Friday, December 2, 2016

SBA and IAB Udpates



Assessment Department

The purpose of the White River School District is to provide student data that informs actions that improve student learning.

Interim Block Assessments (IAB) Scoring Discrepancies

The performance levels (Below Standard, At/Near Standard, Above Standard) reported for the Interim Blocks Assessments (IAB) are not determined by points earned.  Each item in an IAB has an associated difficulty (called a Rasch value) that was determined when the item was field tested. It is the relative difficulties of all items a student is able to answer that are used to determine that student’s proficiency. For example, two students earning the same number of points on an IAB might earn different proficiency ratings with one student being Below Standard and the other At/Near Standard. The student At/Near Standard was able to answer more difficult items.
 
Also noteworthy are the two-point items, if the IAB includes them. There is a Rasch value associated with earning only 1 point on a 2 point item that is significantly lower than the Rasch value associated with earning 2 points. In other words, it is easier to earn 1 point on the item than it is to earn 2 points, so a label of Difficult for the whole item does not capture the measure of difficulty for students earning 1 point.

DESMOS Calculator Update

Starting on December 1, all practice and training tests that currently utilize a calculator in their Math or Science tests will now have the new DESMOS calculators automatically available. Also, any Smarter Balanced Interim, Smarter Balanced Summative, or Science tests will have available the new DESMOS calculators as well. The DESMOS calculators are enhanced versions of the previous basic, scientific, and graphing calculators. 

Test Delivery System
The test delivery system will be unavailable all day on the dates below to prepare for online test administration in Spring 2017.  As a reminder - these dates will also be posted on the Assessment Calendar in google calendars.
Tuesday, January 31, 2017
Friday, March 3, 2017
Friday, April 14, 2017
Friday, April 28, 2017

Because it's not all about assessment...

Sesame Street: Janelle Monae - Power of Yet
Do you want to grow up to be an author, an astronaut, a scientist, or a doctor? That's great! But maybe you don't know how many bones are in an arm or even how to spell...yet. Believe in yourself, work hard, stay focused, and one day you'll get to where you want to be.

Meagan Rhoades


District Assessment Manager
360.829.3815 (office)
253.973.3975 (cell)

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