Assessment 1: Data from licensure assessment/professional examinations of content
knowledge
1. A brief description of the assessment and its use in the program (one sentence may be
sufficient)
The New York State Teacher Certification Exam Content Specialty Test (CST) consists
of multiple-choice questions and a written assignment. The test measures knowledge and
skills in five areas of social studies content. The assessment ensures that candidates meet
New York State regulations for social studies 7-12 and may therefore be recommended
for state certification.
2. A description of how this assessment specifically aligns with the standards it is cited for
in Section III.
As the assessment tool (section 5a) describes, The New York State Teacher Certification
Exam specifically aligns with the standards by measuring candidate knowledge and skills
in history, geography, civics, government and economics through multiple choice questions
and a written essay. Like the NCSS standards, CST exam questions focus on thematic and
conceptual issues in the disciplines. The exam includes questions about the role of
diversity in history and the political science (Standard 1.1); causes and consequences of
change over time in history (Standard 1.2); the relationship between geographic conditions
and culture (Standards 1.2 and 1.3); the role of individuals and groups in history and
society (Standards 1.4 and 1.5); the principles and practices of power, governance and
citizenship in history and society (Standards 1.6 and 1.10); the study of production,
distribution and consumption (Standard 1.7); the role of technology in history and
contemporary society (Standard 1.8); and the interconnectedness of societies historically
and today (Standard 1.9).
3. A brief analysis of the data findings
All fifteen candidates who took the CST exam and graduated in past three years received
passing scores. All of the 2006-2007 candidates received at or above standard ratings for
each section and all of 2004-2005 candidates passed the geography, economics, and social
studies skills multiple choice parts of the exam. The vast majority of candidates (15-16)
received at or above standard scores on the history written part of the exam, illustrating
their ability to think and write history well. Even the one or two 2004-2005 candidates
who received a non-passing score for the history or civics multiple choice component of
the exam demonstrated the breadth and depth of social studies content knowledge to pass
the exam. While there were no scores reported for 2005-2006 this is indicative of a flaw in
our data collection methods, rather than a sign that there were no candidates who took the
exam. While candidates are required to take the New York State Content Specialty Test
and pass the exam for certification, the program has only monitored pass/fail status for the
entire test and has not required candidates to report their scores for the individual sections
of the test. As a result, we need to improve our data collection strategies to obtain and
monitor the section test scores for our entire candidate population. In addition, since the
number of scores is small, before drawing a conclusion, we will continue collecting student
performance data, each semester, as a way to monitor emerging trends.
4. An interpretation of how that data provides evidence for meeting standards
By passing the New York State CST exam, all of the candidates demonstrated the breadth
and depth of social studies knowledge required by the state to teach social studies at the
middle and secondary school levels. This affirms that the candidates met the standards.
5. Attachment of assessment documentation, including1:
(a) the assessment tool or description of the assignment
The New York State Teacher Certification Exam in social studies tests candidates in five
areas to assess proficiency in the following subjects:
Area 1 History includes 31 to 40 multiple choice questions and a written component that
assesses candidates’ content knowledge of: key historical terms and concepts, the
specialized fields of historical study, and historiography; the major political, social,
economic, scientific, and cultural developments and turning points that shaped the course
of world history through 1500; the major political, social, economic, scientific, and
cultural developments and turning points that shaped the course of world history from
1500 through 1850; the major political, social, economic, scientific, and cultural
developments and turning points that shaped the course of world history from 1850 to the
present; the major political, social, economic, scientific, and cultural developments and
turning points in U.S. history to 1815; the major political, social, economic, scientific,
and cultural developments and turning points in U.S. history from 1815 to 1900; the
major political social, economic, scientific, and cultural developments and turning points
in U.S. history since 1900; the major political, social, and economic developments and
the key eras and events in New York State history; and the struggle for fundamental
human rights and the efforts of nations, individuals, and international organizations to
establish and protect those rights.
Area 2-Geography includes 11 to 20 multiple choice questions and assesses candidates’
content knowledge of: fundamental geographic concepts, themes, and terms (e.g.
location, place, relationships within places, culture, movement, interdependence, regions,
scale), and apply that knowledge to describe and analyze geographic phenomena; the
major physical features of the worlds and the interconnections between physical
processes and human activity; the major physical and cultural regions of the world,
recognize geographic relationships and interactions among regions, and demonstrate an
appreciation of the diverse perspectives of different human groups and cultures both past
and present; the major physical and cultural regions of New York State and the United
States; and analyze geographic relationships within and between regions; and
demonstrate an understanding of the influence of geography on the growth and evolution
of U.S. society.
Area 3-Economics includes 11 to 20 multiple choice questions and assesses candidates’
content knowledge of: important economic concepts, terms, and theories, and apply that
knowledge to analyze basic economic phenomena; economic systems; analyze the
structure, principles, and operation of command, market, mixed, and traditional models of
economic organization; and apply this knowledge to analyze specific economic situations
and institutions; the components, structure, organization, and operation of the U.S.
1
All three components of the assessment – as identified in 5a-c – must be attached, with the following
exceptions: (a) the assessment tool and scoring guide are not required for reporting state licensure data,
and (b) for some assessments, data may not yet be available.
economy; the principles of capitalism; and the roles of labor, business, consumers, and
government in the U.S. economic system.
Area 4- Civics, Citizenship, and Government includes 11 to 20 multiple choice questions
and assesses candidates’ content knowledge of: important political science concepts,
terms, and theories, and apply that knowledge to analyze contemporary political issues.;
the principles of democratic government in the United States; the roles, rights, and
responsibilities of individual citizens in a democratic society; and the structure,
organization, and operation of governments at the federal, state, and local levels; the US
election process and the roles of political parties, pressure groups, and special interests in
the US political system; international relations, the formation and execution of US
foreign policy, and the purposes and functions of international organizations.
Area 5: Social Studies Skills includes 11 to 20 multiple choice questions and assesses
candidates’ content knowledge of: how to locate, gather, and organize primary and
secondary information using social science resources and research methodologies; how to
apply methods for interpreting and communicating visual sources of social studies
information (including maps, globes, models, diagrams, graphs, charts, tables, pictures,
and political cartoons); and how to analyze, evaluate, and synthesize social studies
information, make generalizations, and reach supportable judgments and conclusions
(b) the scoring guide for the assessment
Each section of the test is scored on a scale from 100 to 300. The total test score is also
reported on a scale from100 to 300 and is based on performance on all of the test sections.
An examinee’s multiple choice score and a written component score are combined to
obtain the total test score. A score of 220 represents the minimum passing score for each
test. An examinee with a total test score of 220 or above passes the test. The School of
Education considers scores below 200 as below standard, scores 200-269 at standard, and
scores 270 and higher as above standard.
(c) candidate data derived from the assessment.
Key Assessment 1
Area 1 History
Area 1 History
Area 2-Geography
Area 2-Geography
Area 3-Economics
Area 3-Economics
Format of
Data
Academic
Year
Candidate Performance Ratings
Below
Standard
(100-219)
At
Standard
(220-269)
Above
Standard
(270-300)
Grand
Total
Number
2004-2005
1
2
0
3
Percentage
2004-2005
33%
67%
0%
100%
Number
2004-2005
0
1
2
3
Percentage
2004-2005
0%
33%
67%
100%
Number
2004-2005
0
2
1
3
Percentage
2004-2005
0%
67%
33%
100%
Area 4- Civics, Citizenship, and
Government
Number
2004-2005
1
1
1
3
Area 4- Civics, Citizenship, and
Government
Percentage
2004-2005
33%
33%
33%
100%
Number
2004-2005
0
1
2
3
Percentage
2004-2005
0%
33%
67%
100%
Number
2004-2005
1
2
0
3
Percentage
2004-2005
33%
67%
0%
100%
Total Scaled Test Score for
Content Areas
Number
2004-2005
0
2
1
3
Total Scaled Test Score for
Content Areas
Percentage
2004-2005
0%
67%
33%
100%
Area 5: Social Studies Skills
Area 5: Social Studies Skills
History (written component)
History (written component)
Key Assessment 1
Format of
Data
Academic
Year
Candidate Performance Ratings
Below
Standard
(100-219)
Area 1 History
Area 1 History
Area 2-Geography
Area 2-Geography
Area 3-Economics
Area 3-Economics
Number
2005-2006
Percentage
2005-2006
Number
2005-2006
Percentage
2005-2006
Number
2005-2006
Percentage
2005-2006
Area 4- Civics, Citizenship, and
Government
Number
2005-2006
Area 4- Civics, Citizenship, and
Government
Percentage
2005-2006
Number
2005-2006
Percentage
2005-2006
Number
2005-2006
Percentage
2005-2006
Total Scaled Test Score for
Content Areas
Number
2005-2006
Total Scaled Test Score for
Content Areas
Percentage
2005-2006
Area 5: Social Studies Skills
Area 5: Social Studies Skills
History (written component)
History (written component)
At
Standard
(220-269)
Above
Standard
(270-300)
Grand
Total
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Key Assessment 1
Area 1 History
Area 1 History
Area 2-Geography
Area 2-Geography
Area 3-Economics
Area 3-Economics
Format of
Data
Academic
Year
Candidate Performance Ratings
Below
Standard
(100-219)
At
Standard
(220-269)
Above
Standard
(270-300)
Grand
Total
Number
2006-2007
0
2
4
6
Percentage
2006-2007
0%
33%
67%
100%
Number
2006-2007
0
3
3
6
Percentage
2006-2007
0%
50%
50%
100%
Number
2006-2007
0
3
3
6
Percentage
2006-2007
0%
50%
50%
100%
Area 4- Civics, Citizenship, and
Government
Number
2006-2007
0
3
3
6
Area 4- Civics, Citizenship, and
Government
Percentage
2006-2007
0%
50%
50%
100%
Number
2006-2007
0
4
2
6
Percentage
2006-2007
0%
67%
33%
100%
Number
2006-2007
0
3
3
6
Percentage
2006-2007
0%
50%
50%
100%
Total Scaled Test Score for
Content Areas
Number
2006-2007
0
2
4
6
Total Scaled Test Score for
Content Areas
Percentage
2006-2007
0%
33%
67%
100%
Area 5: Social Studies Skills
Area 5: Social Studies Skills
History (written component)
History (written component)