As an admin, you can view and manage the proficiency calculation settings available for schools and districts at your institution. Proficiency calculations determine how scores are calculated as well as the interactions between scores. Some calculation methods also include default cut scores and decay rates. While you may have the option to customize cut scores, this is not recommended.
Open Admin Menu
In the Global Navigation menu, click the Admin link [1]. Then, select the Manage option [2].
Open Proficiency Settings
In the Manage list, click the Proficiency Settings link.
View Proficiency Calculations
The Proficiency Calculation Settings page displays the available proficiency calculations.
As a district admin, you can select the calculations available to your schools. As a school admin, you can select which of those calculations are available to your teachers. For some calculations, you must specify additional calculation information.
Most Recent
The Most Recent proficiency calculation determines mastery based upon scores from the most recently scored assessment. This proficiency calculation is selected as available to schools by default.
The Most Recent calculation method is recommended for mastery learning or proficiency-based instruction.
Note: The most recent assessment is determined by the date and time it was given. To use a different assessment as the Most Recent, you can edit the assessment's given date so that it becomes the most recently given assessment.
Mode
The Mode proficiency calculation determines mastery based on the most frequently achieved mastery level. In the event of a tie, the higher mastery level determines proficiency status.
For example, Student A achieved the following mastery levels: Remediation, Near Mastery, Near Mastery, Mastery, Mastery, Mastery. Using the Mode proficiency calculation, the student's proficiency displays as Mastery.
Maximum Value
The Maximum Value proficiency calculation determines mastery based on the highest mastery level achieved.
For example, Student A achieved the following mastery levels in the following order: Near Mastery, Remediation, Mastery, Mastery, Mastery, Near Mastery. Using the Maximum Value proficiency calculation, the student's proficiency displays as Mastery.
Decaying Average
The Decaying Average proficiency calculation is a formula that determines mastery based on students' average scores, giving more weight to the most recent scores [1].
To determine the weight given to the most recent scores, the formula uses a Decay Rate [2]. The higher the formula's decay rate, the more heavily recent assessments are weighted.
By default, the decay weight is set at 65%. However, as an admin, you can adjust the rate to any percentage between 50% and 100%.
For example, between two assessments, the most recent assessment gets 65% weight, and the first gets 35%. For each additional assessment, the sum of the previous score calculations decay by an additional 35%. If Student A took four assessments and achieved the scores 1, 2, 3, and 4, then using the Decaying Average proficiency calculation with a 65% decay rate, the calculation works as follows:
(1 × .35) + (2 × .65) = X
(X × .35) + (3 × .65) = Y
(Y × .35) + (4 × .65) = Z (this being the current standard score; 3.48)
Decaying Average proficiency also uses Cut Scores [3]. Cut scores determine whether a particular test score falls into the Mastery, Near Mastery, or Remediation category. You may choose to customize the calculated value range for each mastery level. The following cut scores are recommended:
0—1.5 = Remediation
1.5—2.4 = Near Mastery
2.5—3.0 = Mastery
Note: Altering the recommended cut scores is not recommended.
Average
The Average proficiency calculation determines mastery based upon average proficiency levels [1].
Average proficiency also uses Cut Scores [2]. You may choose to customize the calculated value range for each mastery level. The following cut scores are recommended:
0—1.5 = Remediation
1.5—2.4 = Near Mastery
2.5—3.0 = Mastery
Notes:
- The Average calculation method does not use scores. Instead, it uses student proficiency levels.
- Altering the recommended cut scores is not recommended.
Power Law
The Power Law proficiency calculation determines mastery based upon power law. Proficiency levels calculated using power law are less accurate when a student’s performance doesn’t match the expected learning curve, such as when a student's proficiency level decreases over time rather than increases.
Power Law proficiency also uses Cut Scores [2]. The following cut scores are recommended:
0—1.5 = Remediation
1.5—2.4 = Near Mastery
2.5—3.0 = Mastery
Note: Altering the recommended cut scores is not recommended.
