STS Public Hearing Announcement, June 2012

June 28, 2012

ANNOUNCEMENT OF THREE REGIONAL PUBLIC HEARINGS

California State Board of Education

Proposed Performance Level Cut Scores for the Standards-based Tests in Spanish:
Reading Language Arts in Grades Eight, Nine, Ten, and Eleven
and for Mathematics in Algebra I and Geometry

To be used in reporting the results of the Standards-based Tests in Spanish (STS) for Reading Language Arts (RLA) in grades eight, nine, ten, and eleven and Mathematics Algebra I and Geometry administered in spring 2011 and thereafter.

Monday, July 09, 2012

9:30 a.m. – 10:15 a.m.
Videoconference

Santa Clara County Office of Education, Saratoga Room
1290 Ridder Park Drive
San Jose, CA 95131
408-453-6500

Monday, July 09, 2012

2:00 p.m. – 2:45 p.m.
Videoconference

San Diego County Office of Education
Joe Rindone Regional Technology Center
6401 Linda Vista Road
San Diego, CA 92111
858-571-7259

Wednesday, July 18, 2012

No earlier than 10:00 a.m.
State Board of Education Meeting

California Department of Education
1430 N Street, Room 1101
Sacramento, CA 95814
916-319-0827

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To: County and District Superintendents
       Charter School Administrators
       Other Interested Parties

California Education Code Section 60640 (g) requires pupils identified as English learners (ELs) who are enrolled in grades two through eleven to test in his or her primary language in addition to their grade-level California Standards Tests (CSTs) and/or California Modified Assessment (CMA).

The STS is aligned to the California content standards for RLA and Mathematics and was designed to replace the Aprenda 3, a norm-referenced test, as the designated primary language test.

The STS assesses the academic performance of students by measuring student achievement on the California content standards in their primary language. The STS is administered in grades two through eleven for RLA; in grades two through seven for mathematics; and for the Algebra I and Geometry end-of-course examinations.

In 2005, the State Board of Education (SBE) approved blueprints for the development of the STS for RLA and Mathematics in grades two through four. In 2006, blueprints were approved by the SBE for grades five through seven. In 2007, the SBE approved blueprints for RLA in grades eight through eleven, for Algebra I, and for Geometry. In May 2009, the SBE adopted performance standards (levels) for the STS for RLA and STS for Mathematics in grades two through four. In May 2010, the SBE adopted performance standards (levels) for the STS for RLA and STS for Mathematics in grades five through seven.

At its May 2012 meeting, the SBE: 1) approved the State Superintendent of Public Instruction’s (SSPI’s) proposed performance standards (levels) for STS for RLA in grades eight through eleven, and for STS Algebra I and Geometry; and 2) directed CDE and SBE staff to conduct regional public hearings on the proposed performance standards (levels) for the STS for RLA in grades eight through eleven, and for STS Algebra I and Geometry to be brought to the SBE at its July 2012 meeting for adoption.

Information on the proposed cut scores for establishing the performance levels is available on the SBE Web site at http://www.cde.ca.gov/be/pn/pn/starpublichearings.asp. Three regional public hearings will be conducted for the purpose of gathering comments from a cross section of interested parties, including teachers, administrators, school board members and other local elected officials, business leaders, parents, guardians, and students. Comments and suggestions are sought on the proposed cut scores on the respective tests that will determine students’ performance levels.

The regional public hearings at the Santa Clara County Office of Education and the San Diego County Office of Education on July 09, 2011, will be videoconferences. SBE members whose schedules permit them to attend and SBE and Department of Education staff will be prepared to accept public comments and input on a continuous basis during the videoconferences. Individuals are not required to prearrange a specific time to present their comments. Oral comments will be accepted as individuals arrive. Some delays may occur if many individuals arrive at the same time; patience will be appreciated if delays do occur.

The third and final regional public hearing will be conducted in Sacramento on July 18, 2012, in conjunction with the SBE’s regular July meeting. It will begin no earlier than 10:00 a.m. but will last only as long as necessary to hear from those who wish to orally testify at that time. The SBE may, at that time, make changes to the proposed performance standards (levels) based on public input and board discussion.

Individuals need not attend a regional public hearing to present their comments. The SBE will be pleased to receive comments by mail, e-mail, or fax. See below for contact information.

Mail

California State Board of Education
Attention: Patricia L. de Cos
1430 N Street, Room 5111
Sacramento, CA 95814

E-mail

pdecos@cde.ca.gov

Fax

916-319-0175

Please help us publicize these regional public hearings!