Candidate Assessment System (CAS) Information
In 2003 the College of Education and
Human Services (COEHS) implemented an
electronic data collection tool to track
the progress and proficiency of
preservice teacher candidates on
professional, state, and program
standards. This electronic repository of
data allows for the storage and recall
of data for each candidate including but
not limited to pre-admission
assessments, admissions profile,
critical performance task assessments,
candidate portfolios, and end-of-program
summative measures. At the end of each
term reports are produced from which to
assess the strengths and weaknesses of
candidates and to the quality of the
programs offered in the College, and the
progress of the unit.
The COEHS assessment system is
grounded on “Critical Tasks.” These
critical performance tasks are embedded
in courses and the assessment of
proficiency remains the same despite the
instructor assigned to the course. In
doing so, critical tasks have become the
means by which the Unit monitors and
assesses the most significant outcomes
in a program of study. Examples of
critical tasks include: portfolios,
group and individual presentations,
reflective essays, examinations, lesson
and unit planning activities, practicum
observations, case studies, etc.
Frequently Asked
Questions
Candidate Assessment System
- What are the purposes of the CAS?
- NCATE Continuous
Accreditation (standard 2).
- Meet FLDOE criteria for
approval of teacher preparation
programs (Rule 6A-5.066).
- Track and document
students’ progress via
integrated set of evaluative
measures (i.e., critical tasks)
linked to state, national,
and/or other professional
standards.
- Unit performance
evaluation and decision-making.
- What are the key elements of CAS?
- Critical tasks are the
backbone of our assessment
system and are used to assess
students’ mastery of specific
accomplished practices,
other standards and their
respective indicators.
- Assessment
scale (U, T,
E) based upon
rubrics are used to document students’
proficiency on AP’s, and other
standards.
- Report options.
- How do students meet standards?
- Competency is demonstrated
through critical tasks which are
linked to one or more standards.
- Each critical task has its
own rubric to measure competency
on the standards.
- Students demonstrate
competency three times during
the program. Twice during the
program and a third time during
internship.
- What is the timeline for
critical tasks during the term?
- First two weeks in a
term—Notification of critical
tasks for active courses.
- End of the Term—Data
collection, entry, and
processing.
- At what point in the semester
can student data be submitted?
- Students’ data can be
submitted at any time during the
term.
- How can the number of critical
tasks and/or its content be changed?
- The system is flexible
enough to allow for frequent
revisions of critical tasks.
However, changes need to be
approved by the program chair.
Once approval is obtained
changes are incorporated into
the database.
- Changes should be
submitted at least four to five
weeks into the term in order to
become active no later than by
the end of the term.
- What happens if a student fails
to demonstrate competency on a given
critical task(s)?
- This is a high-stakes
system. Students need to
successfully complete critical
task(s) assignment to receive a
passing grade for the course.
-
Successful completion of a
critical task does not
ensure a passing grade in a
course, but failing a
critical task will result in
a failing grade for the
associated class.
- What safety nets are in place
for students not completing critical
task(s) assignments by the end of
the term?
- Remediation implies the
student did not master a
critical task or tasks prior to
the end of the semester. In this
case, because the student failed
to remediate in time for grade
posting, the student receives a
failing grade for the course
until remediation is completed.
- Professors complete a
remediation form that outlines a
action plan to remediate the
student.
Papers Presented on
CAS Development:
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