Science Assessment in CA – What are your thoughts?
One of the most common questions CSTA has received from its members, and the science teacher community in general, when talking about the future of science education is: “what about science assessments?”.
The answer, in short, is that there is currently no answer, and the subject is currently under discussion. Well now there is an opportunity for you to weigh in on the future of science assessment in California!
As part of the process in developing recommendations to the Legislature for the reauthorization of the California pupil assessment system, the State Superintendent of Public Instruction (SSPI), Tom Torlakson, is seeking your help.
All Californians have a unique opportunity to provide thoughts on and suggestions for what they think should be included in this system. Comments will be vital in helping the SSPI make his recommendations to the Legislature.
The California reauthorized assessment system will work in conjunction with the assessments being developed by the SMARTER Balanced Assessment Consortium (SBAC). California is one of SBAC’s governing states. The assessments being developed by SBAC are aligned to the Common Core State Standards and will assess students in mathematics and English–language arts in grades three through eight and grade eleven.
In addition, there are on-going conversations around the testing of science at grade levels four and above, about the use of performance-based assessment, and the use of matrix sampling.
The following opportunities exist for you to provide feedback on the reauthorization of California’s pupil assessment system:
- Complete a brief survey (including questions on the inclusion of science assessments in California’s assessment system): To access the English version of the survey, select the following link: http://bit.ly/reauthorization. To access the Spanish version of the survey, select the following link: http://bit.ly/exámenes. The survey will close August 31, 2012.
- Send comments by e-mail to reauthorization@cde.ca.gov.
- Attend the Statewide Assessment Reauthorization Work Group meetings, which are open to the public.
To access the schedule select the following link: http://www.cde.ca.gov/ta/tg/sa/ab250.asp.
We encourage you to forward this e-mail to others you think may be interested in providing input.
If the survey does not allow you to express your thoughts completely, please send an email to reauthorization@cde.ca.gov and copy CSTA at csta@cascience.org so that we can keep informed on what our members want, and continue to represent their voices at the State Board of Education and other meetings at the state level.
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August 8th, 2012 at 2:15 pm
The link for the English version survey needs an URL in order to access. I was unable to access due to this problem.
August 13th, 2012 at 9:33 am
Linda, Thank you for letting us know about the link errors! I have fixed them.