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Virginia Department of Education

Information on this page is provided by the Office of Standards, Curriculum & Instruction.

Staff Contacts

Mathematics

Algebra Readiness Initiative

The Algebra Readiness Initiative provides assistance in preparing students for success in algebra. School divisions are eligible for incentive payments to provide mathematics intervention services to students in grades 6-9 who are at-risk of failing the Algebra I end-of-course test as demonstrated by their individual performance on diagnostic tests that have been approved by VDOE.

VDOE has made available to all school divisions in Virginia an online diagnostic test. School divisions have the option of using this online test or another test that meets specified criteria and is approved by VDOE.

Intervention Models

School divisions must certify to VDOE that an intervention program will be offered to students identified as at-risk and that such students who receive intervention will be assessed again at the end of the intervention.
The model for the additional instruction is determined by the school division.

Intervention models:

• Individual or small group instruction
• Common skill/strand deficit program
• Before- and after-school programs
• Saturday school
• In-school tutoring by instructional aide
• Computer-assisted instruction
• Additional class period with licensed teacher
• Summer school
• Other research-based instructional model

Research-based instructional strategies should:

• Use concrete-representation-abstract sequence of instruction
• Build meaningful student connections
• Teach concepts/skills within authentic contexts
• Include explicit teacher modeling
• Teach metacognitive strategies
• Scaffold instruction
• Teach using big ideas

Student practice should include:

• A variety of practice opportunities
• Structured language experiences
• Structured peer tutoring
• Structured small learning groups
• Planned discovery experiences
• Instructional games
• Self-correcting materials
• Continuous monitoring/charting of student performance

Students participating in the intervention program are pre- and post-tested. School divisions are required to report the results of the pre- and post-diagnostic tests to VDOE on an annual basis for each student who receives intervention services.

Diagnostic Test

VDOE in partnership with Internet Testing Systems (ITS) designed the Algebra Readiness Diagnostic Test System (ARDT) as a 100 percent Web-based application that employs a computer adaptive testing engine to help determine student proficiency in mathematics. The assessment is administered in schools on a computer connected to the Internet. The application draws from a pool of over 2000 test items in real time. The test items are correlated to the Mathematics Standards of Learning for grades 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 and Algebra I and were reviewed by a group of Virginia educators for accuracy and validity.

Results from the diagnostic test are available immediately and provide information correlated to the Standards of Learning reporting categories. This information is beneficial in developing and focusing an intervention program for those students who are most at risk.

Students targeted to take the diagnostic tests include those who meet the following criteria:

• students who were not successful in their previous intervention/remediation program; or
• students who performed below average in their previous year's mathematics program; or
• students who did not pass the state-administered Standards of Learning mathematics assessment test.

Students targeted to participate in the intervention program include those who did not pass the appropriate diagnostic test.

VDOE provides for pre- and post-testing of a specified number of students in order for school divisions to determine individual needs of the students and to monitor progress. School divisions have the option of using the state-provided diagnostic test or using locally developed or selected diagnostic tests that align with specified criteria. These tests must be approved by the Department of Education.

In addition to the unlimited computer adpative testing that is available to each student enrolled in the Algebra Readiness Intiative, there are unlimited strand tests available per student. These 10-question tests are designated by strand and grade level. Teachers can use these to gather additional information about student strengths and weaknesses between administration of the pre- and post-tests.

ARDT Training Videos

• Using the Algebra Readiness Diagnostic Test – This series of videos is designed to assist those using the Algebra Readiness Diagnostic Test (ARDT) for the first time, as well as a refresher for veteran users.
  • Play Video Uploading student files
    Gerald Nichter, ARI tutor for Chesapeake County Public Schools, demonstrates how to upload student files into the ARDT. All students must be loaded into the system before they can be tested.
  • Play Video Assigning Classes and Strand Tests
    While students do not need to be assigned to classes to take a CAT test, they must be in classes to take strand tests. Gerald Nichter demonstrates how to set up classes and assign strand tests to students.
  • Play Video Administering a CAT Test
    This demonstration by Gerald Nichter shows the steps required to give a CAT test to a group of students.
  • Play Video Accessing CAT Reports
    Rob Silverman, ARI Coordinator for the Fluvanna County Public Schools, demonstrates how to access the different CAT reports.
  • Play Video Reviewing CAT Data
    Once students have been tested, data is available immediately. Rob Silverman uses fictitious student data to demonstrate how to read the CAT reports.
  • Play Video Accessing Strand Reports
    Strand test data is reported individually on each student. Rob Silverman shows how to locate and read these reports.
• A Discussion about Virginia's Algebra Readiness Diagnostic Test – In this series of videos, Dr. Scott Elliott, President of SEG Assessment, discusses the technical aspects of the Algebra Readiness Diagnostic Test (ARDT) with Dr. Lois Williams of the Virginia Department of Education.
  • Play Video Technical Aspects
    This segment answers general questions about the computer adaptive nature (CAT) of the ARDT and the item bank.
  • Play Video Scoring the ARDT
    Frequently asked questions from Virginia educators about the nature of scoring the CAT are answered by Dr. Elliott.
  • Play Video Scoring and the Strand Tests
    This video continues the scoring discussion and includes strand test scoring.
  • Play Video Strength and Weakness Reports
    The nature of the strength and weakness reports is covered in this segment.

Algebra Readiness Online Resources

The following links provide additional information concerning the Algebra Readiness Initiative and participation in the online testing.

• ARDT Summer Workshop Manual (PDF)
  The manual explains the basics about using ARDT.
• ARI Curriculum Companion
  This guide is a compilation of lessons that ARI tutors may use with their students. These lessons are listed by SOL so that they easily correlate to the ARDT individual student strength and weakness report.
• Frequently Asked Questions About the ARDT
  Answers many questions that have been raised by users in Virginia school divisions concerning the Algebra Readiness Initiative and the ARDT.
• ARDT website
  This is the ARDT site where teachers/tutors and administrators in the Algebra Readiness Initiative can access the revised ARDT system.
• Superintendent's Certification Form (Word)
  School divisions may opt to use a diagnostic test other than the ARDT. This form will certify that the test meets the specified criteria. Please return this form to the Department of Education.
• ARDT Annual End-of-Year Report (Word)
  School divisions that use the ARDT are not required to submit an end-of-year report. The ARDT system will provide VDOE with the required data. However, school divisions that opt to use locally developed or selected diagnostic tests are required to submit this annual report.
• Algebra Readiness Initiative (PPT)
  This PowerPoint document gives an overview of the Algebra Readiness Initiative.
• "At-A-Glance" Algebra Readiness Initiative Checklist (Word)
  A successful intervention program is comprehensive, intensive, assesses frequently, and addresses the individual needs of the students. The points on this resource checklist are research-based guidelines that translate the components of a successful program for at-risk students into guidance for setting up an algebra readiness classroom.

Contacts

• Internet Testing Systems (ITS)
  vardtsupport@testsys.com
  Phone: (866) 697-3026

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