Updated AHSA Report Shows 2,900 Students Did Not Graduate in June Statewide
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State Board Also Elects New President & VP
July 7, 2010
AHSA Update
Approximately 2,900 New Jersey high school seniors did not graduate last month because they did not pass the state’s alternate high school exit exam, known as the Alternate High School Assessment (AHSA) according to a report by the Department of Education to the State Board of Education July 7.
According to Department testimony 1,500 students have agreed to participate in a summer online tutorial program. Some students will be participating in district while others will be using the tutorial independently. The next round of testing will occur at the end of July and beginning of August. Should these students fail again, they can return to their districts and work on basic skills, get remedial instruction at a community college or attempt to get their high school equivalency diploma.
The alternate exam had been criticized for years because students were given an open-ended time frame in which to take it, districts scored the tests themselves and only submitted passing scores to the Department. Approximately 96 percent of students passed.
Earlier this year, the Department of Education shortened the window in which students take the alternate exam and hired a vendor to score it.
During the first round of tests last winter, thousands of students failed. Scores improved during a second round in the spring, but 2,900 of the 8,000 students who took it still have not passed. Some 100,000 New Jersey high school students graduated this year.
In May the Department of Education established an appeals process (AHSA Focus of State Board May Meeting, May 19). Students were permitted to submit other test scores, such as the SAT or ACT, or portfolios of their work to show they had mastered math and language arts.
Critics, including the Education Law Center, have questioned why the state did not phase in the changes and test the new scoring first. Some educators said standardized tests can be particularly challenging for students with limited English.
Election of State Board Officers
The Board elected its President and Vice President for the July 2010 through June 2011 term. The nominating committee, which consisted of Board Members Strickland, McGinn and Haney, had previously recommended the slate at the June 2010 meeting.
Mr. Aponte had served as Vice President during the 2009-2010 term. Mr. Butcher had previously served as President.
NJQSAC Update
The Department provided the Board information on the most recent round of NJQSAC review. With this round of 215 districts reviewed, all districts have been through the process once. Approximately 73 percent of districts scored 80 percent or above in all five DPR areas. Remaining districts will continue in the QSAC process by developing corrective action plans. As districts progress, scores are adjusted based upon improvement.
Vice President Butcher advocated for focusing resources on those districts in need of corrective action solely, eliminating districts who have succeeded from constant monitoring, particularly in light of budgetary and staffing limitations at the Department.
Effectiveness Reform Committee Report
The Office of Research & Effectiveness Reform Plan provided the Board with information on the formation of the Effectiveness Reform Committee. The committee is part of the Department’s Race to the Top application. The DOE will be working with County Superintendents to advertise involvement on the committee. The committee is tasked with developing state-wide evaluation instrument criteria for teachers and school leaders.
Major stakeholders, including NJPSA, will be able to recommend individuals to represent their organization on the committee. But, the committee will also include individual educators and school leaders, as well as higher education personnel and business persons. Individuals are ultimately appointed by the Governor.
Interested individuals will be asked to provide a copy of their resume and provide answers to four (4) criteria to the NJDOE:
- Years of experience
- Experience using student achievement data
- Are you an effective leader or teacher?
- What criteria makes an individual an effective school leader or teacher?
The DOE would like to have the committee in place by August. The committee will begin work in September. The committee’s recommendations will be provided to the State Board for review in January.
Also discussed was the potential development of performance criteria for superintendents.
Items for Consideration
Standards & Assessment
Reporting: Division of Academic Standards, Curriculum & Assessments
Stage: Proposal
Commissioner’s Recommendation:
That the State Board approve for publication in the New Jersey Register the proposed renewal of rules pertaining to the Standards & Assessment code pursuant to N.J.S.A. 18A:7A-10 through 14, N.J.S.A. 18A:7A-49, 18A:7C, 18A:7E-2 through 5, 18A:7F-46, 18A:35-4.2, 18A:35-4.7, and 18A:59-5.
Background
The NJDOE proposes a new chapter of administrative code, N.J.A.C. 6A:8 as the previous chapter expired on June 7, 2010 and the break in continuity needs to be corrected immediately. The new chaptger is identical. The chapter implements the Core Curriculum Content Standards and the statewide assessment system.
Outcome: Approved
New Praxis II Tests and Qualifying Scores Teachers
Reporting: Division for Professional Excellence
Stage: Discussion Resolution
Commissioner’s Recommendation:
That the State Board adopt the new tests and recommended qualifying scores for the Praxis tests required for initial New Jersey teacher licensure pursuant to N.J.A.C.6A:9-8.1(a)6.
Background
The State Board requires teacher certification candidates in world language subjects (Spanish, French, and German) as well as Teachers of Reading and Business Education pass tests in specified disciplines in accordance with N.J.A.C. 6A:9-8.1 and N.J.A.C. 6A:9-11.10. The Educational Testing Service (ETS) recently established new tests in these subjects to replace the current Praxis II Subject Assessment tests that are in use by the department. The Department reviewed national standard-setting studies for the Spanish, French, and German tests to determine the validity of and the theoretically appropriate qualifying score for those tests. In addition, the department participated in national standard-setting studies for the Reading and Business Education tests to determine the validity of and the theoretically appropriate qualifying score for those tests. The recommended scores are as follows:
Praxis II Test Qualifying Score
Teacher of Spanish 168
Teacher of French 162
Teacher of German 163
Teacher of Reading 159
Teacher of Business Education 154
Reports
Discussion
Educational Testing Services presented with the Department. ETS provided background on the score setting process. There was also discussion of whether the cut scores in the world language subjects should be lower based upon teacher shortages.