Standards, Assessment, and Accountability: SAA Update

Standards, Assessment, and Accountability Division

Week of September 17, 2007

Welcome to this week's SAA Update!

In this week's SAA Update we bring you the following timely information:

2007-08 Districtwide Assessment Update
Elementary Progress Reporting Period 1 -- Timeline for Scan Sheets and Progress Reports
October 2007 CAHSEE Administration -- Grade 12 and Adult Education Students Only
Upcoming/Continuing Testing Windows
Upcoming Nuts and Bolts Training Sessions for Site Test Coordinators

2007-08 Districtwide Assessment Update

The following provides updated information about the use/administration of the Cumulative Literacy Benchmarks, Cumulative Mathematics Benchmarks, DRA/EDL, and Emerging Literacy Survey. Please contact Erin Gordon at 619-725-5687 or Karen Bachofer at 619-725-7167 if you wish additional information.

Cumulative Literacy Benchmarks
Beginning with the 2007-08 academic year, Cumulative Literacy Benchmarks will be administered at the end of each reporting period at Grades 1, 3, and 5 at the elementary level and at the end of each quarter at Grades 6, 7, and 8 at the middle level. Materials (Benchmark Exams, Scan Sheets, Teacher Directions for Administration, Site Coordinator Directions) will be delivered to sites one week before each testing window. District-, school-, and classroom-level data will be provided.

Cumulative Mathematics Benchmarks
Beginning with the 2007-08 academic year, Cumulative Mathematics Benchmarks will be administered at the end of each quarter at Grades 3 through 9. Exams at Grades 8 and 9 will be course-specific (e.g., Algebra, Geometry). Materials (Benchmark Exams, Scan Sheets, Teacher Directions for Administration, Site Coordinator Directions) will be delivered to sites one week before each testing window. District-, school-, and classroom-level data will be provided.

Developmental Reading Assessment (DRA)/Evaluación del desarrollo de la lectura (EDL)
As in prior years, the DRA/EDL will continue be administered to students at the Kindergarten level to inform instruction during the 2007-08 academic year – and data will be collected only at the end of the last reporting period (as it was in 2006-07). Directions for submitting DRA/EDL levels using the web-based data reporting system will be distributed to teachers toward the end of the first reporting period. Beginning with the 2008-09 academic year, DRA/EDL data will be centrally collected for Kindergarten students at the end of all three reporting periods.

Emerging Literacy Survey (ELS)
Teachers at Kindergarten and Grade 1 are strongly encouraged to administer the Emerging Literacy Survey (ELS) during the 2007-08 academic year and to use information gained from the assessment to inform instruction. ELS materials and training have already been provided by the Literacy Department. Questions and requests for additional materials can be directed to the Literacy Department at 619-725-7252. Beginning with the 2008-09 academic year, the ELS will be administered to all students in Kindergarten and Grade 1 until students have demonstrated mastery. Data will be centrally collected and district-, school,- and classroom-level data will be provided.

Elementary Progress Reporting Period 1 -- Timeline for Scan Sheets and Progress Reports

ELEMENTARY PROGRESS REPORTING PERIOD 1 - Timeline for Scan Sheets and Progress Reports
The Elementary Progress Reporting Period 1 ends on November 2, 2007 for all Traditional and Year-Round schools. Scan Sheets will be delivered to school sites beginning October 15 via regular weekly truck delivery; Progress Reports will be delivered to school sites beginning November 5. Please note that weekly truck delivery schedules vary. Be sure to verify the actual truck delivery for your school site.

In order to expedite delivery, scan sheets and progress reports will be available for pick-up from IT Operations (Room 1110, Education Center) on the following dates:

Scan Sheets: Friday, October 12 and Monday, October 15
Progress Reports: Friday, November 2 and Monday, November 5

To schedule pick up on the dates listed above, please complete and fax the Request to Pick Up Scan Sheets and Progress Reports to IT Operations at 619-725-7540 no later than 2:00 p.m. on Thursday, October 11.

We strongly encourage all schools (especially those with parent-teacher conferences scheduled during the week of November 13) to pick up their scan sheets and progress reports directly from IT Operations (Room 1110, Education Center).

For additional information, please refer to Administrative Circular No. 19 (posted September 10, 2007) on the district's website. Contact the IT Help Desk at 619-725-7500 or Kristine Beverly at 619-725-7117 if you have any questions.

October 2007 CAHSEE Administration -- Grade 12 and Adult Education Students Only

Following is the testing schedule for the October administration of the CAHSEE:

Tuesday, October 2, 2007: English Language Arts
Wednesday, October 3, 2007: Mathematics

All Grade 12 students (i.e., students in the Class of 2008) and adult education students who have not previously passed both sections of the CAHSEE, including English Learners and special education students, have the opportunity to take those sections not passed.

Note: The October 2007 administration is only available to the above-mentioned students and is NOT for students in Grades 10-11 or Grade 12 students who are not in the Class of 2008.

If you have any questions, please contact the Assessment Services Department at (619) 725-7065.

Upcoming/Continuing Testing Windows

* CELDT Annual Assessment: September 4, 2007 - October 17, 2007 for Grades K-12
Please do NOT enter Initial Identification preliminary scores into Zangle prior to September 17 or the "late labels" will incorrectly identify these students as "Annual Assessment." Beginning September 17 and anytime after that, you may begin entering preliminary scores for Initial Identification assessments.

* California Modified Assessment (CMA) Field Test: September 24–28, 2007 for Grades 4-6 (selected schools only; additional information coming soon).

* California High School Exit Examination (CAHSEE): October 2 & 3, 2007 for Grade 12 (students in the class of 2008) and Adult Education students ONLY.

Upcoming Nuts and Bolts Training Sessions for Site Test Coordinators

* California High School Exit Examination (CAHSEE): Tuesday, September 25, 2007, 2:30-4:30 p.m., Mission Bay Professional Development Center

If you have questions and/or comments about this information, please contact us.

Standards, Assessment, and Accountability Division
Eugene Brucker Education Center
4100 Normal Street
Room 3150 San Diego, CA 92103
Telephone (619) 725-7166

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