Here Comes the SBAC ISAT 2.0

The SBAC test is now referred to as ISAT 2.0, a moniker sure to confuse parents and media as we head into the first “real” administration this spring of the new Common Core – based assessments in math and reading. Idaho is part of a 21-state consortium which will use the Smarter Balanced assessments. There is another consortium of states which will use the PARCC (Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers) assessments.

Much of the issue with testing, as we see it, is at the federal level, where the USDOE mandates that all students at grades 3-8 and once in high school take assessments in order to comply with the No Child Left Behind law and receive federal funding allocations for low-income schools, Special Education, and other areas.. Though some national legislative efforts to overhaul the law and reduce federal involvement in education are underway, it’s uncertain how far they will proceed.

GRADE LEVELS TESTED

The State Department of Education has indicated that the tested grades for the SBAC will be 3-8 and 10, with 9^th and 11^th grades offered as options for districts which want to test. Students taking the SBAC will take separate English Language Arts and Mathematics assessments, each lasting 3-4 hours per student.

The SBAC recommends that 11^th grade be the high school testing grade for the SBAC , but Idaho has chosen to administer the test in 10^th grade, to avoid conflicts with the SAT and to provide opportunities for “banking” scores once the test becomes a graduation requirement.

The Idaho Department of Education  is recommending that current 9th and 11th graders take the SBAC as well, in order to prepare 9th graders for the coming 10th grade tests, and to provide 11th graders with an indication of :college and career readiness".

Tenth graders will also take a new Science End of Course test in Biology or Chemistry.  The Science EOCs are currently in development, and will be written by Idaho teachers. Ninth graders are not allowed to take the EOC because of Idaho’s waiver agreement with the U.S. Department of Education. This is unfortunate, since as many as 350 9^th graders in the Boise District are currently enrolled in Accelerated Biology.

CUT SCORES

Using data from last year’s field tests, “cut scores” for the SBAC have been established. These data allowed the SBAC Governing Board to estimate the percentages of students that will achieve “passing scores” on this spring’s SBAC. 

Estimates are that 41% of 11^th graders will achieve proficient or advanced scores in Language Arts across the SBAC consortium, and that 33% will “pass” the math test. 

However, since 10^th graders will take the 11^th grade test in Idaho, the passing percentages will undoubtedly be lower.

HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION REQUIREMENT

The SBAC will be used to judge “college and career” preparedness among Idaho students. Pending State Board approval in February, beginning with the class of 2019 (current 8^th graders), passage of the Math and English Language Arts SBAC tests and of one of the two EOC’s (Chemistry or Biology) will also be a requirement for high school graduation. 

In other words, two years from now, 10th graders taking the two SBAC tests and the Science EOC will be required to pass each of those assessments in order to graduate from high school. Eleventh grade retakes will be required for students who do not pass as 10th graders, and districts will offer some sort of "alternate path" coursework to seniors who still have not passed the exams.

RAMIFICATIONS

Among the issues with the SBAC administration will be the definition of “college and career readiness”.  There is no doubt that many students who have completed dual credit classes and acquired college credit will be judged on the SBAC as not prepared for college and career, and be subject to remediation in high school and as entering college students. Others may have completed a certificate in Welding or in Auto Tech/Auto Body, and be at risk for high school graduation because they do not “pass’ the SBAC.

Yet these students, whether they take dual credit academic classes or professional-technical courses, will have successfully completed college and career level curricula.

Additionally, some students may earn a “college ready” score on the SAT, administered in junior year, while scoring “Basic” or Below Basic” mark on the SBAC.  What exactly, then, will determine if a student is ready for college and/or career?

More to come on this topic as the time for testing nears. The testing window for the SBAC  and the Science EOC is March 30-May 22.