Subject Area Testing Program

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Subject Area Testing Program

• Began in 1994
• 4 courses Algebra I, Biology I, English II, and
  U.S. History from 1877
• Replacing Functional Literacy Exam begun in 1987
• Phased in as graduation requirement
• Class of 2006 first required to pass all 4 courses

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Subject Area Testing Program

• Algebra I, Biology I, and U.S. History are
  multiple-choice with one open-ended item
• English II three parts
• Multiple-choice
• Informative writing
• Narrative writing

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Subject Area Testing Program

• Participation 2003-04 (first-time test takers)
• Algebra I 27,500
• Biology I 28,500
• U.S. History 25,500
• English II Multiple-Choice Writing 29,000

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Subject Area Testing Program

• State Board policy requires three administrations
  per year (summer, fall, and spring)
• Currently, five test administrations per year
• Two administrations given with paper pencil
• Three test administrations given online

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Meeting the Graduation Requirement

• Achieve a passing score on the test
• Achieve a passing score on the alternate
  assessment (open to special education students
  only)
• Request a substitute evaluation (open to any
  student)

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Alternate Assessment for Subject Area Tests
Planning Process

• The student must have an IEP.
• The IEP Committee must determine the student
  cannot participate in the regular assessment even
  with allowable accommodations before the student
  takes the course.
• The request to participate in the alternate
  assessment is made by the IEP Committee.

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Alternate Assessment for Subject Area Tests
Planning Process
Alternate Assessment for Subject Area Tests
Planning Process

• Subject specific content standards are the same
  as for all students.
• The IEP Committee determines appropriate
  assessment methods.

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Alternate Assessment for Subject Area Tests
Planning Process

• The request to conduct the alternate assessment
  is submitted to the DOE (late spring previous
  school year or early fall)
• An external committee (content area teachers)
  reviews the request and determines if the
  assessment plan will provide appropriate evidence
  (by end of first nine weeks)
• If approved collect evidence
• If denied apply again or re-evaluate alternate
  assessment decision

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Alternate Assessment for Subject Area Tests
Evidence Process

• The students teacher(s) responsible for
  collection of evidence during the school year.
  Other teachers, parents, school administrators,
  or other personnel may be involved in the
  collection of evidence.
• The body of evidence is documented and teacher,
  principal, and special education supervisor
  certify accuracy and integrity of data.

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Alternate Assessment for Subject Area Tests
Evidence Process

• It is recommended that each competency have a
  minimum of five (5) work samples as primary
  evidence. Primary evidence is evidence that
  clearly documents the students mastery of the
  specified competency. District personnel must be
  able to verify that the work is independently
  produced by the student.

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Alternate Assessment for Subject Area Tests
Evidence Process

• Secondary evidence is optional. Secondary
  evidence is supporting evidence for the primary
  evidence and may include letters of support,
  descriptions by teacher, homework, group
  assignments, and/or other tools used by the
  student.

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Alternate Assessment for Subject Area Tests
Evaluation Process

• Evidence is submitted to DOE (beginning of the
  fourth term).
• External committee (content area teachers)
  reviews evidence of student meeting standard.
• Committee members rate independently and scores
  are averaged.
• Pass/fail determined by cut score.

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Meeting the Graduation Requirement Substitute
Evaluation

• Open to any student
• The student must have passed the course and
  failed, or failed the test at least twice.
• The student, parent, or school personnel can
  submit a written statement with supporting
  evidence of mastery and reason for a substitute
  evaluation.

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Meeting the Graduation Requirement Substitute
Evaluation

• Appeal is submitted to the local school district
  for determination of merit.
• If the appeal is denied at the local level, the
  appeal can be submitted directly to the state
  DOE.
• Appeal is considered by the state.

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Meeting the Graduation Requirement Substitute
Evaluation

• The student, parent, or school personnel can
  submit a written statement with supporting
  evidence of mastery and reason for a substitute
  evaluation.
• If the appeal is granted, a substitute evaluation
  can be used to demonstrate mastery of the course.
• If the appeal is denied, the student must
  continue to take the Subject Area Test.

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Challenges

• IEP Committees understanding the purpose the
  alternate assessment
• Quality of evidence submitted for alternate
  assessment and substitute evaluation
• Scoring guidance for external committee
• Communication getting information to the
  teacher conducting the alternate assessment

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Refinements

• Requiring five pieces of primary evidence for
  alternate assessment
• Developing training materials for external review
  committee
• Additional criteria to request appeal for
  substitute evaluation attendance, must pass the
  course, failed at least three times, must have
  participated in remediation, must score within a
  range of passing