Marylands High School Assessments HSAs

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Marylands High School Assessments (HSAs) the
Bridge Plan for Academic Validation Overview
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Maryland Graduation Requirements

• State credit requirement
• 21 specific credits
• State service-learning requirement
• 75 hours or equivalent
• State testing requirement
• Students entering high school in the Fall 2005
  and beyond must meet the testing requirement in
  order to graduate. There are three options for
  doing this
• Local graduation requirements
• Many local school systems have additional
  requirements beyond the above State
• minimum.

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Three Options to Meet the HSA Requirement

• Pass all 4 HSA tests
• Advanced Placement (AP)/
• International
• Baccalaureate (IB)
• Modified HSAs
• Combined-Score Option
• Bridge Plan for Academic Validation
• The three options do not interface with each
  other. However, students can be working on more
  than one option at the same time.

Multiple Test Attempts
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Special Education Students

• Students with disabilities
• Are entitled to all accommodations in the
  students IEP.
• English Language Learners
• Must take into account the students English
  language proficiency level as stated on his/her
  ELL Plan.

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Earn Passing Score on Each Test
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Combined-Score Option

• Earn a combined score of at least 1602.

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Opportunities To Take the Test

• This is a seniors only administration of the
  exams.

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What happens if a student does not pass an HSA?

• Parent/guardian receives a home report
• Student is offered locally-administered or
  approved assistance
• Student retakes test

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What happens if a student fails an HSA more than
once?

• A student can be working on any of the three
  options at any given time
• Passing the 4 HSAs
• Combined-Score Option
• Bridge Plan for Academic Validation

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Working on a Parallel Path
A student can also be working on multiple options
at a given time, which is called parallel path.
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Bridge Plan for Academic Validation

• Alternative means to meet HSA requirement.
• Rigor is not sacrificed
• Extent of a students Academic Validation Plan is
  based on the degree to which the student is not
  meeting the HSA passing score.
• Final outcome and criteria currently being
  developed.

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Value of the Bridge Plan

• Helps students who have test fears and/or those
  who do not test well
• Connects struggling students with an adult
• State controls will ensure fairness and
  consistency

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Bridge Plan Overview

• Students who
• Have failed an HSA content area test twice
• Have not achieved combined score of 1602 on the 4
  HSA tests

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Bridge Plan Overview
HSA Test Performance

• Failed an HSA content area test twice
• Passed the HSA-related course(s)
• Participated in locally-administered or approved
  assistance
• Making satisfactory progress toward graduation

Academic Validation Project
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Academic Validation Project Modules

• Each project will cover specific content a
  student would be expected to know, or have
  mastered, for the HSA test.
• Each project will be rigorous.
• Each project will be accompanied with
• directions on how to assign the project,
• scoring look-fors, and
• other guides to assist in completing the
  assignment.

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Bridge Project Assignment
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Bridge Plan for Academic Validation - Student
Planner and Agreement

• The student, parent/guardian, and a school
  representative will review and sign the Student
  Planner and Agreement.
• Summarizes students HSA test performance
• Identifies the project(s) assigned to the student
• Indentifies a completion date for project(s)
• Certifies that all project work will be done by
  the student

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Academic Validation Project Package Submission

• The student and Project Monitor will sign the
  Project Package Submission form which
• Identifies the project(s) assigned to the student
• Certifies that the project work will be done by
  the student
• The Project Package Submission form is submitted
  with
• All projects assigned in the content area
• Any IEP, 504 Plan or ELL Plan documentation

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Review Panels

• School systems will convene either Local or
  Regional Review Panels to validate a students
  Project Package.
• The composition of the Review Panels will include
  central office staff, content teachers, and
  special education and/or ELL teachers, and other
  designated staff required for a fair review of
  the Project Package.
• Project Packages will be reviewed in
• accordance with MSDE guidelines and
• procedures.
• Scoring tools will be provided by MSDE
• Consistent and without bias
• Panel recommendations will be sent to
• local superintendent.

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Local Superintendent Project Package Decisions

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Role of MSDE

• MSDE will
• Develop a bank of projects
• Produce project guidelines
• Establish scoring guides or rubrics
• Produce sample responses
• Provide comprehensive training for implementation
• Participate in initial review sessions of all
  local review panels
• Audit Bridge Plan submissions and decisions
• Report use of the Bridge Plan
• Conduct ongoing studies