The North Carolina Alternate Assessment Academic Inventory

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The North CarolinaAlternate AssessmentAcademic
Inventory

• Pamela F. Biggs
• Education Consultant
• Technical Outreach for Public Schools
• North Carolina State University
• Conference on Exceptional Children
• October 2003

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What is the NCAAAI?

• Year-long or course-long assessment
• Checklist of objectives based on the NCSCS scored
  using individual scales for each content area
• Reading (Assigned Grades 3-8, 10)
• Mathematics (Assigned Grades 3-8, 10)
• Writing (Assigned Grades 4, 7, 10)
• End-of-Course (EOC) (Nine courses)
• Collection of evidence to support scores

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Why was it developed?

• Individuals with Disabilities Education Act
  (IDEA) of 1997
• All students, including those with IEPs or
  Section 504 plans, must participate in the
  statewide testing program.
• NC Alternate Assessment Portfolio (NCAAP)
• NC Computerized Adaptive Testing System (NCCATS)
  Accommodation

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End-of-Grade Test without Accommodations
End-of-Grade Test with Accommodations
North Carolina Testing Program
Alternate Assessment Academic Inventory (NCAAAI)
Alternate Assessment Academic Portfolio (NCAAP)
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Which EC students are eligible?

• Students with Disabilities are eligible if they
• Have current IEP or Section 504 Plan
• Are following the Standard Course of Study which
  includes the Occupational Course of Study
• Are unable to access statewide testing with or
  without the use of accommodations
• Are assigned to grade level 3-8, or 10, or are
  enrolled in an End-of-Course (EOC) subject

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Who decides participation?

• IEP team decides
• if an eligible student will participate in the
  NCAAAI
• the grade level at which the student will be
  assessed

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Key Terms

• Assigned Grade Level
• Determined by School Principal
• What student is listed as in student management
  system (Ex. SIMS,NCWISE)
• Assessed Grade Level
• Determined by IEP Team
• May be below assigned grade level for reading and
  math (EC only)
• Must be at assigned grade level for writing

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Who completes it?

• Must have training in content area
• Must work routinely with the student
• Principal assigns assessor
• May be more than one assessor for an inventory
• Often general education, EC, or ESL teacher
• Ideal (depending on students instruction)
  combination of general ed. and EC teachers

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How is it scored?

• Classroom Assessment/Performance
• Descriptions of Student Performance
• Every objective scored using 1-8 scale three
  times per year
• Overall score derived from objective scores
• Growth defined by improvement in any objective

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Description of Student Performance
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When is it scored?

• Baseline
• First 30 days of student participation
• Interim
• Midpoint in student participation
• Final
• Last 30 days of student participation

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Fall 2003 Training

• Checklist Completion Training
• Train-the-Trainer Model
• Regional Accountability Coordinators (RACS)
• LEA Test Coordinator (TC) trains local TC
• Training for local staff through TC or other LEA
  staff

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Fall 2003 Training (contd)

• Supplemental training Linking Instruction with
  Assessment
• See training website
• //www.ncpublicschools.org/accountability/testing/
  ncaaaitraining
• To register for remaining Math sessions
• Check website for space availability
• If space available, contact
• Hope Tesh
• htesh_at_dpi.state.nc.us
• [phone]

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NEW for 2003-2004

• Evidence required for 2 objectives in
• Each category for reading
• Each section for math
• Each goal for writing
• Each goal or section for EOC
• Evidence required at Baseline and Final Data
  Collection
• NEW Evidence Collection Sheet

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Evidence Collection Sheet
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Optional Teacher Observation Form
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Optional Evidence Labels
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NEW for 2003-2004 (contd)

• LEP/IEP/504 designation added
• NEW Principal Checklist (Optional)
• Principal must sign name, not use stamp
• Photographs, videotapes, audio tapes, computer
  disks
• Should not be physically included
• Performance data can be written as teacher
  observation
• Overall score boxes moved to bottom of score
  summary chart

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LEP/IEP/504 designation
Be sure to answer this question!
Dont forget the overall scores!
Assessor(s) and principal must sign, not stamp
their names
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Web Resources

• //www.ncpublicschools.org/accountability/
  testing/ncaaai
• Reproducible Evidence Forms
• FAQ
• Step-by-Step Guide
• Curricular Links

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Coming Attractions

• Format Redesign
• NCDPI Test Development and Curriculum Staff, TOPS
  Test Development Staff
• Stakeholder Input
• Listserv
• 2004 Summer Training Sessions
• Regional
• Registration before end of school year
• Science NCAAAI field test in 2005-2006 for grades
  5, 8, 10

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NCAAAI Timeline

• August (January for spring EOCs)
• Inventories available for download by TC
• Orders submitted via online ordering system
• Orders filled by TOPS
• Baseline data collection
• Midpoint in student participation
• Interim data collection

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Timeline (contd)

• Last 30 days of course/year
• Final data collection
• Overall scores completed
• Student information sheets completed
• NCAAAI student information sheets scanned and
  locally stored
• August
• Audit

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Further Questions?

• Visit NCAAAI website
• //www.ncpublicschools.org/accountability/
  testing/ncaaai
• Contact Pam Biggs at
• pam_biggs_at_ncsu.edu
• [phone]