Superintendent’s Advisory Committee
Public Schools Accountability Act (PSAA) of 1999
Minutes
Wednesday, August 24, 2006
9:30 a.m.
Members Present:
Holly Jacobson, Chair, Assistant Executive Director, Policy Analysis and Research, California School Boards Association
Vicki Barber, Superintendent, El Dorado County Office of Education
Marilyn Buchi, School Board Member, Fullerton Joint Union High School District
Nancy Carroll, Superintendent, Ocean View Elementary School District
Marc Ecker, Superintendent, Fountain Valley Unified School District
Ronald Garcia, Superintendent, Delano Union Elementary School District
Ginger Hovenic, President/CEO, San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce
Pam Kinsley, Member, California Teachers Association, Harding School
Kelvin Lee, Superintendent, Dry Creek Joint Elementary School District (Retired)
Cecelia Mansfield, Vice President for Education, California State Parent-Teacher Association
Lynette Nyaggah, Teacher, Rio Hondo College
Bernice Stafford, Vice President, School Marketing and Evaluation, Lightspan, Inc.
Ting Sun, Senior Educational Advisor, California Charter Schools Association
Charles Weis, Superintendent, Ventura County Office of Education
Karen Yelverton-Zamarripa, Asst. Vice Chancellor, California State University
Members Absent:
James S. Catterall, Professor, School of Education, University of California, Los Angeles
Edward Haertel, Professor, School of Education, Stanford University
Jerry Hayward, Consultant, Management, Analysis and Planning, Inc.
Maria Medina, Parent Advisory Council
Principal Staff to the PSAA Advisory Committee:
Patrick McCabe, Director, Policy and Evaluation Division
Robert Bernstein, Manager, Academic Accountability Unit
Holly Jacobson called the meeting to order at 9:40 a.m.
Introduction of Committee Members, California Department of Education (CDE) staff, and audience members - Holly Jacobson
STAR Summary Results - Pat McCabe
- Pat McCabe introduced the paper on the “2006 Standardized Testing and Reporting (STAR) Program: Summary of Results.” The paper provided an overview of the progress of student achievement on the 2006 STAR testing as well as the progress of student achievement overtime.
- Pat McCabe highlighted some of the data trends in English–language arts (ELA). The percentage of students scoring proficient in ELA increased by an average of 7% from 2003 to 2007.
- Pat McCabe also highlighted some of the data trends in mathematics. Again, the greatest gains in math were achieved by the lower grade levels. The committee discussed the possible difference in math scores between the elementary grades and high school. It was noted that although the increase in the percent proficient in the end of course mathematics tests were not as substantial as the gains in the elementary grades, there has been a significant increase in the number of students taking Algebra I, Geometry, and Algebra II.
Oath of Office - Susie Lange
- Susie Lange administered the oath of office for three committee members: Ginger Hovenic, Bernice Stafford, and Lynette Nyaggah. The oath documents were signed and collected. Susie Lange also administered the oath and collected the signed documents for two additional members at the noon break: Kelvin Lee and Karen Yelverton-Zamarripa.
Test Weights for the New Grade 8 Science Test and Possible Changes to other Test Weights - Pat McCabe
- Pat McCabe introduced the paper on the “Summary of Recommendations of the Public School Accountability Act Advisory Committee.” The paper summarized the discussion from the last PSAA committee meeting (May 17, 2006) and provided a table that showed the impact of the recommended test weights for the three most common elementary grade configurations.
- There was some discussion among committee members regarding the importance of science. Diane Hernandez, from the Standards and Assessment Division, was there to answer questions. Several members indicated that since No Child Left Behind (NCLB) focused solely on ELA and mathematics, it was important for the API to provide a sufficient weight for science in order to stress the importance of the subject. A lengthy discussion on the importance of science followed. The committee was satisfied with the recommended assigned test weight of .20 approved at the May 2006 meeting.
Vicki Barber motioned to move the May 17, 2006 recommended test weight of .20 for the new 8th grade science test to the State Board of Education for consideration. Nancy Carroll seconded the motion. The motion was approved by a 13-0 vote.
Test Weights for the New Science Test at High School and Possible Changes to other Test Weights - Pat McCabe
- Pat McCabe provided a review of the recommended test weight that was approved by the committee on May 17, 2006. He indicated that the table on page 4 of the “Summary of Recommendations of the Public School Accountability Act Advisory Committee” provided the impact of the test weights for the most common secondary grade configurations.
- Comments from one audience member were heard. The comments focused on the fact that NCLB regulations now clarify that the participation rate for science may be a cumulative rate over the 9th, 10, and 11th grades. The speaker indicated that the standards-based end of course biology test could potentially be used as the NCLB science test once California Longitudinal Pupil Achievement Data System (CALPADS) was operational. Therefore, a life science test in 10th grade is not necessary. Pat McCabe reminded the committed that in order to be able to use the biology test for NCLB the CALPADS has to be operational. At this time, CALPADS will not be available until 2008, so a cumulative participation rate will not be available until 2011 or 2012 and the NCLB requirement goes into effect in 2008.
- The committee members discussed the issue regarding the need for the new science test. Several members indicated there is too much testing and adding another test was burdensome not only for those who administer the test but for the students taking the test. A comment was made that it is unfair to require students to take a test where a majority of the questions are based on biology for students who had not yet taken the course. Another member stated that the required life science test might encourage schools to have students take biology by the 10th grade and thus encourage students to take higher level science courses in their junior and senior years. Another committee member felt that since students are required to take the test, it should have some value in the API. Most of the committee members understood that the new test had to be given until CALPADs was operational, but felt it should be eliminated as soon as the CDE was able to calculate a cumulative score for the biology test. Therefore, the new 10th grade science test should not be part of the API and that the California Standards Tests (CSTs) for science should be given more weight than they currently have in the API. Lynette Nyaggah moved to change the recommended May 17, 2006 test weight for the 10th grade life science test from .10 to 0. The motion was seconded by Marc Ecker. The motion was approved by an 11-2 vote.
- After some discussion regarding the importance of science, Vicki Barber made a motion to change the recommended May 17, 2006 test weights for the CST science tests, grades 9-11, from .17 to .22 and to change the test weight of the CST history tests, grades 9-11, from .225 to .23. The motion was seconded by Pam Kinsley. The motion was approved by a 13-0 vote.
Alignment of the Definition of Valid EL Test Scores for API and AYP - Pat McCabe
- Pat McCabe provided a brief overview of the addition of the EL student group to the API. Currently, the re-designation of EL students are treated the same for API and AYP. Students who are re-designated are included in the EL group if they have not scored proficient on the CSTs for three years. However, the inclusion rules are different for the AYP and API. AYP excludes students who have not been in the U.S. for one year from the Annual Measurable Objectives (AMOs). Students who have been enrolled since the California Basic Educational Data Systems (CBEDs) date, regardless of their length of residency, are included in the schoolwide API score as well as the appropriate subgroup scores, with the exception of the EL subgroup score. Pat asked the committee, if they wanted to align the API inclusion rule with the AYP rule. After a short discussion, Chuck Weis motioned to change the API inclusion rule for ELs to align with the AYP, so students in the U.S. less than one full year will not be included in the API. The motion was seconded by Pam Kinsley and was approved by a 15-0 vote (Please note: this motion occurred after the noon break, therefore, two additional members were permitted to cast votes.)
Assignment of 200 for High School Math and Science - Pat McCabe
- Pat McCabe provided the committee with a quick review of the action that it had taken at the May 2006 meeting regarding the assignment of 200 and indicated that the recommendation to eliminate the assignment does not affect any of the decisions made regarding the current test weights.
Alternative Schools Accountability Model (ASAM) Update - Vicki Barber
- Vicki Barber provided an update on the activities of the ASAM subcommittee. The goal of the subcommittee this year is to make the ASAM system more rigorous and to have it recognized by the federal system. The subcommittee is discussing growth status models and growth components in hopes of having a value added system. They would like to take a closer look at the California High School Exit Exam (CAHSEE) and would like to make the ASAM system easier to understand and communicated. There are three areas they are exploring: 1) learning and readiness, 2) academic performance, and 3) transitions.
Immediate Intervention UnderPerforming Schools (II/USP) Update - Laura Wagner
- Laura Wagner provided the committee with an update on: 1) the status of II/USP and High Priority Schools Grant Programs (HPSGP), 2) the number of II/USP and HPSGP schools currently being state-monitored and the number of schools that are currently “on watch” and therefore at risk of becoming state-monitored, 3) CDEs efforts to align the state and federal interventions, 4) Program Improvement for Local Educational Agencies (LEAs), and 5) the development and implementation of a pilot in four districts for Year 3 Program Improvement (PI) corrective action.
Future Meetings
The next meeting will be held on December 14, 2006. The committee would also like to dedicate the May 2007 or August 2007 meeting to long range planning.
Holly Jacobson adjourned the meeting at 12:35 p.m.
