History ITest

Algebra IITest

ChemistryTest World History II

Test


End-of-Course Tests (EOC)• Students take end-of-course tests when they

complete the instruction for the course associated with the test (e.g., Algebra I, Earth Science). Therefore, these tests are not associated with specific grade levels.

• To earn a verified credit students must pass the course and the associated end-of-course test.


Federal Requirements


Federal Requirements forReading and Mathematics Tests

Tests must be administered

• Annually in grades 3-8

• At least once in high school (grades 10-12)


Federal Requirements for Science Tests must be administered at least once in

• Elementary School (grades 3-5)

• Middle School (grades 6-9)

• High School (grades 10-12)


Tests Administered in Elementary Schools


Social Science

Grade 3Grade 3

Mathematics Test

Grade 3 Reading

Test

Grade 3 Science

Test

Grade 3 History

Test

Grade 4Grade 4

MathematicsTest

Grade 4 Reading

Test

Grade 5Grade 5

MathematicsTest

Grade 5Reading

Test

Grade 5 Writing

Test

Grade 5 Science

Test

Grade 4or Grade 5

Virginia Studies

Test


Shaded cells - indicate tests required by ESEA


Tests Administered in Middle Schools


Social Science

Grade 6Grade 6

Mathematics Test

Grade 6 Reading

Test

Grade 7Grade 7

MathematicsTest

Grade 7 Reading

Test

Grade 8Grade 8

MathematicsTest

Grade 8Reading

Test

Grade 8 Writing

Test

Grade 8 Science

Test

U.S. Historyto 1865

Test

U.S. History 1865 to Present

Test

Grade 7 or 8 Civics &

Economics Test


Shaded cells - indicate tests required by ESEA


Tests Administered at End-of-Course

MathematicsEnglish

Science History & Social ScienceReading Writing

Algebra ITest

EOC Reading

Test

EOCWriting

Test

Earth ScienceTest

World GeographyTest

Virginia & U.S. History

TestGeometry

TestBiology

TestWorld History

to 1500Test

Algebra IITest

ChemistryTest

World History1500 to Present

Test


End-of-Course Tests• According to Virginia’s current federal

accountability plan, all end-of-course tests in mathematics and science are used to meet federal requirements.

• For example, the federal accountability pass rate for mathematics at the high school includes students who pass the Algebra I test, the Geometry test and the Algebra II test.


Additional Requirements for ESEA Waiver• Requires assessments that measure “college and

career readiness.”• To meet this requirement Virginia established

“advanced/college path” achievement levels for the End-of-Course tests in Reading, Writing and Algebra II.

• Waiver approved for one year.


Graduation Requirements


Verified Credit Requirements for Standard Diploma

Six Verified Credits Required– 1 in reading– 1 in writing– 1 in mathematics (Algebra I, Geometry, or Algebra II)– 1 in science (Earth Science, Biology, or Chemistry)– 1 in history (World History to 1500, World

History:1500 to the present, World Geography, or VA & US History)

– 1 in subject area selected by student

19


Verified Credit Requirements for Advanced Studies Diploma

Nine Verified Credits Required– 1 in reading– 1 in writing– 2 in mathematics (Algebra I, Geometry, or Algebra II)– 2 in science (Earth Science, Biology, or Chemistry)– 2 in history (World History to 1500, World

History:1500 to the present, World Geography, or VA & US History)

– 1 in subject area selected by student

20


Substitute Tests for Verified Credit• Substitute tests approved by the Virginia Board of

Education may be used by students in lieu of SOL tests to earn verified credits.

• List of approved substitute tests may be found at www.doe.virginia.gov/testing/substitute_tests/index.shtml

• Policy initially instituted at the request of local school divisions to avoid “double testing” of students who were taking Advanced Placement (AP) or International Baccalaureate (IB) tests AND were also scheduled to take an SOL test.

http://www.doe.virginia.gov/testing/substitute_tests/index.shtml


Computer Adaptive Testing• In the current system, all students taking a

particular test (e.g., grade 7 mathematics) are administered one of several versions of that test.

• Computer Adaptive Testing (CAT) customizes the items administered to the each individual student.


Pilots Using CAT• Pilots using CAT for grade 7 mathematics and

grade 8 reading were conducted in 2013-2014.

• Results support moving forward with transition to CAT.

• Timeline for transition will be dependent on funding.


Questions About Current Virginia Assessment Program?


Characteristics of Good Assessments• Purpose of assessment matches assessment

need• Measures content it is intended to assess• Covers content that students should have

learned by the time assessment is administered• Fair to all students—does not advantage or

disadvantage any particular group• Provides access to students with disabilities and

English language learners • Provides consistent results

virginia assessment program overview

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