2014-15 Assessment Issues

1. 2014-15 Assessment Issues Presentation to the Education Oversight Committee, April 28, 2014

2. SCDE staff were invited to provide an assessment update to the EOC • Future steps to be taken with state assessments in the state in light of: • South Carolina’s  withdrawal from the Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium, • the passage of H.3919 • pending legislation, H.3893 and S.1145. • Recognizing there are several “moving parts”, the EOC would appreciate comments on summative assessments and planning for the next school year.

3. In 2012 – The SCDE recommended to the State Board that SC join the Smarter Balanced Consortium, based on findings of the Assessment Study Group • At that time, two assessment consortia were federally funded to develop assessments that would • meet federal accountability requirements, and • were aligned to Common Core State Standards. • There were no “off the shelf” assessments on the market to consider. • Developing comparable “home grown” assessments was more costly.

4. In 2012 – The SCDE recommended to the State Board that SC join the Smarter Balanced Consortium, based on findings of the Assessment Study Group • Even though assessments were not available in 2012 to review, Smarter Balanced was determined to be the most appropriate of the two consortia. • Membership as a Governing State gave SCDE a seat at the table in developing the Smarter Balanced assessments. • The recommendation included: “a State Board of Education decision would not prevent SC from changing the decision anytime in the future if conditions change.”

5. Since 2012, assessment options have changed • Recent requests for proposals (RFPs) in other states have identified assessment options that were not available in 2012. • The South Carolina Legislature also recognized that other options are now available. • Pending legislation includes: • Banning the use of Smarter Balanced, • Exiting the consortium, and/or • Requiring that SCDE procure assessments.

6. April 2014, the SCDE recommended to the State Board that SC withdraw from the Smarter Balanced Consortium • This would allow the SCDE to focus on securing a high quality assessment at a competitive price. • SCDE thought withdrawing from the consortium would be a “good faith action” to show the SC Legislature that the SCDE and the State Board supported a competitive process to explore all options. • The State Board, however, did not support the recommendation of the SCDE.

7. Following the April 2014 State Board meeting, SC withdrew as a governing state in the Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium • The State Superintendent used his authority to withdraw from the consortium. • Withdrawing from the consortium now, rather than awaiting possible legislative action, will allow the SCDE to begin the process to secure assessments for grade 3-8 and high school (ELA and Math) for the 2014-15 school year. • An open procurement is now possible to consider all options.

8. RFP process to secure assessments for 2014-15 • SCDE, Office of Assessment, will facilitate the RFP development process, and MMO will release the RFP and award the contract. • SCDE has invited the chair of the State Board and the Education Oversight Committee to appoint • two members from each group to assist in developing the RFP, and • One member from each group to serve on the committee to review the proposals received. • Involvement of State Board and EOC members will serve to comply with the EAA and the Procurement Code.

9. Legislative Actions Impacting AssessmentsPlease note: the following are summaries of select elements of passed or pending legislation and is not intended to provide exact wording or intent of these legislative actions.

10. H3919 was signed by Governor Haleyand is now Act 155 of 2014 • Beginning with the Class of 2015, the requirement to pass the exit examination to earn a high school diploma has been eliminated . • Former students who did not graduate, due solely to the exit exam requirement, may petition the local school board (until Dec. 31, 2015) to receive a diploma. • Beginning in 2014-15: - High school assessment (grade 11) will be college and career ready (per federal requirements) from a provider secured by the SCDE. - WorkKeys assessment (grade 11) to be administered to all students.

11. Pending SCDE actions due to Act 155 of 2014 • Last administration of HSAP will be the summer of 2014. • Standard procedures and guidance are being developed to assist local boards in providing the names of students who will now earn a diploma. • Advertisement of diploma provision being prepared for posting in local newspapers. • RFP development process underway to secure a grade 11 college and career ready assessment. • Contract with ACT to be negotiated to administer WorkKeys to all grade 11 students.

12. H3893 - SCDE Data Use and Governance Policy - Section 1 • Use and governance of student data should preserve and protect privacy rights and ensure confidentiality and security of data. • SCDE should not collect student data directly from students or families (except to meet IDEA). • Unique student identifiers will ensure compliance with privacy rights. • Personally identifiable student data will not be used in federal reporting.

13. H3893 - SCDE Data Use and Governance Policy – Section 1 • Data elements transferred to USED must be in response to EDFacts and must be aggregated. • SCDE must maintain a secure infrastructure environment limited to staff with clearance. • SCDE shall maintain a managed external data request procedure. • Each school district shall comply with a locally adopted data governance and use policy. SCDE practices currently comply with H3893.

14. H3893 SCDE Data Use and Governance Policy - Section 2 (B) • Revision to an assessment or new assessment considered by the State Board for approval as an accountability measure, may not be adopted and implemented without the advice and consent of the EOC. • This language will also require involvement of the EOC prior to the release of an RFP – due to the state Procurement Code.

15. H3893 - SCDE Data Use and Governance Policy - Section 3 • The exit examination in ELA and mathematics, which is first administered in the student’s second year of high school, will be eliminated. • Beginning with the Class of 2015, students will no longer be required to pass the exit examination to earn a high school diploma. Aligned with Act 155 of 2014

16. H3893 SCDE Data Use and Governance Policy - Section 4 (A) • With approval of the State Board and the EOC, the SCDE will administer in 2014-15 a summative ELA and math assessment (optional formative) to students (grades 3 through 8) provided by a vendor procured by the SCDE. • Assessment must be vertically-articulated, benchmarked, standards-basedand must document progress toward college and career ready benchmarks. • Assessment must be paper-pencil and computer-based by 2015-16; and anchored to a national college readiness assessment already used in the state. • Social studies and science assessments will be administered to all students in grades four through eight.

17. H3893 - SCDE Data Use and Governance Policy - Section 4 (B) • Similar to H3919 (Act 155) as it relates to a Grade 11 college and career ready assessment beginning in 2014-15 (that meets federal requirements), but indicates the assessment will be procured by the SCDE. Act 155 referenced that the test will be secured. • H 3893 does not require a WorkKeys assessment in Grade 11. Act 155 does require the administration of WorkKeys.

18. H3893 - SCDE Data Use and Governance Policy - Section 4 (C) • Assessment performance results will be transferred from the SCDE to the EOC. The EOC will use results to report student performance in schools and districts for 2014-15 and 2015-16, but will not determine state ratings. • The EOC will also develop and recommend a single accountability system that meets federal and state accountability requirements by the fall of 2016.

19. S1145, Section 1 • State Board, SCDE, EOC, other agencies and political subdivisions of the State are prohibited from providing personally identifiable student data to the USED, any other agency of the federal government, or to a third party without permission of the General Assembly through a Joint Resolution.

20. S1145, Section 2 (B) • As in H3893 - SCDE Data Use and Governance Policy - Section 2 (B), S1145 states: Revision to an assessment or new assessment considered by the State Board for approval as an accountability measure, may not be adopted and implemented without the advice and consent of the EOC.

21. S1145, Section 3aligned with H3893 and Act 155 • An ELA and mathematics exit examination will no longer be administered. • Adds that beginning with the Class of 2015, students are no longer required to pass the exit examination to earn a diploma. • Adds language: Former students who did not graduate, due solely to the exit examination requirement, may petition the local school board (until Dec. 31, 2015) to receive a diploma.

22. S1145, Section 4 (A)Similar to H3893 Section 4 (A) • With approval of the State Board and the EOC, the SCDE will administer in 2014-15 a summative ELA and math assessment (optional formative) to students (grades 3 through 8) provided by a vendor procured by the SCDE. • Assessments must be vertically-articulated, benchmarked, standards-based and must document progress toward college and career ready benchmarks. • Assessments must be paper-pencil and computer-based by 2015-16; and anchored to a national college readiness assessment already used in the state. • Social studies and science assessments will be administered to all students in grades four through eight.

23. S1145, Section 4 (B)Similar to H3893 Section 4 (B) • S1145 and H3893 are similar to H3919 (Act 155) as it relates to a Grade 11 college and career ready assessment (meets federal requirements), and indicates the assessment will be procured by the SCDE. Act 155 of 2014 references that the test will be secured by the SCDE. • S1145 and H3893 do not require the administration of the WorkKeysassessment to students in Grade 11, unlike Act 155 of 2014.

24. S1145, Section 4 (C)Similar to H3893 Section 4 (C) • Assessment performance results will be transferred from the SCDE to the EOC. The EOC will use results to report student performance in schools and districts for 2014-15 and 2015-16, but will not determine state ratings. • The EOC will also develop and recommend a single accountability system that meets federal and state accountability requirements by the fall of 2016.

27. Science Standards and Assessments

28. Science Standards and Assessments • With the exception of one High School Biology standard (H.B.5), the 2014 South Carolina Academic Standards and Performance Indicators for Science were approved for implementation by the State Board of Education on January 8, 2014 and by the Education Oversight Committee on February 10, 2014.

29. The standards are posted at http://ed.sc.gov/agency/se/Instructional-Practices-and-Evaluations/Science.cfm on the South Carolina Department of Education (SCDE) website. Staff members at the SCDE, in collaboration with selected district instructional personnel, are in the process of developing support documents that will aid local districts and schools in making curricular and instructional decisions. • During the 2014–15 school year, the SCDE will offer professional development to assist districts with awareness and initial implementation of these standards. Professional development will continue through the 2015–16 school year.

30. The 2014 South Carolina Academic Standards and Performance Indicators for Science will be assessed beginning in the 2016–17 school year. An assessment timeline that districts may use to plan instruction in preparation for statewide assessments is provided in the chart below.