Middle School Principals,
January 31, 2017
Algebra Readiness
In prior years, we have administered the Iowa Algebra Aptitude Test (IAAT) to 7th and 8th
graders to determine placement into Algebra 1. The good news is that the i-Ready Diagnostic
can also be used to identify algebra readiness.
- Each school may choose which assessment option to use as their Algebra Readiness
Indicator (either i-Ready Diagnostic or IAAT).
- If your school chooses to use i-Ready for Algebra placement, then you do not need to
administer the Iowa Algebra Aptitude Test (IAAT).
- Please find the (2) attachments with guidelines for each option.
If your school chooses:
 i-Ready:
- Follow the two-step process:
1. Administer winter window of i-Ready (most schools are probably finished
with this). Winter Diagnostic score used for initial placement. (See cut scores
in attachment)
2. Administer spring window of i-Ready. Spring Diagnostic cut score MUST be
used to verify placement into Algebra.
 Iowa Algebra Aptitude Test:
- Order materials from Testing by emailing Claudine [email protected]
*Both Options will use Teacher Recommendations (aka Algebra Matrix) as part of the
placement process as well. (student work habits, grades, etc…)
This process will be the same as last year, through Synergy Gradebook. A follow-up email
will be sent out explaining this process.
Please contact [email protected] for questions
OARNewsletter–January2017
MiddleSchool
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Page1
Albuquerque Public Schools
Office of Accountability
and Reporting
6400 UPTOWN BLVD. NE
ALBUQUERQUE, NEW MEXICO 87110
505.872-6870 (phone) | 505.872-6860 (fax)
ROSE-ANN MCKERNAN
Raquel Reedy
SUPERINTENDENT
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Required Test and Forms
Office of Accountability and Reporting
Information
January 16, 2017
Using the Iowa Algebra Aptitude Test (IAAT)
and the Algebra Placement Tool
APS offers the option of administering the IAAT for middle school use in 7th and 8th grade in order to help standardize some of the information used to place
students in either 8th grade Algebra I classes or 9th grade Algebra I or Algebra I with Strategies classes.
The IAAT is a nationally norm-referenced pre-algebra aptitude test with parallel forms (A & B) that will be scored at the District using the student bubble
sheet. The results of the test will be collected and provided to schools for teacher and administrator access.
It is understood that placement in the 8th grade Algebra I class means the student has been evaluated with short cycle assessments, previous classroom
performance, and attainment of pre-algebra skills. The IAAT can help with the latter.
Performance Bands
Performance
Levels
Below Basic
Basic
Acceptable
Advanced
Form A
Percent
0 - 35.99%
36 - 50.99%
51 - 81.99%
82 - 100%
Form B
Percent
0 - 32.99%
33 - 44.99%
45 - 70.99%
71 - 100%
Forms A & B
Scale Scores
100-139
140-149
150-169
170-200
Percentile
Ranges
1-24
25-49
50-90
91-99
Interpretation of Scores
These bands are “soft” but it is suggested that students in the two highest performance levels should receive the bulk of consideration for placement
into 8th grade Algebra I. Since this is a norm-referenced test, scale scores and percentiles are used to determine the performance levels. In studies
carried out by the test publisher about 75% of students with scale scores between 150 and 159 have received semester grades of A, B, or C in
Algebra I. Those students fall at the low end of the “acceptable” range. Students w i t h higher scale scores have been even more successful in Algebra
I. Percents are what you will see in the scoring bands.
7th graders being considered for Algebra I in 8th grade should take the IAAT
Form A. ALL 8th grade non-algebra students should take the IAAT Form B.
The following are the steps for procuring and returning IAAT test booklets.
1. Email Claudine Sanchez at Testing Services ([email protected]) about two weeks before your school will administer the test and order up to three
class sets of Form A for 7th grade and up to three sets of Form B for 8th grade. There are 25 test booklets in each set. Also, get one Directions for
Administration for each set.
2. When your order is ready, Testing will notify you to pick up the tests at Testing Services which is by Milne Stadium on Oak St.
3. Answer Documents (Bubble Sheets) will also be provided in materials.
4. Set aside 50-60 minutes in one sitting to administer the test. (The IAAT is a timed test with four sections that must be completed in 10 minutes each.
(The other 10-20 minutes is for passing out the books and reading directions for each of the four sections.)
5. Keep in mind that some students will not finish sections of the test. That is part of the process. The 10 minutes must be adhered to.
6. Return ALL test booklets, the administration manuals and the answer documents to Testing by return date (see below). Schools will be charged with
replacing books they lose or that students have written in.
Testing Conditions that must be followed by the teacher and students:
1. Since we are using custom Assessment scan forms, the directions below are the only ones you have to read from the Directions for Administration:
a. On p. 2 read only the short paragraph in red called Preliminary Instructions;
b. Skip pages 3-4;
c. Read pages 5-10 which give a sample problem for each of the four sections.
2. Do NOT—for any reason—photocopy this test.
3. There are not enough test booklets for all students to test at the same time. Teachers need to set up a schedule and share the test books..
4. The IAAT is “calculator independent,” which means a calculator is allowed but not required.
5. Students cannot work ahead to another section because of the norming process (test scores would then be invalid). All students must start each of the four
sections together.
6. Students may NOT write in test booklets. If they use scrap paper, the teacher is responsible for destroying it immediately after the test.
7. The same test security protocol and infractions that pertain to the PARCC, pertain to the administration and handling of this test.
Call Melissa Arellano, Assessment Manager, at 872-6824 if there are questions.
Required Test and Forms Information
Time Frame for IAAT Testing
The following time line should be considered deadlines, but some middle schools may need to test earlier based on when the high
school they feed into needs the information for registration.
Grade Level:
7th graders for
consideration in 8th grade
Algebra I placement
8th graders (non-algebra
students) for 9th grade
registration
9th graders for current
year placement
Test Form:
FORM A
FORM B
FORM A or B
February 13
January 23
August 1
Testing will notify you when
your order is ready
for pick-up
Testing will notify you when
your order is ready
for pick-up
Testing will notify you when
your order is ready
for pick-up
March 1-March 16
February 1-February 16
First week of classes
March 17
February 17
End of August
Order Materials by:
Email [email protected]
Pick up Test Materials:
Administer Tests:
Return Test Materials
by:
Answer Documents will be
scanned in by District
Next Steps: Algebra I Recommendations
During February for 8th graders (March for 7th graders), teachers who have students who are about to enter Algebra I will have a process
to fill in information on students regarding Work Ethic, Course Recommendation and Comments. This will be done in Synergy
Gradebook as it was last year, and there will be a follow-up email that describes the process.
Using the i-Ready Diagnostic as
Algebra Readiness Indicator
Beginning in the 2016-17 school year, i-Ready Diagnostic Assessments may be used as an option to determine Algebra Readiness.
If schools choose to use i-Ready scores, they do not need to administer the Iowa Algebra Aptitude Test (IAAT).
The following table shows what cut scores, based on the overall scores, are recommended to determine whether students are likely
to have success in an Algebra 1 course in the subsequent year.
Based on the available information, APS would recommend that an Overall Spring Scale Score of 510 be used for
identifying students who are ready for Algebra 1 in 8th or 9th grade.
Grade 7 and Grade 8 Algebra Readiness Cut Scores
2016-2017
Grade Level:
Winter Diagnostic Cut Score
Spring Diagnostic Cut Score
to be used for initial placement
Grade 7
505
to be used for verification and
adjustment of recommendations
510
Grade 8
508
510
(non-Algebra
students)
*Teacher Recommendations will also be used to determine final placement. During February for 8th graders (March for 7th
graders), teachers who have students who are about to enter Algebra I will have a process to fill in information on students
regarding Work Ethic, Course Recommendation and Comments. This will be done in Synergy Gradebook as it was last year, and there
will be a follow-up email that describes the process.
RESEARCH and DEVELOPMENT:
Curriculum Associates reviewed data for Algebra readiness from a holistic perspective; therefore, considered the overall
Mathematics score rather than just the Algebra domain. The reason for this is that readiness for Algebra I could be considered
equivalent to being proficient in Grade 8 standards (and therefore ready to move on to the next level). The goal was to identify the
overall scale score “cut point” that identified this proficiency level.
Because i-Ready uses a vertical scale, students’ scale scores progress as they become proficient in more/higher standards. If they
could identify the scale score point associated with the student being sufficiently proficient in Grade 8 standards, this scale score
could be used as the benchmark for Algebra I readiness. The data collected for the New York state study were used to determine this
key point.
In the New York study, C.A. linked students’ i-Ready scores with their levels of proficiency on the 2013 New York State (NYS)
Assessment. The sample for 8th grade includes 1,029 students. Because the NYS test is an assessment of the Common Core State
Standards, being proficient on this assessment implies sufficient mastery of Grade 8 Common Core standards to be prepared for
either the Algebra I course or the Mathematics I course.
Curriculum Associates’ analyses included two parts. First, in a Receiver Operating Characteristic analysis, they reviewed the
sensitivity and specificity of each scale score point for students in 8th grade. Sensitivity concerns the percentage of students who
were proficient on the NYS test that tested at the associated i-Ready scale score or higher. The specificity is the percentage of
students who were not proficient that tested lower than the associated i-Ready scale score. Second, Curriculum Associates reviewed
the distribution of end-of-year (after March 1) i-Ready scale scores across Grade 7 students in the 2012-2013i school year. Presently,
several districts nationwide use these scale scores as an Algebra I readiness indicator.
The mid placement was later considered and described as students who had mastered a sufficient amount of material to be ready
for the next grade. We can apply the cut score corresponding to this placement level to students in Grade 7 to see if they are ready
to take Algebra 1 in Grade 8.
Please contact [email protected] for questions