Assessment and Using Data

High Schools That Work Assessment

The HSTW Assessment, administered to seniors in even-numbered years, is used by HSTW states, districts and schools to document and inform school improvement efforts. The assessment includes three subject tests - reading, mathematics and science -, a student survey and a teacher survey. This assessment provides comprehensive school-level data that disaggregate students' achievement by their perceptions of school and classroom experiences. These results have given schools, districts and states a unique opportunity to determine what is and is not working to increase student achievement. The next HSTW Assessment will be conducted in winter 2010.

Recently, SREB and Educational Testing Services (ETS) revised the HSTW Assessment to provide additional value to participating schools and students. In addition to serving as a measure of continuous school improvement, the revised HSTW Assessment also serves as a measure of student college and career readiness.

Introducing the New HSTW Assessment details the test development process and identifies major changes for the 2008 HSTW Assessment.

The schedule for distribution of 2008 HSTW Assessment Reports is as follows:

• Awards and Student Reports: mailed to schools June 5, 2008
• School Reports: mailed to schools in August 2008

Additional information regarding the HSTW Assessment:

• The HSTW Award of Educational Achievement and Student Reports
• HSTW Assessment Publications
  • Are Scores on the HSTW Assessment Related to Students' Self-Reported Educational Experiences? (ETS, 2008)
  • Information for Sites Bulletin (ETS, 2008)
  • A Guide for Using the HSTW Assessment Report to More Deeply Implement School Reform
  • Workbook: Using the HSTW Assessment Report to More Deeply Implement School Reform
  • Reasons for Giving the High Schools That Work Assessment

 High Schools That Work Ninth-Grade Student Survey

The Ninth-Grade Student Survey is designed to provide schools with critical information regarding students' first year in high school. The survey is administered online to a random sample of 100 ninth-grade students or to all ninth-grade students at schools with fewer than 100 ninth-graders.

The survey collects information on the courses students took, guidance and advisement experiences, the transition to high school, extra help received and students' perceptions of the expectations their teachers had for them. Additionally, the survey is used to collect information on a series of basic study skills referred to as the habits of success. These habits are the study skills students must possess to become independent learners (e.g., taking notes while reading, keeping a running list of assignments and grades earned, studying with a partner). They are very closely related to academic success, but not traditionally taught in high school.

The next Ninth-Grade Survey will be administered April 1-30, 2009. Online ordering of the survey will be available March 2-27, 2009.

For additional information on the Ninth-Grade Student Survey e-mail allison.timberlake@sreb.org.

 2008 HSTW Annual Progress Report 

SREB collects an Annual Progress Report from each HSTW site. This report contains information about the school's accomplishments and challenges during the previous school year. School leaders also provide information about policies and practices currently in place. All HSTW sites are required to complete the Annual Progress Report.

Online submission of the 2008 HSTW Annual Progress Report is currently available. The Annual Report will be due September 30, 2008. The purpose of the later deadline is to allow schools time to gather the necessary data and information that becomes available in the fall.

Complete the 2008 Annual Progress Report.

Once completed, visit the following link to confirm that your 2008 Annual Report was received.

2008 Annual Progress Report Confirmation

Additional information regarding the HSTW Annual Progress Report:

2008 HSTW Annual Progress Report memo

Access your school's 2007 Annual Progress Report .

 Follow-Up Survey of 2008 High School Graduates  

In the spring of odd-numbered years, schools that administered the High Schools That Work Assessment the previous year will administer a follow-up survey to those graduates who participated in the assessment. This survey is designed to gather information on these students one year after graduating high school. This survey provides schools with the information they need to answer important questions, such as: How many of our students entered a postsecondary institution? How many of our students needed remedial course work in their postsecondary education and in which subjects? What types of jobs did students hold after graduation and how much were they paid?

The next follow-up survey will take place in spring 2009.

Information regarding assessments offered by other SREB school improvement initiatives is available on the Middle Grades Assessment Web page.

For more information, please e-mail Allison Timberlake at allison.timberlake@sreb.org.