Comprehensive Assessment Systems for ESEA Title I (CAS) is part of the State Collaborative on Assessment and Student Standards (SCASS) program whose mission is to provide leadership, advocacy and service in creating and supporting effective partnerships through the collective experience and knowledge of state education personnel to develop and implement high standards and valid assessment systems that maximize educational achievement for all children. This mission statement is in alignment with the overall vision and mission of the Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO) and that of the Division of State Services and Technical Assistance (SSTA).
Mission
The Comprehensive Assessment Systems for ESEA Title I State Collaborative on Assessment and Student Standards (CAS SCASS) charge is to support the collaborative work of States to meet standards, assessment, and AYP requirements in implementing the NCLB Act through technical assistance, research, and product development.
Short Description
The CAS consortium's purpose is to improve the implementation of standards, assessments, and accountability systems used for ESEA Title I by identifying critical issues and accessing information to assist states in addressing these issues. The consortium accomplishes this by strengthening the working relationships between assessment, Title I, and curriculum staff; providing feedback to the U.S. Department of Education on standards, assessment, and accountability provisions of Title I; and interacting and working in partnership with the U.S. Department of Education. The group has also been active in producing and sponsoring documents on critical issues, providing professional development for members, and sharing information across states. Recognizing intersecting themes and the efficacy of collaboration, CAS works closely with other SCASS groups including Accountability Systems and Reporting (ASR), Assessing English Language Learners (ELL), Formative Assessment (FAST), Assessing Special Education Students (ASES), and Technical Issues in Large Scale Assessment (TILSA).
Subcommittee Chairs
Capacity Building for Delivering Support/Corrective Action Under AYP: Diane Lowery (SD), Ted Jarrell (DE)
Balanced Comprehensive Assessment Systems: Tammy Howard (NC)
Issues in Assessment under NCLB: Bernadette Morris (LA)
Issues in Sanctions under NCLB
Activities for 2007-2008:
- Inform the reauthorization of NCLB
- Assist states with school improvement initiatives
- Continue work with TILSA on the North Carolina Enhanced Assessment Grant, Strengthening the Comparability and Technical Quality of Test Variations
- Produce and disseminate e-papers on balanced comprehensive assessment systems that include formative, interim, and large scale components
- Develop guide to help states determine the role of formative assessment in their comprehensive assessment systems
- Produce and disseminate short e-papers on challenges in implementing the requirements of NCLB
- Report on the effectiveness of the District Audit Tool for Determining Level of Need for Support and Technical Assistance for helping CAS states determine level of need
- Publish case studies using the District Audit Tool for Determining Level of Need for Support and Technical Assistance
- Conduct consequential validity study using the District Audit Tool data analysis tools
- Develop guide to evaluate effectiveness of Choice and Supplemental Services
- Report on the experiences of CAS states using assessment data to monitor effectiveness of choice and supplemental services
- Support efforts with assembly of the State evidence package for NCLB Standards and Assessment Peer Review including science and modified assessment
- Develop short e-papers on lessons learned from Transitioning Assessments to NCLB requirements (e.g., challenges of maintaining continuity in the meaning of results when revising standards and assessments; challenges of maintaining rigor in the general assessment when addressing students in the gap; challenges of maintaining writing assessments in a conjunctive AYP system; challenges in maintaining and strengthening alignment as standards and assessments are revised; challenges of broad based involvement in standards and assessment development)
- Continue professional development to assist CAS states in meeting NCLB Standards and Assessment Peer Review requirements
Project Staff
Carole White, Coordinator, 302-270-5047, cdwassociates[at]comcast.net
CAS Roster
Chiefline
