CCSSO Task Force Year 3 SOW Final.docx

WORK STATEMENT

NATIONAL ASSESSMENT GOVERNING BOARD/

COUNCIL OF CHIEF STATE SCHOOL OFFICERS TASK FORCE

The National Assessment Governing Board (NAGB) has important congressional mandates to set policy for the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) and take appropriate actions to improve the form, content, use, and reporting of assessment results. The Governing Board also has responsibility to plan and execute the initial public release of NAEP reports. One key component for informing the Governing Board’s work is through expanded outreach activities involving targeted audiences across the nation. As increased attention is drawn to the National Assessment of Educational Progress, it is important to expand involvement of state policymakers in providing information and input to the Governing Board on various policy initiatives.

Background In September 2007, the National Assessment Governing Board established a Task Force to convene high-level state education agency staff to discuss current issues and explore outreach options. The goal of this project was to increase state input and feedback to inform the Governing Board’s policy setting work.

Year 1 Historic Activities During the first year of the Task Force, there were two in-person meetings and five webinar sessions. The 12-member Task Force discussed issues related to improving NAEP Report Cards, the NAEP schedule of assessments, the reading trendline, testing and reporting on students with disabilities and English language learners, and other topics. Feedback from the Task Force was presented to the Board at its quarterly meetings, including the briefing of the Board by the Task Force Chair. Input from the Task Force has contributed significantly to Board policy discussions and actions related to all of the topics addressed during year one.

Year 2 Historic Activities In September 2008, the Governing Board approved an extension of activities for a second year for the Task Force, to continue work that was begun in FY 2008 but not fully completed. The twelve member panel met twice in person and four times via Webinar from December 2008 to November 2009. Topics discussed included planning for 2009 NAEP reports, the 12th grade NAEP state-level pilot for 2009, 12th grade preparedness issues, achievement level setting, as well as continued discussion of several ongoing topics from year one. The Governing Board continued to receive quarterly briefings on the Task Force’s work and input. In May 2009, the new Task Force Chair Joe Willhoft, presented recommendations to the Governing Board at its quarterly meeting in Seattle, Washington.

Scope of Work:

Task 1: Task Force Meets and Discusses NAEP Topics of Concern to States and the Board From September 30, 2010 to March 29, 2012 (eighteen months) the 12-member Task Force will meet three times in person in Washington, D.C., and six times via webinar. Topics to be discussed include planning for 2010 NAEP reports, releasing results of the 12th grade NAEP state-level pilot for 2009, 12th grade preparedness issues, achievement level setting, testing students with disabilities and English language learners, use and misuse of NAEP results, and other topics. The Government shall only reimburse travel and lodging for the attendance of each Task Force member.

Task 2: Task Force Briefs Governing Board The Council of Chief State School Officers shall continue to report quarterly to the Governing Board on the Task Force’s work and input. The contractor, through either the Task Force Chair or other Task Force members, shall regularly brief the Governing Board, as issues and Task Force recommendations arise that are pertinent to specific Governing Board policy decisions and timelines. The contractor shall have one Task Force member attend as an observer at each of the six Governing Board meetings per fiscal year, or as a presenter, as circumstances demand. These Governing Board quarterly meetings last from three to four days and the CCSSO attendee shall be present for the Friday session at each meeting. The Government shall only reimburse travel and lodging for the attendance of the Task Force member.

The four known Governing Board meetings that the CCSSO Task Force member must attend are on the following dates: March 3-5, 2011; May 12-14, 2011; August 4-6, 2011; and on November 17-19, 2011. The August 2011 meeting is planned for Washington, D.C. Of the three other 2010 Governing Board meetings, one will be in the Washington, D.C. area and two will be in states determined by the Governing Board and announced in mid 2010. The Governing Board will meet for two additional dates in fiscal year 2012, yet to be determined, but one of them will be in the Washington, D.C. area and the other will be in a state determined by the Governing Board and announced in mid 2011.

ATTACHMENT A

SCHEDULE OF DELIVERABLES

The contractor shall provide all deliverables as electronic documents, formatted in Microsoft Word. All deliverables shall be submitted to the Contracting Officer and the Contracting Officer's Representative. The Governing Board staff will review all documents and materials in a timely manner and provide feedback within approximately four working days.

Provides enough details so that the Governing Board is fully informed of the CCSSO’s recommendations image1.jpeg