CHSD 117

The use of the term proficiency in educational data generally refers to students demonstrating or not demonstrating that they are “well advanced in … a branch of knowledge” (from the Merriam-Webster Dictionary). Proficiency can be measured in a variety of ways, but for the purposes of the Illinois Report Card proficiency represents students’ success in achieving levels within standardized testing that indicate proficiency in English language arts (ELA), math, or science.

The “All Test Proficiency” measure is the proficiency rate for students combining all tests. A rate is calculated for ELA, Math, and Science at the elementary and high school levels.

The “All Test Proficiency Rate Accountability” measure is calculated, when relevant for accountability using the 95% Participation Rate denominator. This slightly different formula and resulting proficiency figure reflect what is submitted as part of federal accountability reporting for some schools statewide.

As relevant, a rate is calculated for ELA, Math, and Science at the elementary and high school levels.

In 2022 this proficiency measure includes results from the following assessments (again, as relevant for each school):

• IAR

• SAT

• DLM

• ISA

“Federal Rule” on the display toggle refers to what is commonly called the “95% Rule”.

The 2015 reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) known as the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) stipulates that states must assess at least 95 percent of all students, as well as 95 percent of students in each subgroup, including children with disabilities, with federally approved statewide academic content assessments to meet federal accountability requirements.

Per Illinois’ ESSA Plan, a school cannot receive the Exemplary School designation when it has less than 95 percent eligible student participation for three consecutive years. In addition, ESSA directly incorporates the 95 percent participation threshold into the calculation of proficiency rates for the purposes of accountability. This proficiency rate impacts schools’ interim progress measurements and summative designations. The denominator for calculating proficiency for the purposes of accountability is the higher of 95 percent OR the school’s actual participation rate. A larger denominator with the same numerator will result in a lower proficiency rate. Starting in 2018, the percent of students who are proficient will now be calculated two ways. Historically, percent proficient was calculated by taking the number of students who meet or exceed standards and dividing that by the number of students who took the test. In 2018, ISBE will also calculate percent proficient as the number of students who meet or exceed standards, divided by either by the number of students who took the test OR 95 percent of all students who should have tested, whichever is larger.

For more information: https://www.isbe.net/Documents/FAQ95ParticipationStateAssessments.pdf