Understanding Kindergarten Highly Capable Test Scores

Parent MeetingJanuary 23rd, 2020

6:30pmAdministration Building

1

Objectives

This evening you will:

• Gain information about the Highly Capable Program in Issaquah

• Understand which tests are given for eligibility

• Understand the kindergarten score reports

2

Highly Capable Program

Districts in Washington are required to identify their most highly capable students in kindergarten through 12th grade.

Issaquah is an overall high performing districtDistricts establish their own eligibility criteria

Issaquah HCP services include:• PEP Primary Enrichment Program K-2nd

• SAGE Reading and SAGE Math 3rd-5th

• MERLIN 3rd-5th

• Secondary 6th -12th

https://www.issaquah.wednet.edu/academics/programs/gifted

3

Eliminating Barriers

• Universal HCP screening in kindergarten

• Universal HCP eligibility testing in second

• Saturday testing only for some referrals

• Multiple pathways and programs

• Outside testing not accepted

• Use of CogAT Nonverbal

• Self-select advanced classes at secondary

• Advanced learning at all secondary schools

4

Academic Success for All

• Rigorous curriculum

• Advanced self-select courses are offered at middle and high school

• AP classes

• International Baccalaureate classes

• Honors courses

• Running Start

5

Kindergarten Testing

All kindergarten students are screened and then some are tested for possible eligibility for the Highly

Capable Primary Enrichment Program (PEP).

6%-10% of students in the US school systems are labeled as gifted. (NAGC)

Top 2% of population have the highest IQs, over 130. (MENSA)

ISD identified 7.8% of second grade students in 2019.

ISD expects to identify 3-7% overall.

6

Multiple Measures

ISD administers two tests to kindergarten students in the full

testing HCP eligibility identification process:

CogAT: Cognitive Abilities Test

Iowa Achievement Test: Achievement Test

7

Purposes of the Cognitive Abilities Test

Developed for the purpose of helping to determine eligibility for Highly Capable Programs

Measures: cognitive skills

inductive and deductive reasoning abilities

abstract reasoning abilities

8

CogAT Scores

• Standard scores are generated for each test section: Verbal, Quantitative, Non-verbal

• Standard scores are converted to a final total matrix score

9

Iowa Achievement Test

• Test of achievement

• Assesses reading and mathematics skills and knowledge

• Standard scores are generated for each test section: Reading and Math

• The total reading score consists of a vocabulary section and a reading section, the standard scores generate one total reading matrix score

• Standard scores are converted to a final total matrix score

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ISD Identification Process Details

Scores are reported using a single holistic matrix score

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Using Holistic Matrix Scores

• By converting all the scores to a common scale, we are able to combine the scores for each student into a single holistic matrix score

• This approach allows us to be more precise and equitable in our decisions and supports students who might have a somewhat uneven profile

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Understanding the Score Report

• Step 1: Use Standard Scores

• Step 2: Each score is converted to a z-score and assigned a matrix score 1-8

• Step 3: Calculate weightings to get a total weighted matrix score

• Step 4: Use the total matrix score to determine eligibility for various HCP services.

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Test Given Standard

Score (SS)

Matrix

Score

Weighting Weighted Matrix Score

CogAT Verbal 148 8 x3 24

CogAT Quantitative 135 6 x3 18

CogAT Nonverbal 139 6 x3 18

Iowa: Total Reading

(Two Parts)

8 x2 16Iowa: Reading 154

Iowa: Vocabulary 152

Iowa: Total Math 150 8 x2 16

Total Matrix Score Required for Highly Capable Eligibility

with services in PEP= 80

Total of all tests.

Total Matrix Score:

92

Step 1: Standard Scores

The standard score is used for making the comparisons necessary in the identification process

Standard Score160

159

158

157

156

154

152

150

149

148

147

146

145

144

142

140

139

138

137

135

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Percentile Rank99

99

99

99

99

99

99

99

99

99

99

99

99

99

99

99

99

99

99

99

Step 2: Understanding Standard Deviation

• A key component to using holistic matrix scores is understanding standard deviation

• Standard deviation tells us how far a score is from the average score for a group

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Step 2: How to Find the Matrix ScoreZ-score Conversion Matrix

Z-score Relation to the Mean of all Scores Matrix

Score

Conversion

3.00 and

above

A score that is at least 3 standard deviations

(SD) above the mean

8

2.5 - 2.99 A score that is between 2.5 SDs above the

mean and 3 SDs above the mean

7

2.0 - 2.49 A score that is between 2 SDs above the

mean and 2.5 SDs above the mean

6

1.5 - 1.99 A score that is between 1.5 SDs above the

mean and 2 SDs above the mean

5

1.0 - 1.49 A score that is between 1 SD above the mean

and 1.5 SDs above the mean

4

0.5 - .99 A score that is between ½ SD above the

mean and 1 SD above the mean

3

0 - .49 A score that is between the mean and ½ SD

above the mean

2

-.01 and

below

A score that is below the mean 1

Standard Score Minus

X

Mean Standard

Score

Divided by

Standard Deviation

S

Equals the z-score

Z

Matrix Score

155 - 100 /16 = 3.43 8

125 - 100 /16 = 1.56 5

110 - 100 /16 = .62 316

Z-score tells the number of standard deviations from the mean (average)

Step 3: Calculate the Weightings

• Weights were given to the measures according to their value in predicting success in the Highly Capable Program.

• The CogAT is weighted X3 and the Iowa X2.

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Score Report Review

• Step 1: Use Standard Scores

• Step 2: Each score is converted to a z-score and assigned a matrix score

• Step 3: Calculate weightings to get a total weighted matrix score

• Step 4: Use the total matrix score to determine eligibility for various HCP services.

18

Test Given Standard

Score (SS)

Matrix

Score

Weighting Weighted Matrix Score

CogAT Verbal 148 8 x3 24

CogAT Quantitative 135 6 x3 18

CogAT Nonverbal 139 6 x3 18

Iowa: Total Reading

(Two Parts)

8 x2 16Iowa: Reading 154

Iowa: Vocabulary 152

Iowa: Total Math 150 8 x2 16

Total Matrix Score Required for Highly Capable Eligibility

with services in PEP= 80

Total of all tests.

Total Matrix Score:

92

Additional Score Report Scenarios

• Step 1: Use Standard Scores

• Step 2: Each score is converted to a z-score and assigned a matrix score

• Step 3: Calculate weightings to get a total weighted matrix score

• Step 4: Use the total matrix score to determine eligibility for various HCP services.

19

Test Given Standard

Score (SS)

Matrix

Score

Weighting Weighted Matrix Score

CogAT Verbal 133 6 x3 18

CogAT Quantitative 160 8 x3 24

CogAT Nonverbal 145 7 x3 21

Iowa: Total Reading

(Two Parts)*

4 x2 8Iowa: Reading 147

Iowa: Vocabulary 120

Iowa: Total Math 141 6 x2 12

Total Matrix Score Required for Highly Capable Eligibility

with services in PEP= 80

Total of all tests.

Total Matrix Score:

83

Additional Score Report Scenarios

• Step 1: Use Standard Scores

• Step 2: Each score is converted to a z-score and assigned a matrix score

• Step 3: Calculate weightings to get a total weighted matrix score

• Step 4: Use the total matrix score to determine eligibility for various HCP services.

20

Test Given Standard

Score (SS)

Matrix

Score

Weighting Weighted Matrix Score

CogAT Verbal 130 5 x3 15

CogAT Quantitative 146 7 x3 21

CogAT Nonverbal 139 6 x3 18

Iowa: Total Reading

(Two Parts)*

5 x2 10Iowa: Reading 147

Iowa: Vocabulary 123

Iowa: Total Math 141 6 x2 12

Total Matrix Score Required for Highly Capable Eligibility

with services in PEP= 80

Total of all tests.

Total Matrix Score:

76

Additional Score Report Scenarios

• Step 1: Use Standard Scores

• Step 2: Each score is converted to a z-score and assigned a matrix score

• Step 3: Calculate weightings to get a total weighted matrix score

• Step 4: Use the total matrix score to determine eligibility for various HCP services.

21

Test Given Standard

Score (SS)

Matrix

Score

Weighting Weighted Matrix Score

CogAT Verbal 128 5 x3 15

CogAT Quantitative 131 5 x3 15

CogAT Nonverbal 140 7 x3 21

Iowa: Total Reading

(Two Parts)*

8 x2 16Iowa: Reading 154

Iowa: Vocabulary 159

Iowa: Total Math 150 8 x2 16

Total Matrix Score Required for Highly Capable Eligibility

with services in PEP= 80

Total of all tests.

Total Matrix Score:

83

Receiving the Score Report

• Score reports and letters will be sent by US mail by the end of January.

•Appeals are accepted within ten business days of receiving the scores.

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Appeals

• Appeals are accepted within 10 business days of receiving the scores

• Details are included in the letter

• Forms are on the website

• Appeals are accepted for three specific reasons:• Extraordinary circumstance• Suspicion of an error in the

administration of the testing• A misapplication, miscalculation, or

misinterpretation of the scores

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Thank you for coming!

For more information access the Highly Capable section of the Issaquah School District website:

http://www.issaquah.wednet.edu/academics/programs/gifted

Or contact:

Marianne Dikran, Assistant to the Director of Elementary Special Programs,

425-837-7120

HighlyCapable@issaquah.wednet.edu 24