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What Does It Mean to Score Proficient onCalifornia Standards Tests?

Contact:Randy Ross, Director of Educational Policy

LAUSD Board of Educationrandy.ross@lausd.net

LAUSD Board of Education

For presentation to:

Curriculum and Instruction andEducational Equity Committee

December 11, 2008

212/10/2008 IAU

Proficiency means…

• Good grasp of California’s academic standardsfor a particular subject (e.g., math) and gradelevel (e.g., 5)

• Lower likelihood of dropping out

• Greater likelihood of passing CAHSEE

• Greater likelihood of graduating from highschool

• Greater likelihood of being work ready

• Greater likelihood of being prepared for college

312/10/2008 IAU

Basics of Proficiency

• Number of questions on the test

• The range of numerical scores that defineProficiency

• The minimum number of questions a studentneeds to get correct in order to score Proficient

• The minimum percent of questions a studentneeds to get correct in order to score Proficient

412/10/2008 IAU

English Language Arts

GradeNumber of

questionsProficient

Range

MINIMUM %correct needed

to scoreProficient

2nd 65 350-401 69%3rd 65 350-401 72%4th 75* 350-392 64%5th 75 350-394 65%6th 75 350-393 64%7th 75* 350-400 65%8th 75 350-394 68%9th 75 350-396 63%10th 75 350-391 71%11th 75 350-395 69%

*Multiple Choice only (does not include 1 essay question)

512/10/2008 IAU

Grade 3 CST English–Language ArtsClusters

English Language Arts # of ItemsReading Word Analysis and Vocabulary

Development 20 Reading Comprehension 15 Literary Response and Analysis 8Writing Writing Strategies 9 Written Conventions 13Total 65

612/10/2008 IAU

Math – Grades 1 - 7

GradeNumber of

questionsProficient

Range

MINIMUM % correctneeded to score

Proficient

2nd 65 350-413 75%

3rd 65 350-413 74%

4th 65 350-400 74%

5th 65 350-429 65%

6th 65 350-414 65%

7th 65 350-413 63%

712/10/2008 IAU

Math - Secondary

Math SubjectNumber of

questionsProficient

Range

MINIMUM% correctneeded to

scoreProficient

General Math 65 350-413 63%Algebra 1 65 350-427 58%Geometry 65 350-417 68%Algebra II 65 350-415 63%Summative High

school Math65 350-419 74%

Integrated Math I 65 350-424 62%Integrated Math II 65 350-417 55%Integrated Math III 65 350-427 57%

812/10/2008 IAU

Science

Subject # of QuestionsProficient

Range

MINIMUM %correct

needed toscore

Proficient5th Grade Science 60 350-409 68%8th Grade Science 60 350-402 60%10th Grade Life Science 60 350-398 65%Biology 60 350-393 63%Chemistry 60 350-393 68%Earth Science 60 350-392 67%Physics 60 350-392 65%Integrated/Coordinated I 60 350-389 67%Integrated/Coordinated II 60 350-390 67%Integrated/Coordinated III 60 350-390 60%

Integrated/Coordinated IV 60 350-396 67%

912/10/2008 IAU

History-Social Science

SubjectNumber of

questionsProficient

Range

MINIMUM %correct needed toscore Proficient

8th Grade 75 350-395

60%

10th Grade WorldHistory

60 350-399

62%

11th Grade USHistory

60 350-400

60%

1012/10/2008 IAU

Let’s Summarize

• Number of CST test items ranges from aminimum of 60 to a maximum of 75 multiplechoice items. ELA CSTs -- 65 items for grades 2/3 and 75 items for

grades 4+. All math CSTs have 65 items. Every science CST has 60 items. 8th grade history-social science CST -- 75 items; high-

school history-social science CSTs -- 60 items.

• Students must score at least 350 points inorder to be designated Proficient.

• The number and percent of items studentsmust get correct in order to score Proficientvary by subject and grade level.

1112/10/2008 IAU

Using Assessment Data to PromoteStudent Achievement

• Monitor student achievement and provideappropriate individualized support.

• Communicate with parents and guardians anddevelop/implement joint plans to supportstudent achievement.

• Identify and act on the strengths andweaknesses of schools and classrooms

• Assess the cost-effectiveness and impact ofDistrict initiatives on student well-being andschooling outcomes.