Alignment Studies for Peer Review Process
Dear Science Educators,
The Ohio Department of Education (ODE) is currently
accepting applications for participants in the July 2017 Alignment Study
process. The purpose of each alignment study is to verify the alignment
of the assessment items to the Ohio Learning Standards for content and
difficulty. Alignment studies are part of the Peer Review process that provide
additional evidence for the validity of the state assessments to the United
States Department of Education (USDOE).
During the July meetings, Ohio content expert stakeholders
from across the state will meet in panels to make judgments about the alignment
of test questions to the content and rigor of Ohio’s Learning Standards in
English language arts and mathematics grades 3 through high school and science
grades 5, 8 and high school Biology.
Hotel accommodations are provided for participants who
travel 45 miles or more to the meeting site. All hotel and mileage reimbursements
will be covered. Substitute reimbursements are also available to districts if
necessary. This stakeholder participation is considered voluntary so there is
not a stipend for being a panelist.
Further information for potential participants, including
meeting dates, is available in the FAQs that follow. If you are interested in
participating in the ODE Alignment Studies you may complete the online
stakeholder committee nomination form located at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/H7KF2C2.
Applicants are asked
to describe their experience in education, including their expertise with
Ohio’s Learning Standards in Ela, math and/or science and to identify their
grade level and content area assignment preferences. Applications must be
submitted by 5:00 PM ET on Friday, June 16th. Applicants
selected to participate will be notified by Monday, June 26th. For
more information about Ohio assessment stakeholder committees please visit the
following web page: http://education.ohio.gov/Topics/Testing/Assessment-Committees
We hope you
will consider applying to be part of this exciting opportunity. If you have
questions that cannot be answered by one of the FAQs, please contact:
Marie-Elena
(Lana) Hall, Ed.D.
Associate
Director, Office of Curriculum & Assessment
Marie-elena.hall@education.ohio.gov
1. What
is the role of an alignment study panelist?
For each assessment, the alignment study panels
will consist of Ohio content expert stakeholders from across the state.
Panelists will make independent judgments as to the alignment of content and
difficulty of test items to the Ohio’s Learning Standards in ELA, Math and
Science. The data will be compiled by an outside contractor and submitted as
part of the federal peer review process for Ohio’s state assessment system.
2. What
are the benefits of participating in Ohio’s alignment studies?
The ODE alignment study meetings are a unique opportunity
for educators to engage professionally with their peers from across the
state. Participants will leave the meetings with a better understanding of
how assessment items are aligned to the content, skills, and difficulty of
Ohio’s Learning Standards, and of the expectations for student performance on
Ohio’s Ela, math, and science assessments.
3. When
are Ohio’s alignment study meetings?
Each of Ohio’s alignment studies will
be completed in a two-day meeting. Each panel will consist of Ohio stakeholders
who have content expertise in Ela, math or science. Participants must be
available for both meeting days. Each panel will consist of educators that
cover two grade levels or high school end-of-course exams. The dates of the
alignment studies are listed in the chart below.
Grades/Courses Panel Meeting
Dates
Science
Grade 5 Tuesday,
July 18 - Wednesday, July 19
Science
Grade 8 Thursday,
July 20 - Friday, July 21
High
School Biology Thursday,
July 27 – Friday, July 28
4. Do
panelists have to be at the meeting both days?
Yes. The morning of Day 1 is training about test item alignment and how
to use the online alignment tool to review the item bank for each test. The
training is crucial for being able to review items and verify alignment of
content, skills, and difficulty to Ohio’s Learning Standards.
5.
Can I get professional development credit for
being on this committee?
Yes. After the alignment studies
are completed you will receive a Certificate of Completion for the hours you
participated. These certificates are normally used with the LPDCs for
professional development credit. It is always a good idea to check with your
LPDC to be sure.
6. What
expenses will be covered for participants?
Hotel accommodations will be
provided for participants who live 45 miles or more from the meeting site.
Hotel costs for participants will be direct-billed to ODE. Participants will be
reimbursed for mileage at the rate of $.52 per mile. This stakeholder participation
is considered voluntary so there is not a stipend for being a panelist.
Substitute teacher reimbursement to school districts is available if necessary.
Paperwork will be completed at the meeting.
7. How
can I apply to participate?
Individuals who are interested in participating in Ohio’s alignment
review meetings for Ela, math, and science may complete the online stakeholder
nomination form/application located at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/H7KF2C2.
Applicants are asked to describe their experience in education, including their
expertise with Ohio’s Learning Standards, and to identify their grade level and
content area assignment preferences. Applications must be submitted by 5:00
PM ET on Friday, June 16th. Applicants selected to participate
will be notified by Monday, June 26th.
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