High Schools That Work does not have a conventional system of evaluation. We work with schools and state coordinators in using data from a variety of sources to guide school improvement efforts. At the heart of this system is the HSTW Assessment, which has been administered to seniors at participating schools since 1988. The assessment is a requirement for sites in even years (2006, 2008, 2010) and it consists of NAEP-referenced subject tests in reading, mathematics and science, coupled with  and a survey of student experiences. Most schools administer the assessment to a random sample of students in order to defray testing costs.

The HSTW Assessment serves two purposes:

• to link student performance to a set of Key Practices in a way that helps high school leaders, teachers and communities improve the achievement of academic and career/technical students.
   
• to identify seniors who qualify for the HSTW Award of Educational Achievement.

By administering a student survey in conjunction with the assessment, SREB is able to provide schools with a comprehensive report of results that illustrate student proficiency in reading, mathematics and science as well as student course-taking patterns, academic and career/technical classroom experiences and work experiences. School leaders and staff use the information provided to assist them in revising instruction, graduation requirements, curriculum, guidance practices, extra-help systems and work-based learning programs.

For detailed assessment administration information please click here. Otherwise click one of the following:

Reasons for Giving the High Schools That Work Assessment.
Components of the HSTW Assessment
Guidelines for Selecting a Random Sample of Students to Participate in the 2008 Assessment
The HSTW Assessment Report
 

Additional Components of the HSTW evaluation system:

HSTW Teacher Survey

Participating schools administer the HSTW Teacher Survey in conjunction with the HSTW Assessment. All staff members who teach students in grades nine through 12 complete the survey which provides information that schools need to plan and organize staff development programs. Additional items ask teachers about their expectations of students, their instructional practices, and the assessment methods they use. Teacher survey results are included in the HSTW Assessment Report.

Annual Site Progress Report

An Annual Site Progress Report is completed by HSTW site coordinators that summarize progress made in implementing the improvement framework, challenges and goals for subsequent years and also provides HSTW with key demographic information.


Components of the HSTW Assessment

Each subject test of the HSTW Assessment includes multiple choice and constructed response items. For additional information on the subject area tests, read the test description and sample question guide under assessment administration guides.

• Reading test (90 minutes).
• Mathematics test (70 minutes). A scientific or graphing calculator is permitted for one section.
• Science test (70 minutes).
• Student survey consisting of two parts:
  • Course experience survey (30 minutes). Part one is a transcript study of the English, mathematics and science courses that students completed in grades nine through 12. A copy of each student’s transcript, his or her current course schedule and a completed course-matching chart are necessary to complete this section of the student survey. HSTW strongly recommends that school counselors or administrators complete the course experience survey for students using the course matching guides provided. However, students may also complete this section with appropriate assistance.
  • Survey of academic experiences (60 minutes).

Guidelines for selecting students to participate in the 2008 assessment

All schools must use one of the following options to select a random sample of students to participate in the HSTW Assessment. More detailed sampling instructions are available with the administration guides.

1. Test all seniors completing four units (or their equivalent) in a career/technical area.
2. Test a random sample of 60 or more seniors completing four units (or their equivalent) in a career/technical area.
3. Test a random sample of 60 or more seniors. This sample is intended to be representative of all seniors.
4. Test ALL seniors. This option is used most frequently by schools with fewer than 60 seniors.
5. Comprehensive School Reform (CSR) schools should use the sampling method specified in their CSR contract.

Use the following guidelines in selecting and assessing students:

• Use the same sampling options you used for previous assessments to ensure comparability of results from year to year.
• Do not use the completion of academic courses as a criterion for selecting students.
• Special needs students who routinely participate in state assessments and can function in a testing environment should be included in the pool of students from which test participants are drawn.
• Test only seniors.
• Ensure that all test participants complete all four components of the assessment (subject tests in reading, mathematics and science and the student survey).

The HSTW Assessment Report

By administering a student survey in conjunction with the assessment, SREB is able to provide schools with a comprehensive report of results that illustrate student proficiency in reading, mathematics and science as well as course-taking patterns, academic and career/technical classroom experiences and work experiences.

The report provides results for the current assessment and the previous assessment, enabling school staff to chart their progress over a period of time. Schools may also compare their students’ performance and reported experiences to all schools in the network and to a high-scoring comparison group, based on schools with a socioeconomic base similar to their own.

Schools receive HSTW Award of Educational Achievement certificates for eligible students and individual student reports in early May. (Due to necessary test development, 2008 awards and student reports will be delivered in June.) School reports will be delivered as PDF files on CD ROMs in early September.


 

For more information, please e-mail Alison Yasitis at allison.yasitis@sreb.org.