8/19/19 - BAC Email (ELEMENTARY)

Good morning-

From the BAC emails:

THROUGH-COURSE TASK GUIDANCE 2019-2020
(SPECIAL NOTE:  We don't have any requirements of documentation for the district)

Kentucky’s Through-Course Tasks (TCTs) are an important component of Kentucky’s Science Assessment System. Designed to provide formative information about a school’s curriculum, TCTs should be utilized two to three times per year. Grade-level student work can then be used to determine appropriate adjustments to the curriculum to ensure that students have experiences utilizing the dimensions of science as intended by the Kentucky Academic Standards for Science. The recommended process for administering the tasks and the TCT bank may be accessed on KDE’s website. For questions, contact Rae McEntyre, Science Consultant, at 502-564-2106, ext. 4104.

QUESTION OF THE WEEK

Q:	What is the next activity to be completed in SDRR?
A:	K-Screen rosters are now open in the Student Data Review and Rosters (SDRR) application for non-participation requests and will close on October 15 at 5 p.m ET.  It is important to note that the K-Screen rosters will not be pre-populated with students.  It is only necessary to add students for whom approval for Medical and Extraordinary Circumstance non-participation for the screener is being requested. If you have students who are participating in the screener, it is not necessary to add them to the roster in SDRR. Detailed information and instructions are in the K-Screen Non-Participation video.

QUESTION OF THE WEEK

How will Kentucky’s new 5-star school rating system and indicator rating of very low to very high be determined? A: An Accountability Standards Setting will take place over the course of three days, August 23, September 4 and 5.  Led by the Center for Assessment, a panel of Kentucky educators and policy makers will make recommendations on Kentucky’s new 5-star school rating system and indicator rating of very low to very high to the Commissioner of Education, Dr. Wayne Lewis.  At the Kentucky Board of Education’s meeting on August 7, Dr. Lewis stated that his intention was to adopt the recommendations of the panelists. Kentucky’s school accountability system specifies that schools will be rated on the basis of their overall performance on a set of indicators. Specifically, schools will receive an Overall Accountability Score that brings together all indicators into one score.  During the standard setting process, panelists will use the Overall Accountability Score by level (elementary, middle, and high) to set the cuts for 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 stars.  The Overall Accountability Score includes the following indicators and weights, Elementary and Middle Schools Proficiency (35) Separate Academic (26) Growth (35) School Climate and Safety (4) Performance in reading and mathematics Performance in science, social studies and writing Annual progress in reading, mathematics and English language proficiency Perception data based on student surveys High Schools Proficiency (45) Separate Academic (15) Transition Readiness (30) Graduation (6) School Climate and Safety (4) Performance in reading and mathematics Performance in science, writing (and social studies in 2021) Graduates and EL students who earn qualifying readiness outcomes Four and five year adjusted cohort graduation rate Perception data based on student surveys Panelists will also make recommendations on each indicator. Schools will receive an Indicator Score for Proficiency, Separate Academic, Transition Readiness, Graduation, and Quality of School Climate and Safety (coming in 2019-2020) based on student performance in each of these areas.  During the standard setting process, panelists will use the Indicator Score by level (elementary, middle, and high) to set the cuts of very low, low, medium, high and very high on each indicator.  These ratings will give context to the indicator scores each school earns.  Standard Setting Process On August 23, panelists will discuss School and Indicator Performance Level Descriptors (PLDs).  School Performance Level Descriptors (SPLDs) and Indicator Performance Level Descriptors (IPLDs), similar to student performance level descriptors of novice, apprentice, proficient and distinguished, will provide descriptions of each star rating and each indicator rating. These PLDs will provide information about the expectations for each star rating and indicator.  The PLDs give educators, teachers, parents/guardians, and students more information about a typical school and the performance level for each indicator. Once the PLDs are crafted, they will be used to inform the decision of panelists during the standard setting on September 4 and 5.  Panelists will use the PLD along with school and indicator data to set the cutscores for star (1 to 5) and indicator (very low to very high) rating.  Panelists will use actual school performance data to determine cutscores. However, no school names will be used and panelists will not be able to identify any schools.