Get documents about "Percentage of Students Meeting the High School Graduation Standard
Document Sample
The MCAS Performance Appeals Process
Using Students’ Grades to Determine Whether They Have Met
the State’s High School Graduation Standard
Jeffrey Nellhaus
Deputy Commissioner
Massachusetts Department of Education
MD Task force on Comparable Testing Methods
April 22, 2005
Performance Appeal Process
The MCAS Performance Appeals Process is designed
to provide students, who have repeatedly not
demonstrated a passing score on the grade 10 MCAS
tests required for graduation, an opportunity to
demonstrate through other measures that they possess
the skills and knowledge required to meet the standard.
Who is Eligible?
• Any student who has:
– Taken the grade 10 MCAS in the subject of the appeal
(ELA or Math) at least 3 times.
– With the exception of students with disabilities, scored at
least 216 on at least 1 attempt (220 is passing).
– Maintained at least a 95% attendance during the year
before and the year of the appeal.
– Satisfactorily participated in tutoring and other academic
support services made available by the school.
What Evidence is Reviewed to Determine
Whether the Student Has Met the Standard?
• Grades (GPA) of the student for subject-area courses
taken in grades 10, 11, and, if available, grade 12.
• Grades (GPA) and MCAS scores of other students in
the student’s school who took the same sequence of
courses as the student (appellant).
• Sign-off from a teacher attesting to the fact that based
on classroom performance, appears to have met the
standard.
• A portfolio of student work in cases where a
comparison group is not available.
Determining Students Who Took
the Same Sequence of Courses
• List all students who were enrolled in the
appellant’s 10th grade course (e.g. standard
geometry)
• List all student who were enrolled in the
appellant’s 11th grade course (e.g., standard
algebra II)
• Identify students common to the grade 10 and
grade 11 lists
Performance Appeals Worksheet
Subject of Appeal: Math
Grade 10 Grade 11 Cumulative Highest
Geom Alg II GPA MCAS
SASID
Appellant 1234567891 2.5 2.6 2.55 218
1234567892 2.4 2.5 2.45 220
Students
in Cohort 1234567893 2.8 3.0 2.90 250
1234567894 2.8 2.5 2.65 230
1234567895 2.0 2.4 2.20 216
1234567896 2.8 3.6 3.20 240
1234567897 2.3 2.5 2.40 220
1234567898 2.5 3.1 2.80 228
1234567890 2.4 2.7 2.55 220
1234566778 2.5 2.0 2.25 222
2987654321 2.4 2.4 2.40 224
7744558844 2.8 3.6 3.20 240
5758696070 2.6 2.3 2.45 222
3334445555 2.3 2.3 2.30 226
5948457869 2.3 2.7 2.50 228
3950745844 2.5 2.4 2.45 220
5940300099 2.8 2.4 2.60 220
6589076554 2.8 2.6 2.70 218
9887766554 2.8 2.8 2.80 226
Grades 10 and 11
Student's GPA 2.55
Median GPA of cohort
within 220-228 2.45
Students in Cohort 12
An Example Where Student’s GPA is Below Median of
Comparison Group, but the Appeal is Granted
Subje ct of Appe al: Englis h Language Ar ts
Cum ulative
10 11 Highe s t M CAS
SASID GPA
Appe llant 2.0 2.0 2.00 216
Stude nts in 1.4 1.4 1.40 220
Cohor t 2.0 1.5 1.75 220
2.2 1.7 1.95 220
2.4 2.0 2.20 224
2.3 2.4 2.35 222
2.5 2.5 2.50 222
2.2 2.5 2.35 226
2.0 2.3 2.15 224
2.0 2.9 2.45 222
2.0 2.5 2.25 220
1.7 1.3 1.50 220
1.7 2.0 1.85 220
1.8 1.9 1.85 222
2.0 2.5 2.25 220
Wor k s he e t Sum m ar y
S tu de n t's GPA 2.00
Me di an GPA of coh ort
2.18
wi th i n 220-228
S tu de n ts i n C oh ort 14
M e an GPA of Cohor t 2.06
Standar d Er r or of M e an 0.09
2 Standar d Er r or s Be low M e an 1.88
An Example Where Student’s GPA is Below Median of
Comparison Group, and the Appeal is not Granted
Subject of Appeal: English Language Arts
10 11
Cum ulative GPA (in
Highest MCAS
English 1 Literature these courses)
SASID
Appellant 1.5 1.8 1.65 216
Students in 1.4 1.4 1.40 220
Cohort 2.0 1.5 1.75 220
2.2 1.6 1.90 220
2.4 2.0 2.20 224
2.3 2.4 2.35 222
2.5 2.4 2.45 222
2.2 1.9 2.05 226
2.0 2.1 2.05 224
2.5 2.1 2.30 222
2.3 2.0 2.15 222
2.0 1.9 1.95 224
2.8 2.8 2.80 220
2.2 2.5 2.35 224
2.0 2.2 2.10 222
Worksheet Sum m ary
Stude nt's GPA 1.65
Me dian GPA of cohort within 220-
2.13
228
Stude nts in C ohort 14
Mean GPA of Cohort 2.13
Standard Error of Mean 0.09
2 Standard Errors Below Mean 1.95
Example Where There Are Too Few Students in
the Comparison Group to Make a Determination
Subject of Appeal: Mathematics
Grade 10 Grade 11
Cumulative GPA (in Highest
Algebra Geometry
these courses) MCAS
SASID
Appellant 1.8 1.7 1.75 218
2.2 1.6 1.90 220
2.6 2.5 2.55 222
2.1 2.4 2.25 222
2.4 3.2 2.80 224
3.4 3.2 3.30 224
Worksheet Summary
S tudent's GPA 1.75
Median GPA of cohort within 220-228 2.55
S tudents in Cohort 5
Mean GPA of Cohort 2.56
Standard Error of Mean 0.30
2 Standard Errors Below Mean 1.97
PORTFOLIO
Definition:
“An organized collection of
independently-produced student
work, created and collected over
a period of time.”
What Student Work Must Be
Included in an Appeals Portfolio?
ELA
• 5 writing samples (compositions), including drafts
and revisions by student
• No quizzes, worksheets, short answers
Math
• All 5 strands documented
• 3 learning standards per strand
• Evidence of thinking/problem-solving
Submission of Appeals
Required Forms and Documents
• Appeals must be submitted by the
Superintendent, but can be initiated by anyone
• MCAS Performance Appeal Form
– separate forms must be filed for each subject in which a
student is requesting an appeal
• Comparison group (cohort) Worksheet
• Supporting materials
– Portfolio when there are few or no other students in the
comparison group)
Review Process
• Superintendent files a Performance Appeal with the
Commissioner of Education
• Performance Appeals Board reviews submission and makes a
recommendation to the Commissioner
• Based upon the Board’s recommendation, the Commissioner
makes final determination about whether the appeal should be
granted, denied, or referred back to the Board for further
consideration
• If the appeal is granted, student is deemed to have met the
standard in the subject of the appeal
• If the appeal is denied, superintendent may ask for
reconsideration within 21 days
