TNReady for Educators TNReady is the New & Improved TCAP TNReady is the new and improved TCAP test in math and English language arts (ELA) for grades TNReady is a part of TCAP. -TCAP includes grades 3-8 achievement tests and End of Course exams for science, social studies, math, and English. TNReady has fewer and better questions than the former TCAP tests. The new test in math and ELA is designed to assess true student understanding, not just basic memorization and test-taking skills. TNReady is a Necessary Change Our students have to be better prepared to take advantage of opportunities after graduation, and we need a better measurement of progress. TNReady gives all of us an important big-picture perspective so we can see if students are on track and progressing toward college- and workforce-readiness. This is the only state-level test that can do that. We believe all of our children in Tennessee are exceptionally capable and with the expertise and support of their phenomenal teachers they will show us they are TNReady. TNReady Content TNReady measures the problem solving and critical thinking skills that are required in postsecondary education, the workforce, and in the real world. TNReady English integrates reading and writing skills. Students are asked to support their answers with evidence from something they read, which includes both fiction and nonfiction texts. TNReady Math requires students to solve multi-step problems. There are calculator-permitted and calculator-prohibited sections at every grade level. TNReady has every accommodation feature that TCAP tests have provided in the past as well as additional tools. No student will be denied access to an allowable accommodation that is part of their IEP. What are the TNReady Practice Tools? Sample items in MICA (Measurement Incorporated Classroom Assessment) along with the.. Practice tests delivered in MIST (Measurement Incorporated Secure Testing) make up the TNReady Practice Tools available to educators and students. 5 Writing Prompts in MICA and MIST The majority of writing prompts in MIST focus on narrative writing; however, both informative and argumentative writing prompts are available in MICA. GradeMICA Item SamplerMIST Practice Test 3 2 Informative/explanatory tasks 1 narrative task 42 informative/explanatory tasks1 narrative task 5 1 opinion task 1 informative/explanatory task 1 narrative task 6 1 argument task 2 informative/explanatory tasks 1 narrative task 73 informative/explanatory tasks1 narrative task 8 1 argument task 2 informative/explanatory tasks 1 informative/explanatory task English I 3 argument tasks 1 narrative task 1 informative/explanatory task English II1 informative/explanatory tasks1 narrative task English III2 informative/explanatory tasks1 narrative task TNReady Online Assessment TNReady will be administered online with paper back-up available. It will be given in two parts, however, the time students spend testing will be similar to last year. -Part I was administered to 81,000 high school students on block schedules in November. This gives Tennessee students an opportunity to develop critical technology skills they need for success, while also ensuring that they do not fall behind their peers in other states where online tests are given. We have phased in required online testing over the last four years. Many states have been testing online for 15+ years. 7 Network Readiness Currently, no districts or schools have requested to take TNReady paper and pencil tests. Ready (99%) Getting Ready (1%) Ready (88%) Getting Ready (12%) Device Readiness Ready (90%) Getting Ready (10%) Ready (63%)Getting Ready (37%) Break MIST Day Test Results Nearly 110,000 students logged on to MIST. Peak load was 3 to 4 times more than we experienced during writing assessment in the spring, as we compressed a four-week window for administration into three hours. These conditions truly created a stress test, a load we would not expect during the normal operational window. Results: MIST system did experience slow response time at midway point through 3-hour window but eventually recovered from bottleneck issues. What We Learned: We need to increase server capacity to improve speed and performance of MIST and continually monitor the system to ensure its operating efficiently. Next Steps: Vendor will review data collected and make updates to ensure seamless performance during the operational assessment. 10 Additional System Tests Based on district feedback regarding MIST performance and usability during Break MIST Day on October 1, we are continuing to make updates to ensure a smooth test administration. We have decided to conduct two additional system tests to further enhance MIST performance in advance of the spring assessment window that opens on Feb. 8, These two tests will take place on Friday, Jan. 8 and Jan. 22. In addition, it is critical that we accurately estimate server load to safeguard an optimal student experience. In order to make these estimates, we will be releasing a survey tool requesting that districts and schools share the specific the number of students testing on each day of the administration during the February/March window. Testing Time Comparison Students will spend a similar amount of time taking state- required tests as they have in previous years. Testing Time is Similar to Last Year Assessment Scoring Nearly 200 Tennessee educators are informing how the test is scored, and there is no set number of students who have to fall into each performance level category (e.g., proficient, advanced). The writing assessment will be hand-scored by professional scorers at Measurement Inc. Most mathematics assessments will be machine-scored. All anchor papers and training materials are selected from Tennessee student responses and approved by the department. Every student response is scored two times by independent scorers to determine the responses score so 100 percent of student responses are read and checked twice. TNReady will provide better information for families. Parents will receive more and better information on their students performance. The new reports are designed to do three things: Current TCAP Individual Student Reports for grades TNReady Potential Ideas for Report Redesign 17 TNReady Potential Ideas for Report Redesign 18 TNReady Timeline Fall 2015 Block schedules administer Part I & II Winter 2016 Conduct two additional system tests Traditional schedules administer Part I Release quick scores for fall block schedule students (estimated 1st week of February) Spring 2016 Block schedules administer Part I & II Traditional schedules administer Part II Finalize performance level descriptors Summer 2016 Begin educator collaboration on scoring and set cut scores Release quick scores for traditional and spring block schedules (estimated 1st week of June) Release growth scores (estimated July) Fall 2016 Deliver student reports in Sept-Oct Accountability During TNReady Transition How will TNReady affect TVAAS? TVAAS will compare students relative performance on TNReady to their peers performance on TNReady. TVAAS will not compare students absolute performance on TNReady to their absolute performance on TCAP. Because students performance will be compared to the performance of their peers, any drops in statewide proficiency rates resulting from increased rigor will have no impact on the ability of teachers, schools, and districts to earn strong TVAAS scores. How will TNReady affect TVAAS? How will TNReady affect teacher evaluations? The Tennessee Teaching Evaluation Enhancement Act passed last spring adjusts the weighting relative to the Individual Growth Score component of teacher evaluations during the transition to TNReady. The new law provides for a three-year phase-in approach so that new state assessments administered in through will factor in a teachers evaluation as follow: 10 percent of the individual growth in the first year ( ) 20 percent of the individual growth in year two ( ) 35 percent of the individual growth in year three ( ) If a teachers single-year TVAAS Evaluation Composite is greater than their multi-year TVAAS Evaluation Composite, the single-year TVAAS Evaluation Composite will count for the full 35 percent designated for individual growth. How will TNReady affect teacher evaluations? Teachers in tested grades and subjects who generate TVAAS data in , but do not have prior data from the or school years, will receive a single- year TVAAS Evaluation Composite, and will not receive a multi-year TVAAS Evaluation Composite. How will TNReady affect teacher evaluations? In response to educator feedback, the Tennessee Teaching Evaluation Enhancement Act reduces the weighting of school-level TVAAS Evaluation Composites for teachers who do not receive individual growth scores. How will TNReady affect teacher evaluations? Furthermore, the Tennessee Teaching Evaluation Enhancement Act gives complete discretion to local school districts in how they factor student test data into employment decisions like promotion, retention, termination and compensation. In addition, last year the General Assembly adopted legislation giving local districts the option of excluding TNReady scores from a students final grade if the scores are not received at least five days before the end of the school year. Because this is the first year of TNReady, results will be delayed due to the completion of the standards setting process led by Tennessee teachers. This is standard practice for the first year administration of any large-scale assessment and will mean that districts will have the choice to exclude TNReady scores for the school year. What additional flexibility is provided? Resources TNReady Information: TNReady.gov Item Sampler: micatime.com or supportmicatime.com Questions: 28 Questions? 29