Files and Templates

The 2010 Cut Scores to ISAT are based on data from thousands of individually administered measures,  furnished from school districts across the state of Illinois, including data from rural, suburban and urban school districts. This file provides both the table of Cut Scores as well as an explanation of how they are intended to be utilized.

Updated Cut Scores to ISAT (Based on 2009-10 CBM and 2010 ISAT)

By popular demand, I have posted PRELIMINARY MCAP Cut Scores to ISAT. These Cut Scores were derived with ROC Analysis. That is,  the values presented are based on minimizing the proportion of False Positives and False Negatives. Because the sample did not include a large enough proportion of students who did not meet standards on ISAT, only proficient scores are presented. As more data are obtained below basic cut scores may also be included.

Many schools using the Reading leveling system devised by Fountas and Pinnell have begun using R-CBM for Universal screening and Benchmarking. After collecting CBM data a common question is, how does that relate to their “Guided Reading Level?” This report provides a preliminary answer to this question.

There has been some discussion regarding what the "Cut Scores to ISAT" reveal and some over interpretation. This follow-up is intended to clarify some of the misconceptions regarding the "Cut Scores".

Factors that ought to be considered with regards to testing studnets with material that is at a different grade level than the student.

 

Revised 9/09 Use of Cut Scores: Cut Scores for the ISAT are intended to be used primarily for Program Evaluation purposes (for example making triangles). Scores at-or below values of below basic indicate justification for concern; Scores at or above the proficient level indicate a high probability that students have mastered basic skills for that grade level. Scores in the confidently proficient range are characterized by a .5 probability of exceeding standards (and empricially resulted in fewer than 2% not meeting standards). Scores that fall between the Below Basic and proficient range indicate a degree of uncertainty regarding mastery of basic skills. Stability: Performance of cut scores across years and districts has been stable +/- 10% including revised ISAT 05-06, 06-07 and 07-08 for grade 3. Cut-scores are approximated with a combination of logistic regression and discriminant function analysis with the criterion measure being the state test for Illinois (ISAT). Bootstrap resampling of 100 repeated logistic regressions of third grade data revealed asymmetric 95% empirical confidence intervals within 4 WRC. Specifically, the Fall cut score for Below Basic of 51 ranged from 51 to 54 WRC; The Fall Proficient Cut Score of 77 ranged from 76 to 80. Validity. Predictive Validity coefficients for R-CBM to ISAT ranged from .71 to .74, with a sample of between 1300 to 2600 students from 8 districts in Northern Illinois. Removed Measures. Repeated failure to replicate adequate diagnostic indices has caused me to remove cut scores for Initial Sounds Fluency, Phoneme Segmentation Fluency and MAZE. While these measures may be useful as diagnostic screeners, or convergent sources of data, my analyses do not support the use of these measures without the support of other more reliable and valid measures of General Outcomes in Reading.

NOTE. THESE CUT SCORES WERE USED TO PREDICT ISAT PRIOR TO 2007-08.In many cases these cut scores are more stringent than more recent cut scores. Proficiency in Reading is one of the primary goals for elementary and middle schools. Curriculum - Based Measures (CBM) from AIMSWEB have been analyzed (grades 1-8) and related to meeting standards on the Illinois Standards Achievement Test. CBM Cut Scores have been derived to predict levels of proficiency in Reading.  Cut scores vary by district though variation is minimal, typically +/- 5 Words read correctly per minute.