BLaST-Cast: The New Design of the PSSA Gr. 3-8 ELA Assessment

Christina ReedCoordinator of Professional Learning and Curriculum Development, IU 17

creed@iu17.org

“I choose C”

The Need for College and Career Ready Standards

Building Level Data, 15%

Teacher Specific Data, 15%

Elective Data, 20%

Observation/ Practice, 50%

Teacher Observation & PracticeEffective 2013-2014 SYDanielson Framework DomainsPlanning and PreparationClassroom EnvironmentInstructionProfessional Responsibilities

Building Level Data/School Performance ProfileEffective 2013-2014 SYIndicators of Academic AchievementIndicators of Closing the Achievement Gap, All StudentsIndicators of Closing the Achievement Gap, Sub-groupsIndicators of Academic Growth PVAASExtra Credit for Advanced Achievement

Teacher Specific Data

Student Performance on Assess-mentsPVAAS / Growth 3 Year Rolling Av-erageIEP Goal Progress*LEA Developed Rubrics*

Elective Data/SLOsOptional 2013-2014 SYEffective 2014-2015 SYDistrict Designed Measures and ExaminationsNationally Recognized Standardized TestsIndustry Certification ExaminationsStudent Projects Pursuant to Local RequirementsStudent Portfolios Pursuant to Local Require-ments

*Student learning Objective ProcessJune 26, 2014

Teacher Effectiveness System in Act 82 of 2012

Purpose• Awareness of new design

•Not a substitute for PDE resources • (www.education.state.pa.us)

•Not a deep dive

Terminology KeyPB MC – Passage Based Multiple-ChoiceStand Alone MC – Stand Alone Multiple-Choice (Language multiple choice)EBSR – Evidence-Based Selected ResponseTDA – Text Dependent Analysis SA – Passage-Based Short Answer

Special Note: The first number after the item category represents how many items the student will encounter within that specific response category (includes equating and field testing items). The number in ( ) represents how many of those items will count towards a student’s PSSA score (omits equating and field test items). Please see page 2 for PDE’s ELA Test Design and Test Content Blueprints. For additional PSSA resources, please visit www.education.state.pa.us and click on “State Assessment System”

Question/Task TypesMultiple Choice• Passage-Based MC• Stand Alone MC Evidence-Based Selected ResponseText Dependent Analysis (TDA) – Gr. 4-8 Only Passage-Based Short Answer (SA) – Gr. 3 Only

Scoring GuidelinesGr. 3 Gr. 4-5 Gr. 6-8

Short Answer 3Pt Guideline

Gr. 4-8 TDA Scoring Guideline

Gr. 4-8 TDA Scoring Guidelines

Gr. 3-5 Narrative Writing

Gr. 3-5 Narrative Writing

Gr. 6-8 Narrative Writing

Gr. 3-4 Informational Writing

Gr. 3-4 Informational Writing

Gr. 6-8 Informational Writing

Gr. 3-5 Opinion Writing

Gr. 3-5 Opinion Writing

Gr. 6-8 Argument Writing

Vertical Progression of Rigor• Identify• Describe• Explain• Compare• Analyze• Interpret • Evaluate

Implications

What We Teach

• The Standards • Academic Vocabulary• Level of Rigor • Writing, writing, writing• Analyze, evidence, essay

(AEE)

How we Teach

• Close reading• Writing and reading

together• Writing and reading in all

disciplines • Evidence-based practices

What does this mean for YOU?

What You Teach How You Teach

ContactChristina Steinbacher-Reedcreed@iu17.org