Interpreting Test ResultsInterpreting Test Results

For Grades K-8For Grades K-8

What tests will my child take?What tests will my child take?

Students are assessed through:Students are assessed through:

• DIBELS (Dynamic Indicators of Basic DIBELS (Dynamic Indicators of Basic Early Literacy Skills) in grades K-3Early Literacy Skills) in grades K-3

• ARMT+ (Alabama Reading and ARMT+ (Alabama Reading and Mathematics Test) in grades 3-8Mathematics Test) in grades 3-8

Let’s start with DIBELS…Let’s start with DIBELS…

Dynamic Indicators of Basic Early Literacy Dynamic Indicators of Basic Early Literacy SkillsSkills

What is DIBELS?What is DIBELS?

Assessment of Early Literacy SkillsAssessment of Early Literacy Skills

Administered statewide in AlabamaAdministered statewide in Alabama

Required in K-2 and our system chooses Required in K-2 and our system chooses to administer the test to 3to administer the test to 3rdrd graders. This graders. This helps to ensure we are meeting students’ helps to ensure we are meeting students’ instructional needs.instructional needs.

Why is DIBELS important?Why is DIBELS important?

It assesses what matters most in grades It assesses what matters most in grades K, 1, 2, and 3.K, 1, 2, and 3.

It has predictive validity. In other words, It has predictive validity. In other words, how students perform on DIBELS is a how students perform on DIBELS is a reliable indicator of how they will perform reliable indicator of how they will perform on state and nationally mandated tests. on state and nationally mandated tests.

DIBELS bring focus to…DIBELS bring focus to…

Initial sound fluencyInitial sound fluency

Phoneme segmentation fluencyPhoneme segmentation fluency

Nonsense word fluencyNonsense word fluency

Oral reading fluencyOral reading fluency

Why is tested content so critical?Why is tested content so critical?

Phoneme segmentation fluency is a skill needed Phoneme segmentation fluency is a skill needed to write (spell) any word. (Grade K)to write (spell) any word. (Grade K)

Nonsense word fluency lays the groundwork for Nonsense word fluency lays the groundwork for reading multi-syllable words. (Grade 1)reading multi-syllable words. (Grade 1)

DIBELS measures students’ progress toward DIBELS measures students’ progress toward long term grade level reading goals/skills and long term grade level reading goals/skills and predicts future reading proficiency and student predicts future reading proficiency and student success with comprehension.success with comprehension.

And now on to the And now on to the ARMT+…ARMT+…

Alabama Reading and Alabama Reading and Mathematics TestMathematics Test

Why does my child take the Why does my child take the ARMT+?ARMT+?

To assess students’ mastery of state To assess students’ mastery of state content standards in reading and mathcontent standards in reading and math

To report individual and group To report individual and group performanceperformance

To report relative strengths and To report relative strengths and weaknesses of individuals and groupsweaknesses of individuals and groups

To provide data to study changes in To provide data to study changes in performance over timeperformance over time

What does the ARMT+ assess? What does the ARMT+ assess?

Grades 3-8 - Academic content standards Grades 3-8 - Academic content standards in readingin reading

Grades 3-8 - Academic content standards Grades 3-8 - Academic content standards in mathin math

Increased RigorIncreased Rigor

“…“…In every subject, at every grade level, In every subject, at every grade level, instruction must include commitment to a instruction must include commitment to a knowledge core and the application of that knowledge core and the application of that knowledge core to solve complex real-knowledge core to solve complex real-world problems.” (NC State Bd of Ed, world problems.” (NC State Bd of Ed, 2005)2005)

Increased emphasis on writingIncreased emphasis on writing

What is ARMT+?What is ARMT+?

ARMT+ is a criterion referenced test. ARMT+ is a criterion referenced test. Criterion referenced scores indicate how a Criterion referenced scores indicate how a student performs in comparison to the student performs in comparison to the established criteria or standards. It established criteria or standards. It consists of selected past items from the consists of selected past items from the Stanford Achievement Test (SAT-10) Stanford Achievement Test (SAT-10) which match the Alabama state content which match the Alabama state content standards in reading and math. Additional standards in reading and math. Additional test items were developed so that all test items were developed so that all content standards were fully covered. content standards were fully covered.

What types of questions are on the What types of questions are on the ARMT+?ARMT+?

ARMT+ questions may be multiple choice, ARMT+ questions may be multiple choice, gridded response (math only) or open gridded response (math only) or open ended. Third graders do not have gridded ended. Third graders do not have gridded response questions.response questions.

How Does a Student Receive an How Does a Student Receive an ARMT+ Reading Score?ARMT+ Reading Score?

A student must answer multiple choice A student must answer multiple choice and open ended response questions in the and open ended response questions in the ARMT+ Part 1 and 2 reading subtest to ARMT+ Part 1 and 2 reading subtest to get an ARMT+ reading score.get an ARMT+ reading score.Multiple choice items are valued at one Multiple choice items are valued at one point each.point each.Open ended items are valued at 3 points Open ended items are valued at 3 points each.each.

What types of reading are What types of reading are included?included?

Three types of reading are assessedThree types of reading are assessed

• Literacy/recreationalLiteracy/recreational

• Textual/informationalTextual/informational

• FunctionalFunctional

How is reading assessed?How is reading assessed?

Reading is assessed throughReading is assessed through

• StoriesStories

• PoetryPoetry

• Subject textsSubject texts

• Manuals, brochures, pamphlets, etcManuals, brochures, pamphlets, etc

How Does a Student Receive an How Does a Student Receive an ARMT+ Math Score?ARMT+ Math Score?

A student must answer multiple choice, A student must answer multiple choice, gridded, and open ended response items gridded, and open ended response items in the ARMT+ Part 1 and 2 Mathematics in the ARMT+ Part 1 and 2 Mathematics subtest to get an ARMT+ mathematics subtest to get an ARMT+ mathematics score. (Grade 3 has no gridded items)score. (Grade 3 has no gridded items)

What is included in the math What is included in the math portion of ARMT+?portion of ARMT+?

Math strands assessed includeMath strands assessed include

• Number and OperationsNumber and Operations

• AlgebraAlgebra

• GeometryGeometry

• MeasurementMeasurement

• Data analysis and ProbabilityData analysis and Probability

Scaled ScoresScaled Scores

The reading test and math test of the The reading test and math test of the ARMT+ have been scaled. By looking at ARMT+ have been scaled. By looking at your child’s scaled score on the report, your child’s scaled score on the report, you can see where the student falls on you can see where the student falls on that scale. The scaled score can be used that scale. The scaled score can be used from year to year to see if progress is from year to year to see if progress is being made in reading and math.being made in reading and math.

How is performance reported?How is performance reported?Four levels of achievementFour levels of achievement

Level 1 – Does not meet academic content Level 1 – Does not meet academic content standardsstandardsLevel 2 – Partially meets academic Level 2 – Partially meets academic content standardscontent standardsLevel 3 – Meets academic content Level 3 – Meets academic content standards (proficient or grade-level standards (proficient or grade-level performance)performance)Level 4 – Exceeds academic content Level 4 – Exceeds academic content standardsstandards

By using the student’s scaled scores and By using the student’s scaled scores and looking at the scaled score ranges, you looking at the scaled score ranges, you can determine the achievement levels in can determine the achievement levels in reading and math. The achievement level reading and math. The achievement level allows you to see where the student’s allows you to see where the student’s performance stands in comparison to performance stands in comparison to mastery of grade level content in reading mastery of grade level content in reading and math.and math.