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Maryland’s High School Assessments (HSAs)

&the Bridge Plan for Academic

Validation Overview

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Maryland Graduation Requirements

State credit requirement 21 specific credits

State service-learning requirement 75 hours or equivalent

State testing requirement Students entering high school in the Fall 2005 and

beyond must meet the testing requirement in order to graduate. There are three options for doing this

Local graduation requirements Many local school systems have additional requirements

beyond the above State minimum.

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1.Pass all 4 HSA tests• Advanced Placement (AP)/

International Baccalaureate (IB)

• Modified HSAs

2.Combined-Score Option

3.Bridge Plan for Academic Validation

The three options do not interface with each other. However, students can be working on more than one option at the same time.

Three Options to Meet the HSA Requirement

MultipleTest

Attempts

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Advanced Placement (AP)/International Baccalaureate (IB) For students who have earned a score approved

by the Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) on the HSA-related AP or IB test

Modified HSA For students with disabilities who meet the

specific participation criteria based on their IEP Online assessment

Test Substitutions for Passing All HSA Tests

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Special Education Students

Students with disabilities• Are entitled to all accommodations in the student’s

IEP.

English Language Learners• Must take into account the student’s English

language proficiency level as stated on his/her ELL Plan.

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Earn Passing Score on Each Test

HSA Content Area PassingScore

Algebra/Data Analysis 412

Biology 400

English 396

Government 394

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Combined-Score Option

Earn a combined score of at least 1602.

HSA Content Area PassingScore

Combined-Score Sample

Algebra/Data Analysis 412 407

Biology 400 405

English 396 406

Government 394 384

Combined Total 1602

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Opportunities To Take the Test

2008-09 School YearAlgebra Englis

hGovernme

ntBiology

October 6th 7th 8th 10thJanuary 12th 13th 14th 15th

April* 20th 21st 22nd 23rd

May 18th 19th 20th 21st

•This is a senior’s only administration of the exams.

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What happens if a student does not pass an HSA?

Parent/guardian receives a home report

Student is offered locally-administered or approved assistance

Student retakes test

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What happens if a student fails an HSA more than once?

A student can be working on any of the three options at any given time: Passing the 4 HSAs Combined-Score Option Bridge Plan for Academic Validation

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Working on a Parallel PathA student can also be working on multiple options at a given time, which is called parallel path.

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Bridge Plan for Academic Validation

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Bridge Plan for Academic Validation

Alternative means to meet HSA requirement. Rigor is not sacrificed

Extent of a student’s Academic Validation Plan is based on the degree to which the student is not meeting the HSA passing score.

Final outcome and criteria currently being developed.

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Value of the Bridge Plan

Helps students who have test fears and/or those who do not test well

Connects struggling students with an adult

State controls will ensure fairness and consistency

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EligibilityCriteria

HSA Test Performanc

e

Students who:

• Have failed an HSA content area test twice

• Have not achieved combined score of 1602 on the 4 HSA tests

Academic Validation

Project

Bridge Plan Overview

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EligibilityCriteria

HSA Test Performanc

e

Substantive Project

• Failed an HSA content area test twice

• Passed the HSA-related course(s)

• Participated in locally-administered or approved assistance

• Making satisfactory progress toward graduationAcademic

Validation Project

Bridge Plan Overview

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EligibilityCriteria

HSA Test Performanc

e

Academic Validation

Project

• MSDE will develop project modules for each HSA Content Expectation.

• A student is assigned projects based on the student’s highest score in the specific HSA content area.

• The Local Review Panel reviews project package and makes recommendations to local superintendent.

• The local superintendent approves or rejects project package.

Bridge Plan Overview

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HSA Content Expectations

Government U.S. Government

Structure, Function and Principles

Systems of Government and Foreign Policy

Protecting Rights and Maintaining Order

Impact of Geography on Governmental Policy

Economic Principles, Institution, and Processes

English Comprehension and

Interpretation Making Connections and

Evaluation Controlling Written

Language Language Usage

and Convention

Biology Skills and Processes of

Biology (Project embedded in other expectations)

Structure and Function of Biological Molecules

Structure and Function of Cells and Organisms

Inheritance of Traits Mechanism of Evolutionary

Change Interdependence of

Organisms in the Biosphere

Algebra Analyzing Patterns and

Functions Modeling Real-World

Situations Collecting, Organizing, and

Analyzing Data Using Data to Make

Predictions

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Academic Validation Project Modules

Each project will cover specific content a student would be expected to know, or have mastered, for the HSA test.

Each project will be rigorous.

Each project will be accompanied with: directions on how to assign the

project, scoring “look-fors,” and other guides to assist in

completing the assignment.

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Bridge Plan: From Start to Finish

The forms listed below will be completed by all or some of the following: the student, parent/guardian, designated school staff member(s), and/or Project Monitor.

Bridge Plan for Academic Validation Student Forms

Academic Validation Project Package Planner

Bridge Plan for Academic Validation Student Agreement

Schedule for Project Package Completion

Academic Validation Project Package Submission

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Academic Validation Project Package Planner Model

The student, parent/guardian, and a school representative will sign the Student Agreement.

The planner Includes Bridge Plan Project Assignment Chart Identifies the project(s) assigned to the student

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Bridge Project Assignment

No. Projects Assigned

Algebra(412

Passing)

English(396

Passing)

Biology(400

Passing)

Government

(394 Passing)

1 Project 390-411 374-395 378-399 372-393

2 Projects 368-389 352-373 356-377 350-371

3 Projects 356-367 330-351 334-355 328-349

4 Projects 324-355 308-329 312-333 306-327

5 Projects 302-323 286-307 290-311 284-305

6 Projects 280-301 264-285 268-289 262-283

7 Projects Below 280 Below 264 Below 268 Below 262

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05/24/07

348 07/06/07

Summer Instruction 10/11/07

363

11/15/07 John Doe BC1587-885

W.Taft High School Baltimore County363

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12

1

03/15/08

03/15/08

02/18/08

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12

122

03/15/08

03/15/08

02/18/08

02/18/08

02/18/08

Collecting, Organizing & Analyzing Data A-c.

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11/15/07 John Doe BC1587-885

The school shall make every effort to have the parent/guardian sign this document. However, in the case where every attempt has been made without success, the student may participate in the Bridge Plan program without a parental signature if the school administration so certifies.

Documentation to that effect should be noted on the Parent/Guardian signature line.

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Bridge Plan for Academic Validation - Student Planner and Agreement

The student, parent/guardian, and a school representative will review and sign the Student Planner and Agreement.

Summarizes student’s HSA test performance

Identifies the project(s) assigned to the student

Indentifies a completion date for project(s)

Certifies that all project work will be done by the student

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Academic Validation Project Package Submission

The student and Project Monitor will sign the Project Package Submission form which

Identifies the project(s) assigned to the student

Certifies that the project work will be done by the student

The Project Package Submission form is submitted with

All projects assigned in the content area

Any IEP, 504 Plan or ELL Plan documentation

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Review Panels

School systems will convene either Local or Regional Review Panels to validate a student’s Project Package.

The composition of the Review Panels will include central office staff, content teachers, and special education and/or ELL teachers, and other designated staff required for a fair review of the Project Package.

Project Packages will be reviewed in accordance with MSDE guidelines andprocedures. Scoring tools will be provided by MSDE Consistent and without bias

Panel recommendations will be sent tolocal superintendent.

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Local Superintendent Project Package Decisions

The local superintendent will review the recommendations and findings of the Review Panels.

The local superintendent can accept the panel’s recommendations, return recommendations to the panel for

further study and resubmission, or reject the panel’s recommendations.

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Local Superintendent Project Package Decisions

If a project package is:

APPROVED The student will have met the high school assessment requirement.

RESUBMIT The student will receive feedback and can continue working on his/her project(s).

REJECTED The student will receive feedback and can continue working on his/her project(s).ORThe student can appeal, in writing, to the State Superintendent.

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Role of MSDE

MSDE will:

• Develop a bank of projects

• Produce project guidelines

• Establish scoring guides or rubrics

• Produce sample responses

• Provide comprehensive training for implementation

• Participate in initial review sessions of all local review panels

• Audit Bridge Plan submissions and decisions

• Report use of the Bridge Plan

• Conduct ongoing studies

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MSDE Training

MSDE will provide training that addresses

• Project development

• School and system implementation procedures

• Recordkeeping

• Scoring Guidelines

• Scoring Procedures

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MSDE’s Role in the Review Panel Provide training for Review Panels

Participate on Review Panel initial sessions

Audit submissions and decisions

Report Bridge Plan use

Conduct ongoing studies of Bridge Plan use

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Implementation

Ready to go May 1, 2008

Project Development includes:• Review of projects for special education and

LEP accessibility for all projects• bias and sensitivity review

Administrative Procedures Development

Training

Preparation and distribution of materials

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Bridge Plan Website: MdBridgePlan.org