Five-Tier vs. Four-Tier: What does a 'Level 3' Mean for NC Students?

North Carolina has changed how student performance is measured in End-of-Course (EOC) and End-of-Grade (EOG) testing.  Last year, the Board of Education adopted a new "Five-Tier" scoring scale to determine proficiency on state-administered standardized tests.  At the high school level, this scale is used for Math I, Biology, and English 10:

Proposed N.C. Legislation Moving From Common Core: My Tweets 4/24/14

#NCGA legislative #CommonCore committee is currently meeting to determine recom. (possible #CCSS elimination) for short session. #ncadmin
— Craig Smith (@CSmithGoBlue) April 24, 2014

Lawmakers propose dumping Common Core standards in NC http://t.co/1iJutgPu6X | #ncga #ncpol #ncadmin (trying to keep up...but it's tough)
— Craig Smith (@CSmithGoBlue) April 24, 2014

Key Info Regarding Delay in Reporting Scores

Key information was recently shared with LEA Superintendents and Charter School Directors regarding the delay in reporting scores for the new End-of-Course assessments.  Rebecca Garland, Chief Academic Officer and Angela Quick, Deputy Chief Academic Officer, officially sent the information out on October 30, 2012.  The following is a summary of key info for districts administering EOC's in January:

"NCDPI is required to establish new academic achievement levels based on the data from the 2012-2013 administration of the newly revised assessments."

"The scores for these assessments will be delayed until October 2013, pending the scaling and standard-setting process...by the State Board of Education."

"In late January 2013, the NCDPI will provide LEA's with a 0-100 score for each EOC assessment to use for calculating the final grade for the course and to make placement and/or graduation decisions."

"Students assessed on the Algbera I/Integrated I, Biology, and English II EOC's during the fall of 2012-2013 should be assigned 'incompletes' until the 0-100 score is available."

"Once the final grade...is determined, the LEA must determine if students are inappropriately enrolled in spring 2013 courses...The new deadline to drop students...is February 28, 2013." (this will be known as the 10/20 Day Rule-normally students cannot be removed from an EOC course after the 10th instructional day of the semester.)

"The NCHSAA will allow students affected by this delay to continue to participate in athletes if they meet all other eligibility requirements."

"Once the score is available...the score must be used as at least 25% of the student's final grade for the course."

More can be found at the Department of Public Instruction's website.  This is simply to assist with communication throughout the state. 


CS



The opinions shared in this blog belong to Craig Smith     and do not represent the school or district in which he works.

"How to be a Common Core Instructional Leader"

Chat from 9/5: "How to be a Common Core Instructional Leader"

This is a summary from the September 5th #NCADMIN chat:

#NCADMIN Chat Summary

CS



The opinions shared in this blog belong to Craig Smith     and do not represent the school or district in which he works.

Summer PD and A Side of Formula

During the end of the year meeting with my teachers, I discussed how important this summer was going to be for every educator, not just in my school, county, or even North Carolina, but across the nation.  The implementation of the new Common Core curriculum standards in Math, Science, and Language Arts, combined with our Essential Standards for other subjects required time spent individually and collaboratively in preparation for the upcoming school year.

Notes from Understanding Standards VI & VIII

I recently viewed an archived W ebinar called "Understanding Standards VI & VIII", which will be incorporated in every teacher's and administrator's evaluation, respectively.  I wanted to share my notes, which I provided via Twitter:

NC will use the Educator Value-Added Assessment System (EVAAS) for standards 6/8.


Growth will be determined comparing "predicted scores" and student performance. (Opinion: Predicted scores will now weigh heavily)

The three Principal Rating Categories for Standard 8: Does not meet expected growth, Meets expect growth, Exceeds expect growth.


For principals, Standard 8 is called "Academic Achievement leadership".


For teachers, Standard 6 is called "Contribute to Academic Success" and has the same three rating categories. 


Standard 6 for teachers will consist 70% of teacher score & 30% of school score.


Three years of data must take place before a teacher or principal receives a "Status" for Standard 6/8.


Principals "status" will be "In Need of Improvement" if any Standard 1-7 rating is lower than proficient AND/OR Does Not Meet ExpGr.


Principals "status" will be "Effective" if Standards 1-7 rating is proficient or higher AND Meets/Exceeds Expected Growth.


Principals "status" will be "Highly Effective" if Standards 1-7 rating is accomplished or higher AND Exceeds Expected Growth.


Teachers "status" will be "In Need of Improvement" if any of Standard 1-7 is below proficient AND/OR Does Not Meets Expected Growth.


Teachers "status" will be "Effective" if Standards 1-5 is Proficient or higher AND Meets Expected Growth on Standard 6.


Teachers "status" will be "Highly Effective" if Standards 1-5 are Accomplished or higher AND Exceeds Expected Growth.


For the 2011-2012 school year, Standard Six rating for teachers in non-tested grades/subjects will be based on school-wide growth.



Hopefully these notes are helpful to all teachers and administrators in North Carolina.  There is much more information regarding Standards VI and VIII, so I strongly suggest pursuing the information available for your district.


Thanks for reading and follow me via Twitter @CSmithGoBlue.  



CS





The opinions shared in this blog belong to Craig Smith and do not represent the school or district in which he works.

Information Technology Essential Standards

The Instructional Facilitator's did a great job with their presentation on the Information Technology Essential Standards last month for both Principal's and Assistant Principals.  The link to the presentation can be found here:



ITES

The YouTube clips are great, demonstrating some of the strategies that allow teachers to incorporate these standards into their instruction.  I really like the young girl explaining how "QR Codes" work.  As a matter of fact, I created a QR code the day after the meeting and it is still on my office door.

Located in the presentation are five "Fast Facts" of the ITES:

• The ITES are to be embedded within all areas of the curriculum.

• Classroom teachers are responsible for teaching the new ITES standards beginning this current school year.

• Media Coordinators and Technology Facilitators, as ITES experts, will collaborate with teachers to plan, create, teach, and assess effective student instruction.

• The ITES must be taught in all North Carolina schools-in places where technology is prevalent, as well as schools with limited technology access.

• Technology and information tools and resources must be taught and used in authentic ways.

This is simply a small sampling of the technology needed to incorporate the new Information Technology Essential Standards into our classrooms.  It's important for school leaders to become familiar with these standards, as well as comfortable discussing their implement them into instruction.    


Thanks for reading and follow me via Twitter @CSmithGoBlue

CS

The opinions shared in this blog belong to Craig Smith and do not represent the school or district in which he works.