Collection of Evidence

Educators: Visit www.coe.k12.wa.us for COE guidelines, policies, training and the calendar.

What is Collection of Evidence?
The COE is an evaluation of a set of work samples based on classroom work prepared by the student with instructional support from the teacher. This option may be used for meeting the reading, writing and/or mathematics assessment graduation requirement.

How does the Collection of Evidence work?
Students use subject-specific classroom work samples developed under a teacher’s supervision. Students must follow state guidelines for collections.

Who is eligible to use this option?
The following are guidelines for students graduating in the Class of 2014 and beyond. For the 2012-13 school year only, students who are 12th grade (CEDARS designated) are required to attempt and not pass a state assessment only one time before attempting a COE.

1. A student must have not met standard on the Reading or Writing High School Proficiency Exams two times prior before being eligible to submit a COE.
2. Students in the classes of 2013 and 2014 must have not met standard on the Mathematics End of Course exam twice (either one Year 1 and one Year 2 or the same EOC twice) before being eligible to submit a COE.
3. A student can submit only one COE per content area (reading, writing, mathematics).

What are the Collection of Evidence submission deadlines?
Please visit http://www.coe.k12.wa.us for upcoming submission deadlines.

How is a Collection of Evidence scored?
Collections are scored at the state level by professional scorers trained by OSPI content specialists. This ensures the validity and reliability of the assessment. The COE is designed to assess content and skills similar to those assessed on the state high school assessment. Collections must show a student has the skills that are tested on the HSPE and/or EOC. Lessons Learned 2013 Mathematics COE

How does a student access this option?
Students should inform their school principal or counselor of their interest in developing a collection.

What is an “augmented collection”?
Students who submit COEs and earn scores that are close to demonstrating proficiency may augment the original COE. To augment a COE, students submit a smaller set of new work samples that show more proficient knowledge and skills than the work samples submitted in the original COE. For an augmented COE to be successful, scorers must determine that the new work samples enhance the existing COE enough to demonstrate a proficient level of performance.

There are three features of an augmented COE:

1. Eligible students must have earned a minimum number of points within a “band of scores” that is close to the cut score used to meet standard.
2. Eligible students must submit four new work samples that demonstrate a proficient level of performance.
3. The augmented collection must be submitted in the scoring window immediately following the scoring of the original collection.

How do I learn more about policy changes that affect COE?
Please refer to the Policies in the COE Guidelines.

Who do I talk to if I have questions about this process?
Contact your school’s CAA Options building facilitator, the student’s counselor, or the school principal. You may also contact Amanda Mount at: amanda.mount@k12.wa.us