Sarah%20McManus%20and%20Hope%20Tesh-Blum

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North Carolina High School Exit Exam Overview
and Update

• Sarah McManus and Hope Tesh-Blum
• North Carolina Department of Public Instruction
• Division of Accountability Services/Testing
  Section

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Competency Tests History What will happen?
Old Competency Minimum performance levels in
areas of Math, Reading, and Writing(prior to
1994-95)New Competency Levels of performance
in Reading and Math (during or after 1994-1995)
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GATEWAYS

• Statewide Student Accountability Standards
  Grades 3, 5, 8, and 12
• New Student Promotion Standards
• APA Policy 16CAC6D.0305
• Approved by SBE 4/1/99

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Measurement Goals

• Essential Skills
• Higher Order Thinking Skills
• Integration
• Application
• Evaluation

• Big Concepts/Ideas
• Math
• Science
• Social Studies
• English

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Gateways
State Board Decision February 2, 2001
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Six Domains

• Communication
• Processing Information
• Problem Solving
• Using Numbers and Data
• Technology
• Team Work

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Development of Learning Objectives (for each
domain)

• Division of Instruction Services
• Division of Accountability Services/Testing
  Section
• Research
• Previous studies of what students should know and
  be able to do

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NCHSEE Key Characteristics

• Active Involvement
• Scenarios and Situations
• Real-World Applications
• Use of Primary Source Materials
• Variety of Presentations (i.e., not simply
  reading or math)
• Integration of Content (i.e., not facts tested in
  isolation)

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Whos on the Development Team?
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Test Development TeamRiverside
Publishing CompanyProducing items, tests,
technical documents, resource
materialsStandard setting
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NCHSEE CommitteeApproves all of Riversides Work

• Division of Accountability Services
• Division of Instructional Services
• Division of Exceptional Children

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NCHSEE Advisory Boardprovides feedback and
advice to NCHSEE Committee about administrative
procedures, etc.

• Division of Accountability Services
• Division of Instructional Services
• Division of Exceptional Children

• NCAE
• Test Coordinators
• Principals
• Central office staff

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Technical Advisory Committee

• Purpose To provide advice about field test
  design, standard setting, etc.
• UNC-Chapel Hill
• University of Michigan
• UNC-Greensboro
• American Institute of Research

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Item Development

• N.C. Educators, Curriculum Specialists and
  professional item writers
• NCDPI Instructional Services
• NCDPI Accountability Services/Testing
• NCDPI Exceptional Children
• Riverside Publishing Company

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November 2001

• NC State Board of Education approves several
  changes to the test format of the Exit Exam
• Delay in funding and the need to reduce amount of
  time spent testing

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Exit Exam Format Revisions

• Original Format
• Multiple-Choice
• Four separate tests
• 60-80 items per test
• Two hours test time per test / 4 days

• Revised Format
• Multiple-Choice
• One test/Four sections
• _at_100 items total (25 per section)
• Three hours total test time / one day

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What four sections (domains) are tested?
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Four Assessed Domains

• Communication
• Processing Information
• Problem Solving
• Using Numbers and Data

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Communication Section

• Two types of items
• Embedded Error Evaluate critically and analyze
  printed material
• Scenarios Understand and apply accurately the
  rules of Standard English
• LISTENING ITEM REMOVED

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Processing Information Section

• Requires Students to
• Process multiple Types of data
• Interpret, analyze, synthesize
• Make appropriate inferences, predictions, or
  plans

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Problem Solving Section

• Requires Students to
• Analyze and evaluate problems in a variety of
  scenarios
• Identify potential solutions or choices

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Using Numbers and Data Section

• Requires Students to
• Apply mathematical and data analysis skills and
  concepts to solve problems in a variety of
  contexts

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Timeline (as of February 18, 2002)
2000-2001 Item Tryout (all 11th
graders) 2001-2002 Field Test (_at_34,000 11th
graders) 2002-2003 Field Test (All 11th
graders) 2003-2004 Operational (All 11th
graders) 2004-2005 Graduation Requirement for
Class of 2005 11th grade students
following the C/U Prep, C/T Prep, or Career Prep
Courses of Study.
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Samples for Testing (as of February 18, 2002)

• 2001 Item Tryout
• Every High School
• All 11th grade students
• _at_ 64,000 students
• Accommodations
• Scored by contractor
• 2 hours per test

• 2002 Field Test
• Sample of High Schools
• All 11th grade students in a selected high
  school
• _at_34,000 students
• Accommodations
• Scored by contractor
• 180 min. total test adm. time

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Estimated Test Administration Time
All students should be given sufficient time to
complete the tests.
NOTE A few minutes of additional time will be
needed at the end of the testing period to check
answer sheets, complete coding, and collect test
materials.
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Other Test Materials

• Calculator Use
• Graphing Calculator is required for the entire
  test
• Blank Paper
• No Graph paper

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Real Deal Class of 2005 and Beyond

• Administered to all 11th grade students in Spring
  of 2004
• Class of 2005 must pass this test to receive a
  diploma
• Retesting opportunities available

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Re-testing Opportunities

• Summer School (Junior year)
• Fall (Senior year)
• Spring (Senior year)
• Last month (Senior year)
• Age 21

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Students Following C/U Prep., C/T Prep., or
Career Prep. Courses of StudyTo Receive a
Diploma (Class of 2005 and beyond)

• Local Requirements
• Existing State Requirements
• Passing score on exit exam (class of 2005)
• Passing score on computer skills tests

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Resource Materials

• Information Guide/Brochure (February 2002)
• Student Handbook (February 2002)
• NCDPI Websites (Testing and Instructional
  Services)

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Testing Websitehttp//www.NCPublicSch
ools.org/ accountability/testing/
highschoolexitexam/
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Instructional Services
Websitehttp//www.learnnc.org/dpi/instserv.nsf
/Category11/
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Questions?