What's up with DCAS?

Currently, the DCAS system, with its many yet-unknowns is a bill in Delaware legislature. Proposed by Gov. Markell, DCAS will replace the DSTP, if the bill is passed in Dover.

The following are highlights from Sec. of Ed. Dr. Lillian Lowery's Monday Presentation at Glasgow High School:

• DCAS is the proposed assessment model to replace the current DSTP
• Under the DCAS system, academic benchmarks and graduation requirements will remain the same as is current
• RFPs, or Requests for Proposals were accepted through April 20th from vendors.
• Delaware is looking to join a multi-state collaborative to drive down the price of the test
• Additionally, the new technology will not require actual people to hand score portions of the test, which will decrease the cost.
• School Districts are being asked to return some of the anticipated stimulus funding to cover the technology costs of the test.
• In K-8th grade, DCAS will be an adaptive test or growth model -- adjusting to various levels of difficulty based on how successfully the student is completing the application.
• K-8 students will have the opportunity to take the DCAS three times in a year.
• K-8 students can bank successful scores, allowing teachers and students to focus their study in areas of weakness.
• Student scores will be available to teachers immediately following the completion of the test.
• In schools currently failing to make Annual Yearly Progress, AYP, students in failing cells will only need to show 1 1/2 years progress during a school year, not proficiency, in order for the school to attain AYP.
• In High School, DCAS will take the form of an End-of-Course test. These tests are likely to apply to core courses and will be standardized across the state. They may possibly replace final exams in core courses.
• The end-of-course test will not be a growth model; however, the timing of the test has not been determined. It's possible the test could be offered in early May so that students who do not pass, will have time to retake it. Another possibility for retakes could occur during summer school.
• Delaware has no plans at this time to standardize graduation credits. Dr. Lowery explained that the state sets the minimum requirements and it is hoped that the districts go above and beyond.
• On DAPA II, the Delaware Alternative Portfolio Assessment, Dr. Lowery stated that her office is making plans to evaluate that model in two years.

My initial thoughts:

If DCAS comes to pass, and most think it will, Delaware's 19 school districts will need to evaluate how they provide Gifted and Talented education. Currently, Delaware has no law requiring districts to identify and serve students who are G&T.

According to Dr. Lowery, G&T is something that Delaware's school districts handle on a local level. I've asked Dr. Lowery to consider establishing a statewide curriculum for G&T programming.

I continue to hear from parents who feel their children are not being adequately challenged by the current model in the Christina School District. CSD has no standardized curriculum for its programming. We need to establish what G&T needs to look like in our district, giving teachers control over modality of implementation, but establishing benchmarks and guidelines, through the evaluation of best practices, to ensure these students are engaged and challenged in school.