North Dakota: Understanding Student Achievement Within State Assessment (continued)

In 2005-06, the Department continued to use the procedure of securing demographic and special codes for each student through the on-line reporting system (ORS). Many data elements were prepopulated by data already submitted by school districts through the Pupil Membership Report.

C. Reporting Student Achievement Results

State law requires that the state assessment system compile aggregated results and disaggregated results in terms of the State’s challenging achievement standards. The state assessment system must compile student achievement data that allow for a comparison of individual students, classrooms within a given school, schools within a district, and school districts within the State. The test reports must also allow for comparisons based on students’ gender, ethnicity, economic status, service status, and assessment status, unless doing so enables the identification of any individual student. Actual student and school reports are generated and delivered to schools by the state’s testing contractor, CTB/McGraw-Hill.

The North Dakota State Assessment uses three dedicated reports: (a) Student Report, (b) Content Standard Performance Report, and (c) Summary Report. These reports are described below.

1. Student Report

Two sets of the Student Report is generated and delivered to the school district. This report presents achievement level (i.e., novice, partially proficient, proficient, or advanced) for each of the two domains of reading/language arts and mathematics. A narrative describes what knowledge and skills define each of the four performance levels. In addition, total number of points possible and percentage of points earned for each benchmark and standard are included. The reverse side of the Student Report provides a brief description of the State Assessment for the subject area, how it was developed, how to interpret the information, how to access the standards, and how to work with the school to raise the student’s performance level.

2. Content Standard Performance Report

The Content Standard Performance report is provided for each grade, at the classroom, and school building levels. Students are listed alphabetically, with individual data displayed on percentage of possible points correct on each standard and benchmark. Additionally, each student’s scale score and level of achievement is provided.

The Content Standard Performance Report also displays summary data for each grade (average percentage correct by standard and benchmark) for each class, school building, district, and state level, as well as the number of points possible for each standard and benchmark. A school district level report provides summary information that parallels the Content Standard Performance Report. However, this report, known as the Benchmark Summary Report at the school district level, includes no individual student names or average percent correct by class.

3. Summary Report

This school and school district level report provides summary data on the number and percentage of students at each of the four levels of achievement at the state, school district, and school building level by grade. In addition, summary statistics on numbers of students assessed, having no valid attempt, and invalidated are presented. The reverse side describes North Dakota content and achievement standards.

The North Dakota State Assessment reports reference state content and achievement standards. These standards can be accessed at the following web sites: http://www.dpi.state.nd.us/standard/content.shtm and http://www.dpi.state.nd.us/standard/perform/index.shtm.

Since the 2001-02 school year, a School Report Card and Profile has been prepared annually by the Department of Public Instruction for every school, district, and the State, consistent with State and Federal reporting requirements. The School Report Card and Profile presents student achievement data based on the State’s standards, as opposed to previous reporting based on national norms. Districts and schools must inform all parents of the availability of the School Report Card and Profile.

Four distinct levels of student achievement levels are identified, as defined within the State’s achievement standards:

• Advanced: Demonstrates exemplary understanding and exceeds expected level of achievement.
• Proficient: Demonstrates understanding and meets expected level of achievement.
• Partially Proficient: Demonstrates an emerging or developing level of achievement.
• Novice Attempt made; lack of understanding evident.

III. North Dakota State Assessment Report Guide

A. Student Achievement Report

Two sets of individual student reports from the North Dakota State Assessment are provided for both mathematics and reading/language arts. Typically one set remains in the student’s cumulative folder, while the second set is provided to the student and the student’s parent(s). In addition, a label with summary information is provided for the cumulative folder.