Measuring Students' College and Career Readiness in English Language Arts Using a Rasch-Based Self-Efficacy Scale

• In Event: 30.039 - Exploring Reliability and Validity Measures in Student Assessment

Abstract

High school graduation is “not yet a reliable indicator of college readiness”, (Gaertner & McClarty, 2015, p2). As such, researchers are investigating the use of non-cognitive factors as predictors of college and career readiness (CCR). The College and Career Readiness English Language Arts (ELA) Scale was designed to measure students’ self-efficacy in the seven CCR capacities students need to become literate individuals (CCSSI, 2016). Over 100,000 G8 and G10 students participated in the study. Construct validity analyses reveal the CCRES is a reliable scale. A positive relationship between students’ CCRES scaled scores and achievement was supported; confidence gaps, similar to achievement gaps are evident across at-risk sub-groups. Implications for its future use as a diagnostic and evaluation tool are discussed.

Authors

• Shelagh M. Peoples, Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education

• Kathleen Marie Flanagan, Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education