The Washington State Board of Education will meet next week at Education Service District 113 in Tumwater to establish minimum scores for graduation on several state assessments.
The board will also discuss a new process to examine the test scores based on high parental refusal numbers among 11th-graders, before determining graduation scores for the Smarter Balanced Assessments, WA-AIM and transitional End-of-Course assessments.
The Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) reported earlier this month that only 47 percent of state 11th-graders took the SBA. There were 27.4 percent confirmed parent refusals and 28 to 53 percent potential refusals in the 11th grade this spring. OSPI is still confirming the numbers to see, for example, if a student simply did not show up on test day or was refusing the assessment.
Board members approved a methodology in March to set a Smarter Balanced graduation score with equal impact based on comparison of student grades on different assessments. The Board will review a score-setting process to maintain student pass rates as the state transitions to a new system of academic standards and assessments.
Additional materials examining the test scores of the 37,482 11th-graders who took the SBA, will be available on the State Board of Education’s website on Friday, July 31, according to Stefanie Randolph, communications manager for SBE.
Board Chair Isabel Muñoz-Colon had this to say about the scores in a press release:
“Setting requirements for graduation is one of the most important tasks the State Board of Education performs for students in Washington. The Board believes graduation scores should reflect the high expectations we have for all students, as well as the support we must provide to help them achieve.”
In the release, the SBE stated that a Level 3 score was identified as meeting proficiency in January 2015 and remains the goal for all students. That score was identified as meeting “career and college-readiness” and proof that a student is “likely prepared to succeed in post-secondary education.”
The special board meeting is schedule for 1 p.m. to 2 p.m., August 5, with a press conference following from 3:30 to 4:40 p.m.The State Board of Education is required by law to set a score before the 2015-2016 school year.
