ISAT cut scores differ by grade and subject, with eighth-grade mathematics requiring a high score and eighth-grade reading a relatively low one to meet standards¶

Claim · All claims
Evidence · 1 study · associational r2 · q2
Currency · newest study 2003 · not yet checked against its sources · not reviewed by a person

Subclaims¶

q2 i? The Below-to-Meets Standards cut score rises across grades in mathematics (152.5, 157.5, 161.5) and is lower in eighth-grade reading (151.5), so standards stringency varies by grade and subject. → Easton 2003

Evidence¶

Easton 2003¶

Easton, J. Q., Correa, M., Luppescu, S., Park, H.-S., Ponisciak, S., Rosenkranz, T., & Sporte, S. (2003). How Do They Compare? ITBS and ISAT Reading and Mathematics in the Chicago Public Schools, 1999 to 2002. Consortium on Chicago School Research. https://www.consortium-chicago.org/publications/briefs/onlineresources.html

q2 · i? · associational · r2

Descriptive analysis of ISAT cut scores set by a two-stage rating process and shown in Figure 1, on the 120-to-200 scale for grades three, five, and eight in reading and mathematics. In mathematics the cut scores "become progressively higher moving up the grades."

"In mathematics, the cut scores become progressively higher moving up the grades. In other words, a higher score is required to meet state standards. For third grade it is 152.5, for fifth 157.5, and for eighth 161.5."

Discussion¶

Related Claims¶

• Percent meeting standards is an imprecise metric whose cut-score concentration produced the Era 2 misconception that Chicago taught basic skills better than high-level skills — related
• One-to-one correspondence between ITBS national quartiles and ISAT performance categories breaks down at the first and fourth quartiles — related
• ITBS and ISAT scores are highly correlated among CPS students in reading (r = 0.83 to 0.85) and mathematics (r = 0.86 to 0.87) — related
• ISAT scores are not comparable over time: students with identical earlier and later test scores earned different seventh-grade ISAT scores depending on the year tested — related
• The Chicago-versus-rest-of-Illinois gap in ISAT math also narrows in upper grades, but less than in reading — related