STAR Public Hearing March 12, 2010

March 12, 2010

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 Five, Six, and Seven and
Mathematics in Grades Five, Six, and Seven

To be used in reporting the results of the Standards-based Tests in Spanish (STS) for Reading/Language Arts (RLA) and Mathematics in grades five, six, and seven, administered in spring 2010 and thereafter.

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Wednesday, March 24, 2010

10:00 a.m. – 10:45 a.m.
Videoconference

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

408-453-6500

Wednesday, March 24, 2010

1:30 p.m. – 2:15 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, May 12 or Thursday, May 13, 2010

10:00 a.m. – as necessary.
California 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

The STS was developed in response to the authorization of California Senate Bill (SB) 1448, Chapter 233, Statutes of 2004. SB 1448 requires the development of a test in Spanish that is aligned to the California content standards for RLA and mathematics 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 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.

The State Board of Education (SBE) is proposing to adopt performance levels for the STS for RLA and Mathematics in grades five, six, and seven. All of these tests were administered to students during the 2009 STAR Program. Information on the proposed cut scores for establishing the performance levels will be made available on the SBE Web site at http://www.cde.ca.gov/be/pn/pn/starpublichearings.asp on or before March 12, 2010. 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 March 24, 2010, will be videoconferences. SBE members whose schedules permit them to attend and SBE and Department of Education executive 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 May 12 or 13, 2010, in conjunction with the SBE’s regular May 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 de Cos
1430 N Street, Room 5111
Sacramento, CA 95814

E-mail:
pdecos@cde.ca.gov

Fax:
916-319-0175

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