Below is information that ran in previous editions of the Instructional Leaders Update, or was sent to administrators via e-mail.
2011-12
Age Range Chart for SWD, NYSAA March 2011 (PDF)
Posted 3/30
March 2011 edition
Update on Accountability' report outlines college and career readiness standards
Ira Schwartz, Assistant Commissioner in SED’s Office of Accountability, presented an “Update on Accountability” on March 4. View the Powerpoint. [PDF]
Some key points:
1) New standards based on college and career readiness led the U.S. Department of Education to agree to SED’s approval to reset the Annual Measureable Objective (AMO) for Grades 3-8 ELA and mathematics from 167 to 122 in ELA and from 151 to 137 for math in 2011-12, with equal increments up to 200 by 2013-14. This will avoid a “school improvement tsunami” of identified schools created by changes in the 2009-10 school year including: the elimination of the 34-point rule for students with disabilities, time adjustment of test administration, a new process for equating tests between the years and new high school graduation rate goals and targets.
2) The State Education Department posted two
documents to help schools project AYP scenarios and prospective
2011-12 accountability statuses:
2011-12 Prospective Status [EXCEL SPREADSHEET]
2011-12 Category Worksheet [EXCEL SPREADSHEET]
3) For 2011-12, accountability for high school
graduation rate will be based on the performance of all student
groups and the performance of both the 4-year and 5-year graduation
cohorts.
Instead of the 5-month rule, enrollment will now be based on the
one-day rule. Ungraded students with disabilities enter the cohort
upon entry into the high school and there are changes in the rules
regarding incarcerated youth.
The Regents continue to review policy decisions related to the high
school graduation rate goal and progress targets.
4) The Center for Assessment is under contract to SED to explore student growth models, and SED is looking at options for assessing the performance of teachers in subject areas other than ELA and math. A wide variety of models and options are under consideration, including the possible use of a “group metric” as opposed to an individual teacher’s impact on student learning.
5) Policy considerations related to preparing students to succeed in college and careers include: an increase in graduation requirements, more flexibility with how students can meet these requirements, alternative or supplemental credentials and re-thinking the “safety net” for students with disabilities.
One strategy for increasing flexibility is to allow the successful completion of a Career & Technical Education technical assessment (as part of an approved CTE program) to substitute for one of the 5 required Regents exams.
January 2011 edition
Formative assessment subcommittee holds its first meeting
Staff
Development Coordinator Connie Miller and Data Warehouse Managing
Coordinator Jeff Baker are co-facilitating the sub-committee for
Formative Assessment in conjunction with the Race to the Top
Initiative.
The sub-committee's first meeting was held on Jan. 24, at 900 Watervliet-Shaker Road in Albany. The agenda focused on their charge as a subcommittee: Sharing from the field, defining “formative assessment," and reviewing the various components of formative assessment (e.g., progress monitoring, interval assessment, mini-summative assessment). In addition, the sub-committee will develop a plan that outlines the next steps toward fulfilling the committee's charge.
The State Education Department has not announced additional requirements or updates in this area since the last e-newsletter. We are monitoring its communications and will update you as soon as there is anything new. The sub-committee will report out on their meeting at the Feb. 1 Race to the Top Meeting.
Integrated algebra Regents have shipped
Posted 1/11
From NERIC Testing Coordinator Gail Newcomb:
NERIC began shipping the Integrated Algebra regents answers, roster,
and instructions on Friday, 1/7/2011. Please note, shipments mailed
to schools outside of Capital Region BOCES were shipped via UPS.
Shipments mailed to Public Schools in the Capital Region BOCES are
shipped via the NERIC courier.
If you do not receive your Integrated Algebra answer sheets by the
end of this week, 1/14/2011, please contact Gail Newcomb
(518-862-5355) or William Adam (518-862-5310) or send an email to
testing@gw.neric.org.
Please look over the answer sheets for accuracy. If you find
something wrong with the answer sheets or roster please contact us
IMMEDIATELY.
Here is a copy of the instructions
included in the packet of answer sheets and roster
[PDF]. Please make as many
copies of these instructions as needed.
If you have any questions please contact us at the phone numbers
listed above or send an email to
testing@gw.neric.org.
Print
quantity requests for January 2011 Regents reduced
Posted 12/22
12/21 Memo from NYSED Assistant Commissioner David Abrams:
Dear SCDN Colleagues,
I want to make you aware of adjustments made to the print quantity
requests that were made by school districts through the on-line
ordering system for January 2011 Regents examinations. We have
reduced print quantities for all school districts due to cost
containment efforts.
The Department has ensured that every school district will receive
copies of each exam that they have requested. School districts
should carefully check shipped exam quantities prior to the
administration of the exams to ensure that they have adequate
numbers to test all eligible students. If a school district is short
necessary quantities, they should:
1) contact their Regional Center to see if extra exams are
available;
2) e-mail a request to the Department on the morning of the
administration of the exam at
printquan@mail.nysed.gov for permission to copy the exam. A
reply will be sent back to the school district from the Department
via e-mail as quickly as possible (this is the preferred and most
efficient way to contact the Department for these requests); or
3) fax a request for permission to copy the exam to (518) 474-1989
or (518) 402-5300. Faxed requests will be answered by the Department
by facsimile.
I apologize for any inconvenience this has caused during these
difficult fiscal times. Thank you for all the work you do on behalf
of the students of New York State.
Site
and NERIC contact information for the January regional Regents
scanning (Excel)
Posted 12/21
December 10, 2010 edition
Data
update PowerPoint
Ken Wagner, assistant commissioner for data systems for the NYS Education Department, gave an informative update on data in December. Download the presentation PowerPoint (PDF)
AIS
to RtL assurance form due Dec. 15
Dec. 15 is the NYS Education Department's paperwork deadline for districts that plan to transition from Academic Intervention Services (AIS) to Response to Intervention (RtI). Details
