March 17, 2016
(X)
(X)
Action Required
Informational
BULLETIN NO. 011-16B SPECIAL PROGRAMS & FEDERAL ACCOUNTABILITY
TO:
Educational Service District Superintendents
School District Superintendents
School District Federal Program Directors
School District Assessment Directors
FROM:
Randy I. Dorn, State Superintendent of Public Instruction
RE:
Meaningful Requirement for 95 Percent Participation Rate in the State’s
Assessments
CONTACT: Gayle Pauley, Assistant Superintendent, Special Programs & Federal
Accountability
[email protected], 360-725-6170
Robin Munson, Assistant Superintendent, Assessment & Student
Information
[email protected], 360-725-6336
Agency TTY: 360-664-3631
On November 2, 2015, the Office of Superintendent of Public Education (OSPI)
received a letter from Dr. Monique Chism, Director of Office of State Support from the
United States Department of Education (ED) (see Attachment A). The letter reminded
states that the assessment requirements under the Elementary and Secondary
Education Act of 1965 (ESEA) as amended by the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001
(NCLB) remain in place for the 2015–16 school year and that similar requirements are
included in the reauthorization of ESEA known as the Every Student Succeeds Act
(ESSA).
The letter specifically cited section 1111(b)(3) of ESEA which requires each State
educational agency that receives Title I, Part A funds to implement in each district a set
of academic assessments that includes assessments in mathematics and
reading/language arts administered in grades 3 through 8 and not less than once during
grades 10 through 12; and in science not less than once during grades 3 through 5,
Bulletin No. 011-16B SP&FA
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March 17, 2016
grades 6 through 9, and grades 10 through 12. Additionally, ESEA sections
1111(b)(C)(i) and (ix)(1) require state assessments to “be the same academic
assessments used to measure the achievement of all children” and “provide for
participation in such assessments of all students.”
A reminder of the State’s assurance to administer the Title I, Part A program in
accordance with all applicable statutes and regulations was also included in the letter
(defined in ESEA section 9304(a)(1)). In addition, the State was required to assure the
Title I, Part A program would be administered in accordance with all applicable statutes
and regulations as defined in ESEA section 9306(a)(1).
Based upon Washington’s release of 2014–15 assessment data, ED pointed out that
the State did not assess at least 95 percent of students in the “all students” group or
individual ESEA subgroups. Because of not meeting the 95 percent participation rate,
the State was required to submit a response to ED identifying the steps the State was
currently taking and will take to ensure the State will meet its assessment obligations
under ESEA (see Attachment B).
OSPI received a response from ED on February 12, from Patrick Rooney, Acting
Director of the Office of State Support, stating that the State had submitted sufficient
information to address ED’s request (see Attachment C). The information provided
included the following:
1. OSPI reported that it is transitioning from its previous high school test, which is a
graduation requirement, to Smarter Balanced, which is a graduation requirement
for 2019. The low participation rate in high school is likely to be resolved by
spring 2018, when the Class of 2019 is in the 11th grade, if not before.
2. OSPI reported that higher education partners have embraced the use of the high
school assessment in establishing a Memorandum of Understanding regarding
the use of high school students’ Smarter Balanced test scores as evidence that
the student is ready for college-level work. At some institutions, high school
graduates who meet certain requirements will be able to skip college placement
tests and pre-college courses and be able to enroll directly into entry-level
college courses.
3. OSPI reported that the State has taken a strong stand on cases of parent refusal
of statewide assessments by calling these instances as “test refusal” and has
increased public relations efforts to help parents understand the value and uses
of these assessments. OSPI will continue to provide information to schools and
districts to share with their communities regarding the State’s assessments which
includes information on the ESEA and State assessment requirements, and how
the results are used to determine the impact on student success outcomes.
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March 17, 2016
4. OSPI reported that districts and schools that fall below the 95 percent
participation rate target will be required to address the low participation rate in
their district or school improvement plan. The plan must address the causes of
the low participation rate and the actions the district or school will take in
response to the low participation rate to ensure that all students will participate in
the future.
5. OSPI reported that any school or district that did not meet the 95 percent
participate rate would not be eligible for any state or ESEA Title Program awards
or recognitions. Included are: Washington Achievement Awards, English
Language Acquisition Awards, or the Title I, Part A Distinguished Schools
Awards.
6. OSPI reported that the Office of Student and School Success will require any
district with a Priority or Focus school that has a participation rate less than 95
percent to address the issue in the school’s Indistar plan.
7. OSPI reported that any required school or district plan would be reviewed
through the state’s Consolidated Program Reviews. If any of the plans do not
address the issue, the district will receive a compliance finding and will be
required to work with OSPI staff to institute compliance.
8. OSPI reported that information will continue to be provided to each district’s
assessment coordinator and these coordinators will continue to focus on the
participation requirement.
In the letter, Acting Director Rooney also stated that ED would monitor whether
Washington takes appropriate actions to enforce the requirements of ESEA. The letter
outlined the actions that ED would take if Washington’s districts and schools did not
meet the 95 percent participation rate in 2015–16. ED will take one or more of the
following actions: (1) withhold Title I, Part A state administrative funds; (2) place the
State’s Title I, Part A grant on high-risk status and direct the State to use a portion of its
Title I State administrative funds to address low participation rates; or (3) withhold or
redirect Title VI State assessment funds. To determine what action is most appropriate,
ED will consider State and district participation rate data for the 2015−16 school year as
well as action the State has taken with respect to any district noncompliance with the
assessment requirements of the ESEA.
Districts and schools that did not meet the 2014–15 95 percent participation rate will be
contacted through a letter to the district’s superintendent within the next ten days.
Actions that must be taken by these districts and schools will be defined in that
correspondence.
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March 17, 2016
Additional resources that can be shared with parents and community members on
assessments and the importance of assessments can be found at
http://www.k12.wa.us/Resources/, under Assessments.
For questions regarding this bulletin please contact Gayle Pauley at 360-725-6170 or
[email protected], or Robin Munson at 360-725-6336 or
[email protected]. The agency TTY number is 360-664-3631.
K–12 EDUCATION
Gil Mendoza, Ed.D.
Deputy Superintendent
SPECIAL PROGRAMS AND FEDERAL ACCOUNTABILITY
Gayle Pauley
Assistant Superintendent
ASSESSMENT AND STUDENT INFORMATION
Robin Munson, Ph.D.
Assistant Superintendent
RD:gp
Attachment A:
Attachment B:
Attachment C:
November 2, 2015 Letter from ED to Randy Dorn
December 2, 2015 Response to ED from Gayle Pauley
February 12, 2016 Response Letter from ED to Randy Dorn
OSPI provides equal access to all programs and services without discrimination based on sex, race, creed, religion, color, national
origin, age, honorably discharged veteran or military status, sexual orientation including gender expression or identity, the
presence of any sensory, mental, or physical disability, or the use of a trained dog guide or service animal by a person with a
disability. Questions and complaints of alleged discrimination should be directed to the Equity and Civil Rights Director at 360
725-6162 or P.O. Box 47200 Olympia, WA 98504-7200.