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From | Potter, Sarah | Date Monday, August 28, 2017 9:45 AM

To | Vandeven, Margie
Cc | Preis, Stacey
Subject | Documents

QA for Districts.docx (43 Kb ) Video Script for 2017 EOC News.docx (918 Kb )

Margie,

Here are the video script and Q&A documents.

Sarah

Sarah Potter, APR | Communications Coordinator | 573‐751‐3469 | dese.mo.gov

facebook.com/MOEducation | twitter.com/MOEducation | twitter.com/_SarahPotter_ | youtube.com/MODeptofEducation

August 28, 2017

EOC Questions & Answers for Schools

When the department received 2017 statewide assessment results, staff quickly alerted Questar, Missouri’s End-of-Course (EOC) test vendor, about discrepancies in the results compared to test administrations in previous years. DESE staff then convened the state’s Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) – made up of nationally recognized experts in assessment – to review the results. At its August 18 meeting, the TAC concluded that there were year-to-year comparability issues for the EOCs for Algebra I and English II.

How will the Algebra I and English II End-of-Course (EOC) assessments be used?

The TAC confirmed that 2017 Algebra I and English II EOCs are appropriate for student purposes such as course grades and A+ scholarship eligibility. However, they recommended that the state not use the End-of-Course assessment scores for Algebra I and English II for accountability purposes. The 2017 EOC district and statewide results will not be released in these subjects.

How will the state handle the APR calculations given the exclusion of Algebra I and English II?

Based on the exclusion of Algebra I and English II EOCs from the Annual Performance Report, DESE will take the following steps to ensure no disadvantage to students, districts, and charter schools when producing fair and accurate reports.

- District APRs will not include Algebra I and English II EOCs in the status and progress calculations. Data in these two EOCs from prior years will be excluded to ensure comparability in the calculations.
- Status targets and progress calculations will be recalibrated to accommodate the loss of the two EOCs.
- High School APRs will be based on 100 points instead of 140.
- K-8 APRs will not include the High School Readiness Standard.
- Middle School APRs will include data GLA data only for standards 1 and 2

The Hold Harmless Adjustment found in the Comprehensive Guide will remain in force. DESE reserves the option of declining to produce building APRs where no other option is available.

How should districts handle individual students’ EOC scores?

Most school districts have already received Questar’s individual student reports (ISRs). Consistent with previous guidance from DESE, educators should use raw scores from those assessments. Districts may also use EOC scores for determining A+ scholarship eligibility. Accordingly, student record labels may be used as appropriate.

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August 28, 2017

Video Script for School Administrators for 2017 EOC News

I wanted to take a moment to talk to all of you about the developments in our End-of-Course exams for 2017. We heard from some of you that assessment results may be different this year, but we didn’t get our first look at the test results until late July. That is when we alerted our EOC test vendor – Questar – that the End-of-Course results were different from previous test administrations.

We then pulled together our team of nationally recognized assessment experts – our Technical Advisory Committee or TAC – to take a deeper dive into the tests. On August 18, the TAC concluded that the English Two and Algebra One tests were not comparable to tests in previous years.

Think of it this way. You have two different teachers that give two different math tests. One teacher gives a more rigorous test, and those students get lower grades. Both teachers’ tests could be valid and reliable, but the results can’t be compared to each other. That’s the situation we find ourselves in with the Algebra One and English Two EOCs. Testing vendors are required to ensure that tests equate from year to year and that did not happen. We have apprised our general counsel of the situation, and he is pursuing.

I understand that this may be confusing and frustrating for you to hear. Our staff is also frustrated that we do not have statewide data in the subjects to show the great work you have been doing in your classrooms.

I want to remind you that this was the last year these test items and forms will be used. Missouri educators have been developing new EOC exams based on the new Missouri Learning Standards.

I am sure you are going to have more questions about this situation. We have scheduled two webinars for Wednesday, August 30th at 10 am and 2 pm with our staff to answer your questions. You will also find additional details in documents attached to the email sent with this video message. Please join us on those webinars or email us your questions to communications@dese.mo.gov.

I appreciate your continued patience and understanding as we move forward, and I look forward to talking with you more tomorrow. Thank you.

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