_Chapter 17 - Preview of 2008 and Beyond_

This section provides information about future plans for the standard and alternative education accountability (AEA) procedures of the state accountability system, to the extent these plans are known in the spring of 2007. The purpose is to inform educators in advance so districts and campuses can adequately prepare for changes that will take place in 2008 and later years. The phase-in schedule for the accountability standards is reevaluated annually; any changes to the information provided here will be announced with as much advance notice as possible.

Deletions, additions, and modifications beyond those discussed here are possible. State legislative action may also affect the accountability system ratings, reports, sanctions, and rewards. At this point, such action cannot be predicted.

Additionally, on April 9, 2007, the U.S. Department of Education released the final regulations and non-regulatory guidance for the assessment of students with disabilities using modified academic achievement standards. TEA is currently analyzing these new No Child Left Behind regulations and guidance to make decisions about how to implement and integrate alternate assessments into the Texas assessment program.

The changes described below begin with standard procedures and are followed by AEA procedures, presented for the years 2008, 2009, and 2010. Changes described for each year are based on a comparison to the immediately preceding year.

Standard Procedures for 2008

Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills (TAKS)

Accountability Standards. In 2008, the Academically Acceptable standards will increase from 40% to 45% for science, from 45% to 50% for mathematics, and from 65% to 70% for reading/ELA. Writing and social studies will remain at the previous year’s standard of 65%. The standard for Recognized and Exemplary (for all subjects) will remain the same, at 75% and 90% respectively.

SSI and Grade 8 Reading and Mathematics. In 2008 the Student Success Initiative will go into effect for grade 8. These students will need to pass TAKS reading and mathematics in order to be promoted to grade 9. The tests will be administered multiple times, as with the other SSI grades. The cumulative result of the first and second administrations of 8th grade reading and mathematics will be used in determining accountability ratings, in the same way they are for 5th grade. Note that prior year results cannot be computed to be precisely comparable, since there are no multiple administrations of 8th grade reading and mathematics in 2007. Any improvement calculations will be based on multiple administrations in 2008 compared to one administration in 2007.

TAKS Science. The results of the grade 8 science assessment will be included in the accountability system beginning in 2008. The student standard for this assessment will be at panel recommendation (scale score of 2100).

TAKS-Inclusive (TAKS-I). Beginning in 2008, results of the TAKS-I in science (grades 5, 8, 10, and 11 English; grade 5 Spanish), social studies (grades 8, 10, & 11), ELA (grade 11), and mathematics (grade 11) will be combined with TAKS results to determine accountability ratings. The student standard for these assessments will be at panel recommendation (scale score of 2100).

The following table shows the TAKS-I test administration schedule, with the subjects and grades identified as they will be used in the accountability system.

Table 21: Use of TAKS-I in Accountability Ratings

 

2008

2009

2010

Science (grades 5, 8, 10, & 11)
Science (grade 5 Spanish)
Social Studies (grades 8, 10, & 11)
English Language Arts (grade 11)
Mathematics (grade 11)

Use

Use

Use

Reading/ELA (3 – 10)
Reading (grades 3 – 6 Spanish)
Mathematics (grades 3 – 10)
Mathematics (grades 3 – 6 Spanish)
Writing (grades 4 & 7)
Writing (grade 4 Spanish)

Report Only

Report Only

Use

TAKS Commended. Beginning with ratings released in 2008, a label of “commended” will be appended to the ratings of certain campuses and districts that qualify.

Required Improvement (RI). To allow for accurate comparison, prior year assessment results will be recalculated to include both grade 8 science results and TAKS-I results in the selected grades and subjects. This will make 2007 and 2008 performance comparable and enable the continued use of RI as a feature in the system for 2008.

Minimum Size Requirements. Maintain the same student group minimum size criteria (30/10%/50) used in 2007.

State-Developed Alternative Assessment II (SDAA II)

There will be no SDAA II in 2008. The last year for that assessment was 2007.

Completion Rate I

Accountability Standards. There are no changes to the standards for Completion Rate I for 2008.

School Leaver Provision. In 2008 this provision will no longer apply. Completion rate can be the cause for lower district and campus ratings.

Required Improvement (RI). RI will be available for completion rate in 2008.

Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. Students from the class of 2007 who were displaced because of either of the 2005 hurricanes and who received a final status of “dropout” during 2005-06 (the year of the hurricanes) will be considered favorable for appeal.

Dropout Definition. 2008 is the second year for using the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) definition of a dropout. The following table shows the progression of use of the NCES definition. See Appendix I: NCES Dropout Definition for a detailed explanation.

Table 22: Completion Rate Transition

 

 

 

 

Completion Rate Methodology

Accountability Year

Class of

Cohort Years

Dropout
Definition

Numerator

Denominator

2007

2006

2002-03
2003-04
2004-05
2005-06

TEA
TEA
TEA
NCES

Graduates +
Continuers

Graduates+
Continuers+
GED Recipients+
Dropouts

2008

2007

2003-04
2004-05
2005-06
2006-07

TEA
TEA
NCES
NCES

Graduates +
Continuers

Graduates+
Continuers+
GED Recipients+
Dropouts

2009

2008

2004-05
2005-06
2006-07
2007-08

TEA
NCES
NCES
NCES

Graduates +
Continuers

Graduates+
Continuers+
GED Recipients+
Dropouts

2010

2009

2005-06
2006-07
2007-08
2008-09

NCES
NCES
NCES
NCES

Graduates +
Continuers

Graduates+
Continuers+
GED Recipients+
Dropouts

Annual Dropout Rate (Gr. 7-8)

Accountability Standards. There are no changes to the standards for the Annual Dropout Rate for 2008.

School Leaver Provision. In 2008 this provision will no longer apply. Annual dropout rate can be the cause for lower district and campus ratings.

Required Improvement. Required Improvement for the Annual Dropout Rate will be reinstated in 2008 when two years of dropout rates using the NCES definition are available.

Additional Features

Exceptions. The Exceptions Provision will be reevaluated to determine if measures should be added or removed, adjustments need to be made to the number of exceptions for which campuses or districts are eligible, or other aspects need to be modified.

Underreported Students. In 2008, the percent of underreported students that can prevent a district from being rated Exemplary or Recognized will remain at greater than 5.0%, or greater than 200 students. Districts with fewer than 5 underreported students will not be evaluated on this indicator. The School Leaver Provision will no longer apply. The underreported students measures can prevent a district from achieving Exemplary or Recognized ratings.

Gold Performance Acknowledgments (GPA)

Commended Performance. The standard for the five TAKS commended indicators will remain the same in 2008. However, in 2008, performance on certain TAKS-I assessments will be combined with TAKS results to determine Commended Performance.

Comparable Improvement. The standard for the two CI indicators will remain the same in 2008. However, in 2008, performance on certain TAKS-I assessments will be combined with TAKS results to determine Comparable Improvement.

Texas Success Initiative. The standard for both subjects will increase from 50% to 55% in 2008. Note also that performance on the exit-level TAKS-I assessments will be combined with exit-level TAKS results to determine TSI.

Report-Only Indicators

These indicators will not be used in determining accountability ratings in 2008, and will not be on the Accountability Data Tables released in 2008, but they will be reported in other products, such as the AEIS reports.

Progress Measure for English Language Learners (ELL). Performance on this indicator will be reported on the 2007-08 AEIS reports. The ELL measure was first reported on the 2005-06 AEIS reports.

TAKS-I. Performance on TAKS-I reading/ELA, writing, and mathematics for grades 3-10 will be reported on the 2007-08 AEIS reports for the first time. See Table 21.

TAKS-M and TAKS-Alt. Performance on these alternate assessments for students with disabilities will be reported on the 2007-08 AEIS reports for the first time.

AEA Procedures for 2008

AEA Campus Registration Process

Beginning in 2008, the AEA campus registration process will be conducted online using the Texas Education Agency Secure Environment (TEASE) Accountability website. The 2007-08 AEA campus registration process opens September 10, 2007. An email notification will be sent to all superintendents stating that alternative education campuses (AECs) rated under 2007 AEA procedures will be re-registered automatically in 2008 subject to the at-risk registration criterion.

AECs wishing to rescind AEA registration must complete an electronic 2007-08 AEA Campus Rescission Form. AECs requesting AEA registration must complete an electronic 2007-08 AEA Campus Registration Form. AECs for which 2007 AEA registration was rescinded due to not meeting the at-risk registration criterion must submit a 2007-08 AEA Campus Registration Form if the AEC wishes to request AEA campus registration in 2008. It is imperative that rescission and registration forms submitted via TEASE Accountability be printed and maintained locally as official documentation of AEA campus registration requests.

The 2007-08 AEA registration process closes September 21, 2007, at 5:00 p.m. C.D.T. AEA rescissions and registrations will not be processed after this time. When finalized, the list of 2008 registered AECs will be available on the AEA website at http://www.tea.state.tx.us/aea.

At-Risk Registration Criterion

In 2008 and beyond, each AEC must have at least 75% at-risk student enrollment or be eligible to use the Prior-Year PEIMS At-Risk Data or New Campus safeguards to remain registered and be evaluated under AEA procedures.

TAKS Progress

Accountability Standards. The TAKS Progress standard remains at 45%.

TAKS Science. The results of the grade 8 science assessment will be included in the accountability system beginning in 2008. The student passing standard for this assessment will be at panel recommendation (scale score of 2100).

TAKS-I. In 2008, results for TAKS-I science (grades 5, 8, & 10), social studies (grades 8 & 10), and exit-level (all subjects) will be included in the accountability system. The student passing standard for TAKS-I will be the same as for TAKS. Results for TAKS-I reading/ELA, writing, and mathematics for grades 3-10 will not be used in 2008.

Annual Dropout Rate (Gr. 7-12)

Accountability Standards. The Annual Dropout Rate standard remains at 10.0%.

School Leaver Provision in 2008. For 2008 AEA ratings, if the Annual Dropout Rate indicator is the only cause for an AEA: Academically Unacceptable rating, then the AEC or charter is assigned the AEA: Academically Acceptable label. As a safeguard to this provision, districts will be subject to identification and intervention through Performance-Based Monitoring (PBM) for dropout rates and leaver reporting. Additionally, campuses that avoid being rated Academically Unacceptable due to this provision may be subject to technical assistance team (TAT) intervention requirements in the 2008-09 school year.

Completion Rate II

Accountability Standards. The Completion Rate II standard remains at 75.0%.

AEA Accountability Development Topics

AEA Rating Labels. The guidelines, principles, and issues described in Chapter 7 of the Manual resulted in AEA procedures that are designed as pass/fail and acknowledge performance at two levels: acceptable and unacceptable. In 2008, when three years of AEA data are available, the AEA rating labels will be reviewed during the 2008 accountability development process. Also, revisions to the AEA procedures will be made to incorporate new legislation that affects the assessment program.

AEA Acknowledgments. The 2008 accountability development process will consider GPA for AEA campuses and charters. The 2006-07 performance results for registered AECs and charters will be evaluated against the 2008 standards for the existing GPA indicators. Also, a GPA-type commendation that would recognize the efforts taken to recover dropouts including the identification and accountability for recovered dropouts will be examined.

Standard Procedures for 2009

Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills (TAKS)

Accountability Standards. In 2009, the Academically Acceptable standards will remain at 70% for reading/ELA, and increase by five points for all other subjects: to 70% for writing and social studies; to 55% for mathematics; and to 50% for science. Also in 2009, the standard for Recognized (for all subjects) will increase to 80%. These standards will be reviewed in 2008 and are subject to change.

Minimum Size Criteria. For 2009, minimum size may be modified to include all groups with 30 or more students. If this change is made, groups of 30 to 49 would be included even if they represent less than 10% of the tested population.

Completion Rate I

Accountability Standards. The standards for 2009 are recommended to remain the same as for 2008.

Dropout Definition. In 2009, results for three of the four cohort years (2005-06, 2006-07, and 2007-08) will be calculated using the NCES definition. See Table 22.

Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. Students from the class of 2008 who were displaced because of either of the 2005 hurricanes and who received a final status of “dropout” during 2005-06 (the year of the hurricanes) will be considered favorable for appeal.

Annual Dropout Rate (Gr. 7-8)

Accountability Standards. The standards for 2009 have not been determined.

New Base Indicator

Progress Measure for English Language Learners (ELL). Decisions regarding the ELL indicator will be made during the 2008 accountability cycle for first possible use in the 2009 accountability ratings.

Additional Features

Exceptions. The Exceptions Provision will be reevaluated to determine if measures should be added or removed, adjustments need to be made to the number of exceptions for which campuses or districts are eligible, or other aspects need to be modified.

Underreported Students. A new longitudinal indicator may replace the current underreported students indicator in the accountability ratings process for 2009, or may be added to the PBM Data Validation System.

Gold Performance Acknowledgments (GPA)

Advanced/Dual Enrollment Course Completion. The standard for this indicator will increase from 25.0% to 30.0% in 2009.

Commended Performance. The standard for this indicator will increase for each subject from 25% to 30% in 2009.

Recommended High School Program/Distinguished Achievement Program. The standard increases from 80.0% to 85.0% in 2009. RHSP/DAP will be reevaluated during the 2008 accountability development process, to explore the option of a DAP-only acknowledgment in 2009.

SAT/ACT. The SAT/ACT acknowledgment will be reevaluated during the 2008 accountability development process, for the possible inclusion of the new SAT writing assessment.

Texas Success Initiative. The standard for this indicator will increase for both subjects from 55% to 60% in 2009.

Report-Only Indicators

These indicators will not be used in determining accountability ratings in 2009, and will not be on the Accountability Data Tables released in 2009, but they will be reported in other products, such as the AEIS reports.

TAKS-I. Performance on TAKS-I reading/ELA, writing, and mathematics for grades 3-10 will be reported on the 2008-09 AEIS reports for the second time. See Table 21.

TAKS-M and TAKS-Alt. Performance on these alternate assessments for students with disabilities will be reported on the 2008-09 AEIS reports for the second time.

AEA Procedures for 2009

AEA Campus Registration Process

In 2009 and beyond, the AEA campus registration process will continue to be conducted online using the TEASE Accountability website.

TAKS Progress

Accountability Standards. The TAKS Progress standard increases to 50%.

TAKS-I. In 2009, the TAKS-I performance used in the accountability system will be the same as for 2008 (science – grades 5, 8, & 10; social studies – grades 8 & 10; and exit-level – all subjects).

Annual Dropout Rate (Gr. 7-12)

Accountability Standards. The Annual Dropout Rate standards for 2009 and beyond have not been determined.

Completion Rate II

Accountability Standards. The Completion Rate II standard remains at 75.0% in 2009 and beyond.

Standard Procedures for 2010

Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills (TAKS)

Accountability Standards. In 2010, the Academically Acceptable standards will remain at 70% for reading/ELA, writing, and social studies. The standards will increase to 60% for mathematics, and to 55% for science. The standard for Recognized (for all subjects) will remain at 80%. In 2007, the Commissioner’s Accountability Advisory Committee (CAAC) considered raising the reading/ELA Academically Acceptable standard to 75% for 2010. If that standard is raised, the Recognized standard will also be reconsidered.

TAKS-I. In 2010, performance on all TAKS-I subjects and grades will be used in the accountability system. The student passing standard for TAKS-I will be the same as for TAKS. See Table 21.

TAKS-M and TAKS-Alt. Decisions regarding inclusion of these alternate assessments for students with disabilities will be made during the 2009 accountability development cycle for first possible use in the accountability system beginning in 2010.

Required Improvement (RI). To allow for accurate comparison, prior year assessment results will be recalculated to include TAKS-I results in the additional grades and subjects. This will make 2009 and 2010 performance comparable and enable the continued use of RI as a feature in the system for 2010.

Completion Rate I

Accountability Standards. The standards for 2010 are recommended to remain the same as for 2009.

Dropout Definition. In 2010, the transition will be complete and all four years of the cohort will be calculated using the NCES definition. See Table 22.

Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. Students from the class of 2009 who were displaced because of either of the 2005 hurricanes and who received a final status of “dropout” during 2005-06 (the year of the hurricanes) will be considered favorable for appeal.

Annual Dropout Rate (Gr. 7-8)

Accountability Standards. The standards for 2010 have not been determined.

Gold Performance Acknowledgments (GPA)

Texas Success Initiative. The standard for this indicator will increase for both subjects from 60% in 2009 to 65% in 2010.

AEA Procedures for 2010

TAKS Progress

Accountability Standards. The TAKS Progress standard for 2010 remains at 50% and has not been determined beyond 2010.

TAKS-I. In 2010, performance on all TAKS-I subjects and grades will be used in the accountability system.

Overview 2007 – 2010

The phase-in schedule for the accountability standards will be reevaluated annually; any changes will be announced with as much advance notice as possible. In the tables on the following pages, all known changes to standards are shown. Changes for any given year compared to the prior year are indicated in bold.

Table 23: Standards through 2010 – Standard Procedures

 

2007

2008*

2009**

2010**

TAKS Standards***

Exemplary

≥ 90%

≥ 90%

≥ 90%

≥ 90%

Recognized

≥ 75%

≥ 75%

≥ 80%

≥ 80%****

Acceptable

Reading/ELA

≥ 65%

≥ 70%

≥ 70%

≥ 70%****

Writing,
Social Studies

≥ 65%

≥ 65%

≥ 70%

≥ 70%

Mathematics

≥ 45%

≥ 50%

≥ 55%

≥ 60%

Science

≥ 40%

≥ 45%

≥ 50%

≥ 55%

TAKS – I
(Same standards as TAKS)

N/A

Sci. (5, 8, 10, 11);
Soc.St. (8, 10, 11); ELA (11); Math (11)

Sci. (5, 8, 10, 11); Soc.St. (8, 10, 11);
ELA (11); Math (11)

All grades
and subjects

TAKS – M

N/A

N/A

N/A

TBD

TAKS – Alt

N/A

N/A

N/A

TBD

SDAA II Standards

Exemplary

≥ 90%

N/A

N/A

N/A

Recognized

≥ 70%

N/A

N/A

N/A

Acceptable

≥ 50%

N/A

N/A

N/A

Completion Rate I (Grade 9-12) Standards

 

Class of 2006
(9th grade 02-03)

Class of 2007
(9th grade 03-04)

Class of 2008
(9th grade 04-05)

Class of 2009
(9th grade 05-06)

Exemplary

≥ 95.0%

≥ 95.0%

≥ 95.0%

≥ 95.0%

Recognized

≥ 85.0%

≥ 85.0%

≥ 85.0%

≥ 85.0%

Acceptable

≥ 75.0%

≥ 75.0%

≥ 75.0%

≥ 75.0%

Dropout Definition

State Definition
three years
NCES Definition
one year

State Definition
two years

NCES Definition
two years

State Definition
one year
NCES Definition
three years

NCES Definition
all four years

Annual Dropout Rate (Grade 7-8) Standards

 

from 2005-06

from 2006-07

from 2007-08

from 2008-09

Exemplary

≤ 0.2%

≤ 0.2%

TBD

TBD

Recognized

≤ 0.7%

≤ 0.7%

TBD

TBD

Acceptable

≤ 1.0%

≤ 1.0%

TBD

TBD

Indicator Definition

NCES Definition (See Appendix I for detailed explanation.)

Additional Features

Required Improvement

See Chapter 3

TBD

TBD

TBD

Exceptions

See Chapter 3

TBD

TBD

TBD

Underreported Students

≤ 200 and ≤ 5.0%

≤ 200 and ≤ 5.0%

TBD

TBD

School Leaver Provision

Leaver Indicators don’t lower rating

Not Applicable

*     Details about the 2008 accountability standards are presented in Chapter 16.

**   Standards for 2009 and beyond will be reviewed annually and are subject to change.

*** Student passing standards are at Panel Recommendation (PR) for all TAKS subjects and grades, with the
exception of grade 8 science in 2007. It will not be part of the accountability system until 2008, at PR.

**** A Reading/ELA Academically Acceptable standard of 75% in 2010 will be considered during future development cycles. If altered, the Recognized standard will also be reconsidered.

Table 24: Standards through 2010 – AEA Procedures

 

2007

2008*

2009

2010

TAKS Progress Standard

AEA: Academically Acceptable

≥ 45%

≥ 45%

≥ 50%

≥ 50%

SDAA II Standard

AEA: Academically Acceptable

≥ 45%

N/A

N/A

N/A

Completion Rate II (Grade 9-12) Standard

Class of 2006
(9th grade 02-03)

Class of 2007
(9th grade 03-04)

Class of 2008
(9th grade 04-05)

Class of 2009
(9th grade 05-06)

AEA: Academically Acceptable

≥ 75.0%

≥ 75.0%

≥ 75.0%

≥ 75.0%

Completer II Definition

Graduates + Continuing Students + GED Recipients

Dropout Definition

Phase in NCES definition

NCES Definition

Annual Dropout Rate (Grade 7-12) Standard

 

from 2005-06

from 2006-07

from 2007-08

from 2008-09

AEA: Academically Acceptable

≤ 10.0%

≤ 10.0%

TBD

TBD

Dropout Definition

NCES Definition

Additional Features

Required Improvement

See Chapter 11

TBD

TBD

TBD

Use of District At-Risk Data

See Chapter 11

TBD

TBD

TBD

School Leaver Provision (SLP)

Leaver Indicators don’t lower rating

SLP applies to dropout rate; does not apply to completion rate

Not Applicable

* Details about the 2008 accountability standards are presented in Chapter 16: Accountability Standards for 2008.

Table 25: Gold Performance Acknowledgment Standards through 2010

Indicator

2007

2008

2009

2010

Advanced Course/Dual Enrollment Completion**

≥ 25.0%

≥ 25.0%

≥ 30.0%

≥ 30.0%

AP/IB Results*

% taking at least one AP or IB test AND

≥ 15.0%

≥ 15.0%

≥ 15.0%

≥ 15.0%

% at or above criterion

≥ 50.0%

≥ 50.0%

≥ 50.0%

≥ 50.0%

Attendance Rate**

District

96.0%

96.0%

96.0%

96.0%

Multi-Level

96.0%

96.0%

96.0%

96.0%

High School

95.0%

95.0%

95.0%

95.0%

Middle/Jr. High

96.0%

96.0%

96.0%

96.0%

Elementary

97.0%

97.0%

97.0%

97.0%

Commended Performance: Reading/ELA**

≥ 25%

≥ 25%

≥ 30%

≥ 30%

Commended Performance: Mathematics**

≥ 25%

≥ 25%

≥ 30%

≥ 30%

Commended Performance: Writing**

≥ 25%

≥ 25%

≥ 30%

≥ 30%

Commended Performance: Science**

≥ 25%

≥ 25%

≥ 30%

≥ 30%

Commended Performance: Social Studies**

≥ 25%

≥ 25%

≥ 30%

≥ 30%

Comparable Improvement: Reading/ELA***

Top Quartile
(top 25%)

Top Quartile
(top 25%)

Top Quartile
(top 25%)

Top Quartile
(top 25%)

Comparable Improvement: Mathematics***

Top Quartile
(top 25%)

Top Quartile
(top 25%)

Top Quartile
(top 25%)

Top Quartile
(top 25%)

Recommended High School Program/DAP**

≥ 80.0%

≥ 80%

≥ 85%

≥ 85%

SAT/ACT Results*

% graduatestaking at least one test AND

≥ 70.0%

≥ 70%

TBD

TBD

% at or above criterion

≥ 40.0%

≥ 40%

TSI - Higher Education Readiness Component: English Language Arts**

≥ 50%

≥ 55%

≥ 60%

≥ 65%

TSI - Higher Education Readiness Component: Mathematics**

≥ 50%

≥ 55%

≥ 60%

≥ 65%

* Indicator evaluates performance for All Students & the following student groups: African American, Hispanic, and White. Economically Disadvantaged status is not available from the testing results.

** Indicator evaluates performance for All Students & the following student groups: African American, Hispanic, White, and Economically Disadvantaged.

*** Acknowledgment for Comparable Improvement is available to campuses only. It is evaluated for All Students only.


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