The Common Core State Standards and the Next Generation Assessment

by Gillian Luellen

Why do we want the CCSS? to provide consistency across states to better prepare students for college and

careers to increase the depth of knowledgeKansas Reading Assessed Standard, Benchmark and Indicator (Grade 7)

Common Core Grade Level Standard and Strand (Grade 7)

R.7.1.3.4Identifies and determines the meaning of figurative language, including similes, metaphors, analogies, hyperbole, onomatopoeia, personification and idioms.

Reading Standards for Literature Craft and Structure4. Determine the meaning of words and phrases as the are used in a text, including figurative and connotative meanings; analyze the impact of rhymes and other repetitions of sounds (e.g., alliteration) on a specific verse or stanza of a poem.

Which states are going to adopt CCSS? Alaska, Texas and Virginia have rejected the standards. Nebraska has decided they will adopt the standards. Minnesota has adopted the ELA standards, but rejected the

math standards.

What legislation is being used for the CCSS? 34 states have introduced 85 bills that address

CCSS.

The legislation range in topics from providing proper instructional materials to all class, to aligning with the standards to, for example, in Kansas, holding a formal review before using any more money to the implementation of the CCSS.

With new standards comes a new assessment. Since NCLB was passed, states are required to

test students in grades 3-8 in math and English language arts as well as one grade in high school.

Currently, the 50 states are reporting test scores from potentially 50 different tests.

This leads to inconsistent test scores. The CCSS Next Generation Assessment will provide consistency in testing.

What will the new assessment look like? No official samples of test questions have

been released, though a few states, including Kansas, have released formative pilot questions targeting the CCSS.

All states agree that the CCSS should have a performance based task included on the test, along side or instead of traditional multiple choice (MC) questions.

“The next generation of assessments are to identify growth at four levels, the individual student, the school, the district as we know it in Kansas and the state.” –Kansas Commissioner of Education Diane DeBacker

What did Kansas release and how is it different from the current assessment? The reading tests start with a passage which

is then followed by a list of questions.Current Kansas Criteria for grade appropriate passages

Common Core Criteria for grade appropriate passages

Narrative, expository, technical and persuasive passages.

Informational: Science, history and social studiesLiterature: Stories, poems and drama

Grade level is determined by only quantitative measures: the Flesh-Kinkaid score. For 7th grade the score can range from 6.5-8.5.

Grade level is determined by:•quantitative measures (FK 6.5-10.4)•qualitative measures (see attached rubric)•reader and task considerations.

What did Kansas release and how is it different from the current assessment? MC: Let’s pretend we just read the story of

Cinderella…Current Kansas style of test question

CCSS targeted test question

Standard: R.7.1.3.4Identifies and determines the meaning of figurative language…

Standard: L.7.4Determine the meaning of words and phrases as they are used in a text, including figurative meanings…

Read the sentence below based on the text.Cinderella worked like a dog.Which type of figurative language is being used?a) simileb) analogyc) hyperboled) onomatopoeia

Throughout the story Cinderella worked like a dog. What does the phrase “worked like a dog” mean?a) Cinderella worked hard.b) Cinderella worked with dogs.c) Cinderella looked like a dog

when working.d) Cinderella was on her hands

and knees when working.

What did Kansas release and how is it different from the current assessment? Constructed Response (CR)Current Kansas style of test question

CCSS targeted test question

Standard: R.7.1.4.9 Uses paraphrasing and organizational skills to summarize information […] in logical order.

Standard: RL.7.2 Determine a central theme of a text and analyze its development over the course of the text; provide an objective summary of the text.

Which best summarizes the text?a) Cinderella lived with an evil step mom, but

then she put on a pretty dress and met her prince charming. Always rely on men.

b) Cinderella worked hard to please her step family and was always dirty. She dressed up nice and the prince fell in love with her.

c) There were 2 sisters and a mom who lived happily until Cinderella came into their lives and stole the sister’s chance to marry a prince.

d) A fairy God mother helped Cinderella out of a terrible situation. She was scared she lost her shoe, but that is how the prince found her.

Who will write this new assessment? Currently, states write their own assessments, or pay

companies such as ETS for their tests. CETE develops innovative testing items and pilots them

within existing state assessments. The next generation of tests is said to be written

collaboratively by the SMARTER Balanced Assessment Consortium (SBAC).

“SMARTER stands for Summative Multi-state Assessment Resources for Teachers and Educational Researchers. SBAC is a merger of three multi-state assessment consortia that formed in response to a US Department Education announcement that they planned to target Race to the Top funds toward producing next generation assessments.”

This should lead to consistent tests across states.

When will the new assessment reach classrooms?

Questions? Thoughts? Concerns?References: Educational Testing Services. Common Assessments. Retrieved from:

http://www.ets.org/k12/commonassessments. Kansas National Education Association. Assessments are Changing… Retrieved

from: http://www.knea.org/home/836.htm. Kansas State Department of Education. Retrieved from: http://www.ksde.org. Mitchell, H.C. (2005) Consistency for State Achievement Standards Under NCLB.

The Council of Chief State Officers. Retrieved from: http://www.ccsso.org/Documents/2005/Consistency_for_State_Achievement_2005.pdf.

National Conference of State Legislatures. Common Core State Standards State Legislative Update. Retrieved from: https://sites.google.com/site/ncslccssupdate/home/2012.

SMARTER Balance Assessment Consortium. Frequently Asked Questions. Retrieved from: http://education.vermont.gov/new/pdfdoc/pgm_curriculum/EDU-SMARTER_Balanced_Assessment_Consortium_Frequently_Asked_Questions.pdf.

The Center for Educational Testing and Evaluation. Retrieved from: http://www.cete.us.