Texas Learning Index:

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TLI
Texas Learning Index
A Primer for Campus Advisory Committee Members
Prepared by Glynn D. Ligon Evaluation
Software Publishing, Incorporated Austin,
Texas Douglas Hall Davis Elementary School
Austin ISD
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Interpreting TAAS results is challenging!
The 3rd grade tests look easier than the 5th
grade tests.
The math tests seem to be harder than the reading
tests.
The writing tests vary in difficulty each year.
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These are shortcomings troubling all
criterion-referenced tests like TAAS.
A common solution is to create a scale that
adjusts for these differences.
The TLI is Texas scale.
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TLI is a way to report scores on TAAS.
TLI ranks students. 4-85 is higher than 4-65.
4-65 to 4-75 4-85 to 4-95 are
the same distance apart. (Equal interval scales
are exciting to test developers.)
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A TLI score is shown as the students grade level
followed by the students score.
3-65 is a score of 65 in grade 3. 5-75 is a
score of 75 in grade 5.
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A TLI score of 70 or higher is passing.
3-70 is passing in grade 3. 4-70 is passing in
grade 4. 5-70 is passing in grade 5. And so on...
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One common misstatement A student who scores
3-65 then 4-65 has made the equivalent of a
years growth.
Truth This student kept pace with other
low-achieving students who first scored at 3-65.
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Another common misstatement A student who
scores 3-90 then 4-90 has made the equivalent of
a years growth.
Truth This student had to make more than a
years growth to keep such a high ranking.
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There may not be an easy way to explain how to
interpret TLI scores. Heres one attempt. (Ask
your child to help out with the graphing.)
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Pat scored 65 then 75.
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Students ABOVE the green line improved their
standing.
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Students BELOW the green line lowered their
standing.
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These students did not pass the first time, but
passed the second time.
These students passed both times.
These students passed the first time, but did not
pass the second time.
These students did not pass either time.
TLI 70 is the passing score.
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Why is the TLI better than passing percentages?
A TLI score can be averaged so groups can be
compared.
TLI scores can be compared across years for
groups and individuals.
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Why is the TLI better than passing percentages?
Passing percentages tell us how many students
were above and below a single score point.
TLI scores measure gains across the full range of
performance.
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Parents and teachers can track TLI scores across
grade levels to see if a student is improving or
falling behind peers.
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TLI score is a high-level score. Teachers
especially need to use the objective -level
mastery scores for diagnosis and
instruction. Parents need to be aware that a TLI
of 70, the passing criterion, is the minimum
acceptable for high school graduation in Texas.
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TLI Score Interpretation Practice
Student A Grade 3 3-65 Grade 4 4-75
True, False, or Unknown?
1. The student progressed from below to above
the state passing standard.
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TLI Score Interpretation Practice
Student A Grade 3 3-65 Grade 4 4-75
True, False, or Unknown?
1. The student made more than a years growth.
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TLI Score Interpretation Practice
Student A Grade 3 3-65 Grade 4 4-75
True, False, or Unknown?
1. The student probably needs no special help to
pass TAAS next year.
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The TLI is useful for setting and tracking school
goals and objectives because EVERY students
score counts.
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Did you hear that the UIL is taking over TAAS
testing? They are developing different test
levels for schools based upon their enrollment.
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Anderson and Lanier are 4A schools, so they will
take the new...
TAAAAS.