KCCT Assessment Project

The Kentucky Core Content Test (KCCT) in Mathematics is given to students in grades 5, 8, and 11. This test includes both multiple choice and open-response questions. Most Kentucky school districts require all mathematics teachers to regularly write and use open response questions that follow the Kentucky open-response guidelines. Mathematics educators at NKU are collecting some of the best of these items and posting them on the NKU Mathematics Education website at http://www.nku.edu/~mathed. For this assignment you will be writing both multiple-choice and open-response items.

The assignment includes:

Write three multiple-choice questions similar to those used in the KCCT. You will be writing your own original items, but you may wish to look at some released items that are available at http://www.kde.state.ky.us/oaa/implement/KCCT_release/KCCT_items.asp. For each of the three questions:
- List the grade level for which the problem has been designed (should be 5, 8, or 11).
- Each question must be matched to the Kentucky Academic Expectations and the Kentucky Core Content appropriate to the grade level tested. List the strand and the specific topics from both the Academic Expectations and the Core Content that the item is designed to assess.
- Give the question written in clear, readable language. Try to write questions that go beyond basic skills.
- Give four choices for the answers (A, B, C, D).
- Indicate the correct answer and give a brief rationale for choosing the other three distracters.
Write one open-response item following the Kentucky guidelines from the Open Response Questions in the Classroom manual (http://www.kde.state.ky.us/oapd/curric/publications/openresponse/default.asp). Again, you will be writing your own original item, but you may wish to look at released items and other teacher-developed items which are available at: http://www.nku.edu/~mathed/mori.html.
- Grade level for which the problem has been designed (should be 5, 8, or 11).
- Each question must be matched to the Kentucky Academic Expectations and the Kentucky Core Content appropriate to the grade level tested. List the strand and the specific topics from both the Academic Expectations and the Core Content that the item is designed to assess.
- A very clearly written prompt that includes at least one part that you expect all students to be successful with as well as something that is challenging for better students. This should be on a separate sheet of paper ready to give the students as well as included on the page that lists the Academic Expectations and Core Content. Your question may have two or more scaffolded components, but remember that students should be able to answer the entire question on one page in about 10 - 15 minutes.
- A very specific scoring guide that includes the answers to all parts of your question. The scoring guide must go from level 0 (no response, or a response that does not answer any part of the question) to 4, an exemplary response that answers all parts of the question. Frequently there are different ways for a student to obtain a score of 1, 2, or 3 so be sure that you account for all the possibilities.
- A "Level 4" response to your question. This should be very specific, concise, and answer all parts of the question.
  
  KCCT Assessment Project Scoring Guide
1. Multiple choice questions correspond to a specific part of the Core Content for Assessment and to the Academic Expectations (3 points)
2. Multiple choice questions are clear, follow the Kentucky guidelines, are appropriate for Core Content and go beyond the basic skill level (9 points)
3. Multiple choice questions have 4 reasonable distracters with rationale for choosing them (3 points)
4. Open response item corresponds to a specific part of the Core Content for Assessment and to the Academic Expectations (3 points)
5. Open response item (original, quality item for testing core content, appropriate to grade level, appropriate for time and space limitations, quality high-level item for a variety of levels of students) (12 points)
6. Scoring guide (answers are all correct, very specific descriptions of levels 0, 1, 2, 3, and 4) (10 points)
7. Sample Level 4 response (all parts of question answered completely and accurately, fits scoring guide requirements for Level 4 response) (10 points)
- Points will be deducted for poor format and grammar.