WHEN FEDERAL STIMULUS MONEY WAS FLOWING LAST SESSION, TEXAS LAWMAKERS DEDICATED $9 MILLION

TO REMEDIAL REFORM. IN THE UPCOMING SESSION, THEY FACE AN

$18 BILLION SHORTFALL.

San Antonio Express News ArticleJuly 2010

Additional Article Comments

• “Developmental education is a huge expense when it doesn’t have to be,” said Castro, D-San Antonio.

• “The lack of college readiness begins in K-12 classrooms, and state lawmakers have made major changes aimed at beefing up the rigors of coursework.”

• Richard Middleton, superintendent of the North East Independent School District, said it’s time for higher education to step up to the plate

The Road to Remediation in Math

Incoming student enters bringing non-

exemption level ACT/SAT/TAKS scores

Student takes a Texas Success exam such as Accuplacer, ASSET, COMPASS or THEA and passes minimum score cut-off but is in “gray area” needing

additional assessment.

Math placement is given for Algebra courses. The

results from this placement exam will determine if student is placed into

remediation or regular, credit baring math

courses.

Students Who Are College Ready for Math at the Time of Freshman Orientation

Orientation Term

Total # of Students

Overall NCR Status

NCR Status in Math

CR Status Math Ready in Math

Fall 2008 (200910) 4626 1173 716 457 39%

Fall 2009 (201010) 4585 1021 649 372 36%

Fall 2010 (201110) 5178 915 573 342 37%

College Readiness in math determinants in Texas and UTSA

ACT/SAT or TAKS exit level scores at the time of admittance determine if an incoming student is exempt Texas Success Initiative.

What is the Texas Success Initiative?

Why is it important in terms of remediation and working with students and faculty?

Remediation or Developmental Education in Texas

The Texas Success Initiative is law in the state of Texas. First time Freshman who have not met exemption standards per the ACT/SAT or TAKS test must take and pass a TSI exam such as Accuplacer, Compass, ASSET or THEA at certain levels in reading/math and writing in order to continue on regular, credit bearing courses.

If a student fails to pass certain minimum TSI exam cut scores, those students are placed in remediation or development.

Texas Success Initiative History

The 78th Texas Legislature replaced TASP by the Texas Success Initiative (TSI). Under the Texas Success Initiative, Texas public institutions of higher education are required to assess the academic skills of each entering undergraduate student to determine the readiness of the student to enroll in freshman-level course work. For students failing to meet the assessment standards, the institution may refer the student to developmental course work.

Exemption Standards ACT, SAT and TAKS

ACT composite of 23 (without the essay portion) with subscores of 19 or greater provides exemption on the TSI.

SAT composite of 1070 (without the essay portion) with subscores of 500 or greater provides exemption on the TSI.

TAKS Math and ELA of 2200 or greater with 3 on the essay portion.

Texas Success “gray areas” in Math

Students may pass the minimum cut-off standards on a TSI exam such as Accuplacer math (63) but fall into a “gray area” that needs more assessment (63-84).

When students fall into “gray areas” and need further assessment math placement is required by the University of Texas at San Antonio.

Math Placement Initial Pass Data

Year Algebra Participants

Pass RatesAlgebra (1st)

Algebra 2nd

AttemptParticipants

Pass Rates2nd Attempt

2007 - 2008 2087 28% 471 49%

2008 - 2009 1994 29% 469 52%

2009-2010 2365 25% 525 43%

Algebra placement minimum passing score 19 out of 30 questions

PreCalculus/Calculus Data

Year Participants 1st Attempt Pass Rates

2nd AttemptParticipants

2nd AttemptRates

2007 - 2008 1290 47% 257 38%

2008 - 2009 1375 51% 295 33%

2009 - 2010 1296 55% 285 37%

Algebra Placement

0

500

1000

1500

2000

2500

2007-08 2008-09 2009-10

02xx

1023

1073

Initial Algebra Placement

0

200

400

600

800

1000

1200

1400

1600

1800

2007-08 2008-09 2009-10

02xx

1023

1073

Algebra Placement Retest

0

50

100

150

200

250

300

350

2007-08 2008-09 2009-10

02xx

1023

1073

Partnership to Accelerate Remediation

Math professor had an idea to offer Boot Camps and

had first had knowledge of the skills our students needed to build.

Testing Services Officeadministered, collected the fee for the math placement exam and held the data for

the placement and TSI exams.

Math department agreed to provide the teacher and tutors and Testing provided the funding, advertising, registration and other logistical set-up (room reservations) for the

Boot Camps.

Math Boot Camp

200879 Participants19% Gained 1 level40% Gained 2 levels43 Improved 7 Did not retest

+2 levels+1 levelNo improvementDid not retest

Math Boot Camp

2009106 Participants51% Gained 1 level28% Gained 2 levels 1% Gained 3 levels72 Improved16 Did not retest

+3 levels+2 levels+1 levelNo improvementDid not retest

Math Boot Camp

201046 Participants28% Gained 1 level52% Gained 2 levels38 Improved 8 No improvement

+3 levels+2 levels+1 levelNo improvement

Resources

•My Math Test (Pearson) software

Is Math Boot Camp for you?

• If you achieved a lower score/course placement on your UTSA New Algebra test than you believe you are capable, refresh your skills and knowledge with Math Boot Camp taught by Dr. Carol Dyas, UTSA College of Mathematics faculty member.

• This camp is designed for students who placed into developmental courses (MAT 0203 or 0213).

• Camp participation should be prior to taking the alternate math placement test in order to maximize the opportunity to be placed in a higher level math course.

• Camp sessions are: July 12-15 or August 3-6; (9 am – 4 pm each day)

Advertisement Example

• To register, log on to ASAP, choose Testing Services link, continue to Register for a Test Session, choose Math Boot Camp and select a session. Be sure to print confirmation pages.

• There is no cost for the camp. However, participants must pay for their own parking and lunches.

• Spaces are limited! The need is high. Therefore, registration on

ASAP is first come, first serve with no waiting list available.

Advertise to examinees on first attempt score explanation.

B U S I N E S S I N F O R M AT I O N S Y S T E M S F L U E N C Y

IS 1403

IS 1403

Business Information Systems Fluency Word processing, spreadsheets, data management, and

presentation graphicsMandated course by UT SystemRequirement for admission to COBMany students have prior experience

myitlab

Web-based course using MS Office simulation (myitlab) as platform for both course and test-out option

Access Code Packet available at UTSA bookstore or onlineRuns on the Internet, no CD necessary

IS 1403 Test-Out Option

Collaboration between COB and Testing ServicesRegister software, then practiceSchedule first appointment

Identification and disclaimer One-time payment

Four (4) testsOverall average of 70%

myitlab

Practice Lessons and Practice Tests for each moduleExam covering the practice material for each moduleOnline support available to students Student results stored within myitlab

myitlab

www.myitlab.com

How would I do this at my school?

Identify the appropriate coursePartner with the course faculty Identify the skills being assessedChoose a simulation/testing platform

myitlab (Pearson - Julianne Peterson, Sales Director, 281-989-1201) SAM (Cenage – Rick Ungerman, Executive Sales Rep, 210-834-1363) SimNet (Irwin – Ray Lesikar, Senior Account Mgr, 512-261-7039)