TESTING MOTIVATION
Convince the ISBE/Legislature to require it as an exit test!!!!!!!!!!!!
For every area on the PSAE where you receive a Meets or Exceeds, you can exempt from one 1st semester exam your Senior year as long you maintain a "C" or above in the class. For example: a Meets or Exceeds in Math would apply to a math exam; one in Science to a science class. One in reading or writing could apply to an English or history class. Our seniors are not required to take 2nd semester exams. It's been a positive motivator for our students since the PSAE score is determined by the combined Day 1 and Day 2 scores.
Take day 2 on day 1
It boils down to this: kids are not fools. They know that 2nd day means nothing. It's up to us as educators to make it worth something.
Something that I started as HS principal at my last job was to give out exam exemptions for 1st semester exams. At that time all seniors were exempt from 2nd semester exams unless they were failing that particular class, but they were not exempt from 1st semester exams. What we did is we told each student that for every meets they received on the PSAE they would earn one exam exemption card, and for every exceeds they would earn two exam exemption cards, that they could use for the 1st semester exams. Do well enough and they could actually earn enough to be exempt from exams their entire senior year. It worked very well.
Since I left that position I believe they have changed it a bit. Now I think they require all seniors to take exams both semesters, but they can earn the exemptions for the 2nd semester exams. My son fell under those guidelines last year and I know that it worked for him...he was working hard his Jr. year on the PSAE to earn those exam exemptions.
Our students, if they meet or exceed in both reading and math get to waive finals the last semester of their senior year (December for early grads) May for regular grads.
Last year was the first year. We posted students who could waive finals just prior to the PSAE administration. I think the bragging seniors inspired their younger classmates.
I give my Juniors the Friday off. They must work diligently both test days taking each test seriously and be on time in the morning. If they meet the requirements they do not have to come to school on that Friday.
We also give incentive prizes of cold hard cash to those juniors that exceed and meet in each category.
Tie performance to something that they care about? We tie it to exemption from finals. All students who meet or exceed on the all portions of the PSAE are exempt from finals. It has certainly got their attention.
WE offer semester exam waivers based upon meeting and or exceeding on the PSAE.
The website has a few ideas on that. At our school we allow seniors who met or exceeded in all four areas to skip their first semester final exams. Because we have to put in a score, they get the average of the two quarters together. If a student would like to take exams so that they can improve their semester grade, they are welcome to do so.
Also, if the class has a whole meets the state standard we give them a pizza party.
We are struggling with the same thing and one thing we are going to try is more immediate incentive for those who pass.
We have a very strict attendance policy so the following program has worked very well. I will be awarding the seniors that met at least one area one personal leave day and the seniors that exceeded at least one area two. (Every one of our seniors that exceeded an area met both). We are setting limitations on the use of the days (not during exams, during group presentations, labs, etc) and parents must give their permission (legal liability). Our test scores showed strong improvement last year. (For example, low income math jumped from 26% to 38.2%) We also added ACT test taking strategies to help combat test anxiety, but without the motivational programs I question how effective the strategies would have been.
All juniors who pass the WorkKeys test with a score of "5" or higher will be exempt from a second semester senior final.
If the class as a whole meets AYP, then the school takes them as seniors to six flags for a day. I'm not sure if this works or not, but we had a class last year that we never dreamed would make AYP, but they did.
Any student who meets or exceeds in all areas of the PSAE, less than 7 days absent, no in or out- of- school suspension is exempt from their exams their senior year. Seems to work very well.
We give a semester exam exemption (1st semester senioryear) to students who meet or exceed.
We also tell them that if they work both days that they get out of school after testing on the second day- of course we'd probably cut them loose anyway but it seems to at least keep them acting serious and behaving.
We have had the same concern. I believe part of that drop off is also because the test is so much easier than day 1 (and it should be) and the students are careless on it not to mention that they are burnt out from day 1. I truly believe they should switch the days. Enough editorializing...
My other issue was that my staff wasn't completely on board with PSAE. They felt since their area wasn't being tested didn't affect them - science is measured but not held accountable so basically I had my math teachers worrying about it. I put together a presentation to the staff and presented it in September. That helped immensely with the buy-in. At our next early release in October, I had each department set long and short term goals of what they could do in their department to improve PSAE goals, give reasons why we should worry about PSAE scores and tell me one thing they had done in their classroom since September to help with the scores. Even the PE teachers had to present. The presentations were GREAT! Amazing what staff will do when they have to get up in front of their peers.
My dean of students and I have also met with each junior student and set an individual goal with them as to their scores on the entire PSAE. If they meet their goal they get to exempt out of a first semester final exam. If they exceed their goal they get to exempt out of two. This is on top of an attendance incentive that we have in place for all students that allows them to exempt out of exams. I used the attached sheets to help the students set their goals. I had previous testing data and current GPA on the sheet to help me start.
We have spent tons of time talking about the importance of the test for us and for them. We talked about the WorkKeys and that current businesses use it and it could benefit them getting a job. This has helped some of our lower students feel a need for taking the test seriously. The attached charts also helped some of the lower students see that they can meet the goals.
Finally, my guidance department has put together a test prep program that helps the students prepare for the test during advisory time at the end of the day. The students don't have a choice and must participate. It is 3 days a week and we do it for two weeks and then give them a week off.
During that time they work on the WIN program which is specific to the WorkKeys test and tells them what level they are working at and helps them improve.
The biggest incentive that I have offered to the juniors is that if they meet as a class, I will not require them to be in advisory their entire senior year (unless they are failing a class). This has been huge to them and they are pushing each other to do their best. If the entire class doesn't make AYP then they all stay. Through the goal sheets that I mentioned above, I have it set that about 73% will meet or exceed. I am very optimistic about our status this year. We have been scoring in the 50's the last 3 to 4 years. I believe it is because of test motivation as well as lack of true knowledge about what the test means to them and the school. Students really don't want their school to fail.
If student attendance is 100% both days, students get to leave after the workeys portion of the PSAE. Last year we had a student skip out on day 1. Since he was the only one and attendance was 100% day 2, we let the kids leave with the exception of the skipper. He was required to stay. The kids loved it! We have several other incentives I would be glad to share if you like.