Departments

Division of Instruction

High School Assessment as a New Graduation Requirement

Reproduced from various MSDE resources including
"Maryland Classroom" Newsletter Feb 2006 Vol 11 no 3
Other Resources are available at www.marylandpublicschools.org

Maryland High School Assessments & Your Students

• PowerPoint of basic information for Parents

In 2004, the State Board of Education ruled that, beginning with the class of 2009, public school students must pass the High School Assessments (HSA) to graduate. The following questions and answers explain the testing program in more detail and contain updated information on scoring and alternative testing options.

 Answers to your Questions:

• What are the Maryland High School Assessments?
• Do students have to pass the HSA to graduate?
• What are the passing scores?
• Do middle school students taking high-school-level courses have to pass the HSA?
• Do students transferring into Maryland schools have to pass the HSA?
• How are the HSA scored and when are scores released?
• Can the HSA identify passing and letter-grade performance?
• What if a student fails a test?
• What if Students are absent during testing?
• Are there any other testing options for students who may not be able to pass the HSA?
• Are test accommodations available for students with disabilities?
• How is the state helping students and teachers prepare for the HSA?

What are the Maryland High School Assessments?

The HSA are three tests - one each in algebra/data analysis, biology, and English.[1] Each HSA takes around three-and-a-half hours to complete (including a short break mid-way through the exam). To see sample tests, visit www.MarylandPublicSchools.org and click on Testing/High School Assessment.
 

Do students have to pass the HSA to graduate?

• Yes…Students graduating in or after 2009 must pass…
• No…Students graduating before 2009 do not have to pass the HSA to graduate. They do, however, have to take the tests.
  

What are the passing scores?

Students graduating from high school in or after 2009 have to pass the HSA to graduate.

There are two ways to do this:

• Pass all three HSA. The passing scores are: algebra/data analysis, 412; biology, 400; and English, 396.[2] - OR -
  
• Earn a minimum score on each test (see Table 1) and a combined score of at least 1208 - the total of the three passing scores. This combined-score option allows student to offset lower performance on one test with higher performance on another.
  

Table 1

Students will also be allowed to substitute passing scores on state-approved tests for passing scores on the HSA. The state has not selected acceptable substitute tests yet, but possibilities include the Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate exams.

All students must meet the state's credit, service-learning, and attendance requirements as well as all the requirements imposed by your school system.

Do middle school students taking high-school-level courses have to pass the HSA?

Yes. Students take each HSA as they complete the course. If a child is in middle school but taking a high-school-level course (which happens most frequently with algebra), he or she will have to pass the appropriate HSA to graduate. Of course, the earlier a student takes an HSA, the more opportunities he or she has to pass it.

Do students transferring into Maryland schools have to pass the HSA?

There are two scenarios under which students transferring into a Maryland public school may be exempted from one or more HSA:

1. If the transferring student has already earned high school credit for an HSA-tested subject and the school system accepts those credits, he or she doesn't have to take the corresponding HSA.
2. If the transferring student has taken an HSA-tested subject elsewhere, and the school doesn't award credit for it but does place the student in the next sequential course, he or she doesn't have to take the corresponding HSA (e.g., a student placed in geometry upon transfer wouldn't have to take the algebra HSA).
   

How are the HSA scored and when are scores released?

The selected-response items are scored by machine.

As it stands now, scoring takes about nine weeks. Once scored, the state sends students' scores to their school systems, which, in turn, sends them to schools and to parents. State, school system, and school scores are posted on the Web at www.MdReportCard.org.

Can the HSA identify passing and letter-grade performance?

No. Because passing the HSA is a graduation requirement, it's critical that the tests produce the most valid and reliable information at the passing standard - which means most of the questions must be set at the difficulty level of that standard. A test designed to identify both passing and letter-grade performance would take students much more time to complete and MSDE more time to score.

Does MSDE generate scores for specific content within each subject?

Yes. MSDE began producing subtest scores ("subscores") in 2004. Subscores area a breakdown of student performance on different test sections (see Table 2). State and school system subscores are available at www.MDk12.org/data/hsa/index.asp .(Go to Analyze Data/How did students perform on specific content standards?) Students' subscores are sent to school systems and should be made available to parents upon request.

In general, scores based on many test questions are more informative than scores based on fewer questions. That means HSA subscores at the student level are less useful than those at the state or school system level.

Therefore, a good analysis of a student's attainment of specific standards will include his or her performance on quizzes, unit tests, classwork, and homework.

Table 2

What if a student fails a test?

Students needing to retake a failed HSA can do so three times a year - during regular test administration in January, May, and summer. Students may retake failed tests as many times as they need to pass them.

What if Students are absent during testing?

Students absent during regular HSA testing must take the test on one of the scheduled make-up days. The make-up schedule is set at the same time as the regular testing schedule.

Are there any other testing options for students who may not be able to pass the HSA?

Yes. MSDE is working on different assessments for students with disabilities and other who may be able to pass the HSA. If you have specific questions about a student's participation or accommodations on state tests, consult his or her IEP team.

ALT-MSA: Students with significant cognitive disabilities who are unable to participate in regular testing take the Alternate Maryland School Assessment - or Alt-MSA - which has been administered since 2003. The Alt-MSA is tailored to each student's unique instructional needs, and students taking the test earn a Certificate of Program Completion instead of a high school diploma.

MOD-HSA: In May 2004, the U.S. Department of education gave states permission to develop modified tests for a small number of students with disabilities who are able to make progress toward grade-level standards but not in the same timeframe as other students. The Modified HSA - or Mod-HSA - will be based on a modified version of the voluntary state curriculum (VSC).

COMP-HSA: In fall 2004, a task force began exploring how the state might provide assessment for students - with and without - disabilities - who have difficulty o traditional tests.  While the Comparable HSA - or Comp-HSA - will be administered differently than the regular HSA, both assessments will be based on the VSC. The task force is still determining what the Comp-HSA will look like and which students will be eligible to take it. Recommendations would be issued by fall 2007.  Students passing the Comp-HSA will be eligible to earn a high school diploma.

Are test accommodations available for students with disabilities?

All students with disabilities - regardless of the test they take - are entitled to the same accommodations on assessments are provided during daily instruction and prescribed in the Individualized Education Programs (IEPs).

If you have specific questions about a student's participation or accommodations on state tests, consult his or her IEP team.

How is the state helping students and teachers prepare for the HSA?

Online mini-tests

MSDE is developing several online mini-tests that schools can use to identify students who need extra help in each tested subject. Teachers can then provide that help to students who need it - before they fail an HSA.