i_coessacomm_2016a_2016-08-31t09:12:00z1 Hearing Summary

Date: 08/31/2016

10:40 AM -- Assessments



Andrew Latham, Director of Standards, Assessments, and Accountability Services for WestEd and representing the Center on Standards and Assessment Implementation, distributed his presentation to the committee (Attachment C). He spoke about ESSA's areas of assessment flexibility: administration of a single summative assessment or multiple statewide interim assessments, use of a nationally recognized high school assessment in lieu of the statewide assessment, and participation in an innovative assessment demonstration pilot. He spoke about the timeline of ESSA implementation, and the requirement for an annual summative assessment. Mr. Latham responded to questions from the committee about whether the multiple interim assessments must be statewide or not, answering affirmatively. He stated that no vendor yet has a working model of this type of assessment. Dr. Latham responded to questions about subgroups, which carry over from the previous No Child Left Behind legislation. He described new subgroups included in ESSA, such as students in foster care and homeless youth. He spoke about tiers of assessment and the methods and uses of various types. He described proposed federal regulations and responded to questions from the committee. He continued his presentation, speaking about the use of nationally recognized high school assessments in lieu of statewide assessments and responded to questions from the committee. He spoke about ESSA's provisions for innovative assessment pilot programs in some states and responded to additional questions from the committee.



Attachment C.pdf



11:14 AM



Victoria Sears, Research Manager at the Thomas B. Fordham Institute, distributed her presentation to the committee (Attachment D). She spoke about a study her organization completed in February to review the content and quality of next generation assessments in grades 5 and 8. Her organization studied content, thinking skills, overall strengths and weaknesses, and accessibility. She went over the criteria and methodology used in the study, and the timeline. She went over the study's results. She concluded by highlighting key findings of the study, including those relating to accessibility, and responded to questions from the committee. She described changes to the Partnership for the Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers (PARCC) assessments and responded to additional questions from the committee.



Attachment D.pdf



11:46 AM



Dr. Latham responded to questions from the committee.



11:52 AM



The committee recessed.