Texas Education Agency

About This Presentation

Title:

Texas Education Agency

Description:

ARD committees have determined student need and routine use ... ARD committee decision and no Accommodation Request Form required for 3-8 ... – PowerPoint PPT presentation

Number of Views:322

Avg rating:3.0/5.0

Slides: 52

Provided by: kbr61

Category:

more less

Transcript and Presenter's Notes

Title: Texas Education Agency

1

Texas Education Agency
TETN
Event 31342
9/22/08
1 pm 3 pm

2
Agenda

Purpose of Training
Components of the 2008 Assessment Program
Key Changes to the Accommodations Manual
General Information About Accommodations
How to Use the Accommodations by Category Chart
Key Changes to Accommodation Policy
Accommodation Request Process
Linguistically Accommodated Testing (LAT)
Texas English Language Proficiency Assessment
System (TELPAS)
Resources
Contact Information

3
Purpose of Training

Updates to 2008-2009 accommodation policy for all
students taking
TAKS
TAKS (Accommodated)
TAKS-M
LAT
TELPAS
Guidance in selecting, administering, and
evaluating the use of accommodations on these
assessments
Information about the process for requesting
accommodations for use on these assessments

4
Components of the 2008 Texas Assessment Program

Information about accommodations available for
End-of-Course (EOC) Assessments will be included
in future manuals when operational EOC
assessments become mandatory.

Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills (TAKS)
A general assessment based on grade-level
academic achievement standards
TAKS (Accommodated)
A general assessment based on the same
grade-level academic achievement standards as
TAKS for students receiving special education
services who meet the eligibility criteria for
specific accommodations
Includes format changes (larger font and fewer
items per page) and contains no embedded
field-test items

TAKSModified (TAKSM)
An alternate assessment based on modified
academic achievement standards for students
receiving special education services who meet
participation requirements for TAKSM
Includes changes in format (e.g., larger font,
fewer items per page) and test design (e.g.,
fewer answer choices, simpler vocabulary and
sentence structure).
TAKSAlternate (TAKSAlt)
An alternate assessment based on alternate
academic achievement standards for students with
significant cognitive disabilities receiving
special education services who meet the
participation requirements.
Not a traditional paper/pencil or multiple-choice
test - teachers observe students as they complete
assessment tasks that link to grade-level TEKS
curriculum, then submit results and evidence
through online instrument

Linguistically Accommodated Testing (LAT)
An assessment process for recent immigrant
English language learners (ELLs) who are granted
a limited English proficiency (LEP) exemption
from TAKS under state law but are required to be
assessed in certain grades and subjects under the
No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB)
Provides linguistic accommodations that help
recent immigrant ELLs better understand the
language used on TAKS, TAKS (Accommodated), and
TAKS-M
Texas English Language Proficiency Assessment
System (TELPAS)
Online testing program that assesses the progress
that ELLs make in learning the English language
(In rare cases, grades 2-12 reading tests may be
administered using paper test booklets)
Language domains assessed listening, speaking,
reading, writing
Composed of holistically rated (based on student
observations and written student work) and
multiple-choice assessments

8
Key Changes to the Accommodations Manual
9

LAT
Information regarding the LAT process for
eligible ELLs, including those receiving special
education services, now available in section of
this manual entitled Linguistically Accommodated
Testing (LAT)
TELPAS
Accommodations for students taking TELPAS reading
tests in grades 2-12 now included in this manual

Reorganization and Addition of New Appendices
Participation requirements for certain state
assessments
Eligibility criteria for specific accommodations
General instructions for administering braille
and large-print tests (also found in District and
Campus Coordinator Manual)
Teacher tools that districts have the option of
using if needed
Expanded information about the accommodation
request process
List of supplemental aids allowed for TAKS
(Accommodated) without submission and approval of
Accommodation Request Form
New appendix regarding administering tests to
students who are deaf or hard of hearing will be
posted separately at a later date

New Accommodations Policy Changes and
Clarifications
Policies changed and clarified as part of ongoing
efforts to improve access to state assessments
for all students
Implemented with the spring 2009 administrations
Should result in a significant reduction of
Accommodation Request Form submissions
Online Accommodation Request Form
District testing coordinators can submit
Accommodation Request Forms through online system
(similar to online incident report)
Open to all districts by December 2008
Intended to reduce number of faxed or e-mailed
requests
Paper requests can still be submitted

12
General Information About Accommodations
13

Federal (NCLB, IDEA, 504) and State (TEC, TAC)
legislation requirements
Students to be assessed in designated grades and
subjects
Students to be provided reasonable accommodations
on assessments

Accommodations
Practices and procedures that do not reduce
learning expectations but provide equitable
access to grade-level curriculum
Provided on an individual basis, taking into
consideration the needs of each student
May be appropriate for instructional use, but may
not be appropriate for use on a standardized
assessment
Should not be simply a matter of convenience but
a tool that does not compromise the content being
tested and is necessary for student success
Should be routinely used in classroom instruction
and testing

Accommodations are for
general education students with special needs,
students served by Section 504 of Rehabilitation
Act of 1973,
students who are LEP-exempt and need linguistic
accommodations, and
students with disabilities who receive special
education services.

Selecting accommodations for assessment of
individual students
Gather and review information about students
needs and present level of performance in
relation to
Grade-level TEKS, or
Linguistic needs
Be familiar with accommodation policy for each
state-required assessment
Involve students in accommodation selection

Documenting Accommodation Use
Testing Accommodations
IEP for students receiving special education
services
IAP for students receiving services through
section 504
Local policies for general education students
Permanent record file for ELLs
Linguistic Accommodations for LAT
Permanent record file for ELLs not receiving
special education services
IEP and permanent record file for ELLs receiving
special education services

When documenting accommodations, it is important
to remember that
for ELLs receiving special education services,
the ARD and the LPAC should work together to
determine how best to address each students
linguistic and special education needs during
instruction and assessment
an accommodation that requires the submission and
approval of an Accommodation Request Form,
documentation should specify that the
accommodation may only be used on state
assessment pending approval from TEA

Administering Assessments With Accommodations
Accommodations used by students on state
assessments must be the same as those routinely
used in instruction and testing
Exceptions are rare and usually involve emergency
situations that occur the day of the test
School staff must communicate to plan for
logistics and provisions of assessment
accommodations on test day
All educators must know and understand the
requirements related to administering state
assessments, including the use of accommodations
Test security and the standardized and ethical
administration of assessments must be ensured

Evaluating and Improving the Use of
Accommodations
Ongoing assessment of student need should be part
of every students instructional program
Collecting and analyzing data on the use and
effectiveness of accommodations helps ensure
meaningful participation of students in state
assessments

Data on the use and impact of accommodations
during assessments may
reveal questionable patterns of accommodations
use
support the continued use of some accommodations
but require the rethinking of others
indicate areas in which campus and district level
staff need additional training and support

22
How to Use the Accommodations by Category Chart

Accommodations allowed on TAKSAlt are listed on
the Presentation Supports/Materials document
that is the Accommodations Manual and on the
TAKS-Alt Resources website.

These abbreviations represent the accommodation
category that should be bubbled on the scorable
document.
In most cases, the abbreviation will correspond
to the four accommodation categories of
presentation, response, setting, and timing and
scheduling (P, R, S, or T).
For large print, braille, the Dyslexia Bundle,
and oral administration, though, the test
administrator will bubble LP, BR, DB, and/or OA,
respectively. It is not necessary to bubble any
other category unless the student received
additional accommodations.

Checkmarks indicate whether an accommodation may
be used by an eligible student during TAKS, TAKS
(Accommodated), TAKSM, or TELPAS reading
administrations.
In most cases, the accommodations listed for
TAKS, TAKS (Accommodated), and TAKSM are
available for eligible students who participate
in LAT administrations of these assessments.

The asterisk means that this accommodation is
applicable only for paper administrations of
grades 2-12 TELPAS reading tests.

26
A student may use a large-print version of the
test if he or she has a visual impairment and
routinely uses large-print materials in the
classroom. An Accommodation Request Form is not
required if the student meets these conditions.

Eligibility for use of accommodations is
determined by the conditions listed below each
accommodation.
In some cases, it is the responsibility of the
school to determine whether the student meets
these conditions. If the conditions are met, no
Accommodation Request Form is required.

Amplification devices help reduce the
interference of background noise, override poor
acoustics, and reduce the effect of distance
between the student and the test administrator. A
student may use an amplification device, such as
a frequency modulated (FM) system, if the student
is identified as having a hearing impairment
and/or has a disability that affects the
students ability to focus or concentrate in
large-group situations. An Accommodation Request
Form is not required.
27

Some accommodations (DB, OA) have specific
eligibility criteria found in the appendix that
students must meet in order to use the
accommodation. In these cases, eligibility is
determined locally and no Accommodation Request
Form is required.

See Appendix X for specific requirements
concerning eligibility and decision- making
authority for the dyslexia bundled
accommodations. Only students who meet the
eligibility criteria outlined in Appendix X may
use this accommodation. An Accommodation Request
Form is not required.
28

Italicized text appears when an accommodation
requires the submission and approval of an
Accommodation Request Form prior to student use.
Read this text carefully since the submission of
a request applies to specific groups of students
(e.g., certain grades only).

If a student does not have a visual impairment
and does not routinely use large-print materials
in the classroom, an Accommodation Request Form
that specifically states why the student needs
this accommodation must be submitted to TEA for
approval.
29

If a student does not meet the conditions of an
accommodation, then the district may determine
that the students situation is so unique that a
request should be submitted to TEA.
If a student needs an accommodation that is not
listed in this manual, then an Accommodation
Request Form may be submitted.

30
Key Changes to Accommodation Policy
31
Large Print

No changes to policy
Separate eligibility page has been deleted and
information has been included in the
Accommodations by Category chart
Accommodation Request Form is not required if a
student has a visual impairment and routinely
uses large-print materials in the classroom

32
Reading Questions and Answers on TAKS-M Reading

OPTIONAL accommodation
No longer a required part of test administration
ARD committees have determined student need and
routine use
Not necessary to convene a special ARD committee
meeting to address this accommodation, but at
next scheduled meeting ARD committees must
determine
whether this accommodation is necessary
if student needs all test questions and answer
choices read or if the accommodation will be
provided as needed per student request
An Accommodation Request Form is not required

33
Sign/Translate Directions

Included once again as an allowable accommodation
No policy changes
Directions given orally before or after test may
be
signed to a student who is deaf or hard of
hearing
translated into the native language of a student
with limited English proficiency
An Accommodation Request Form is not required
Translating directions into native language of
student is not considered an accommodation for an
ELL taking TELPAS reading or LAT

34
Other Methods of Response

Clarifying language included to explain role of
scribe during different administrations
Written composition
Open-ended reading responses
Computation and notes

35
Spelling Assistance

Applies to written composition (4 7 writing, 10
11 ELA) and open-ended reading responses
(9 reading)
Not allowed on revising and editing
TAKS (Accommodated) and TAKS-M
Grade 4 word lists allowed per ARD committee
decision and no Accommodation Request Form
required
Grades 7, 9, 10, 11 various types of spelling
assistance allowed per ARD committee decision and
no Accommodation Request Form required

Required dictionaries/thesaurus for certain
grades and subjects are not considered an
accommodation but a required part of test
administration procedures
36
Calculation Devices

Specific conditions must be met
Disability affecting math calculation, not
reasoning
Disability affecting physical reproduction of
numbers
TAKS (Accommodated)
Accommodation Request Form required for grades
3-6 mathematics and 5 science
ARD committee decision and no Accommodation
Request Form required for 7-8
TAKS-M
ARD committee decision and no Accommodation
Request Form required for 3-8

Required calculators for certain grades and
subjects are not considered an accommodation but
a required part of test administration procedures
37
Supplemental Aids

Student must be able to understand content but
needs assistance recalling some of it
Must be a tool, meaning aid cannot provide direct
answers to the TEKS being tested
Separate appendix lists aids that are allowable
for eligible students for TAKS (Accommodated)
without an Accommodation Request Form
TAKS (Accommodated)
Accommodation Request Form required for all
grades if the aid is not listed in appendix
TAKS-M
ARD committee decision and no Accommodation
Request Form required for all grades

38
Manipulatives

Assists students with visualizing abstract
concepts
Must serve as a tool, meaning manipulative cannot
provide direct answers to the TEKS being tested
List of manipulatives that are allowable for
eligible students in the Accommodations by
Category chart
TAKS (Accommodated)
Accommodation Request Form required for all
grades if the aid is not listed
TAKS-M
ARD committee decision and no Accommodation
Request Form required for all grades

39
Extended Time (2 days to test)

Clarification to policy only
Approved only for small number of students in
unique situations
Accommodation Request Form required for all
students taking any assessment
Prior to submitting an Accommodation Request
Form, schools should consider
other, less restrictive accommodations (e.g.,
individual or small-group administration,
frequent breaks, dividing test into short
sections, use of a scribe, oral administration if
eligible)
the assessment the student is taking (i.e. format
changes, fewer items)
If a student is approved for two-day testing,
specific conditions must be met in order to
maintain test security and confidentiality

40
Accommodation Request Process

The District Testing Coordinator is responsible
for
reviewing and submitting to TEA only those
Accommodation Request Forms that are necessary
and appropriate according to the information in
the Accommodations Manual
providing information about accommodations to
campus testing coordinators and/or school
personnel
answering questions from schools

41
Accommodation Request Process

Requests may be submitted for
accommodations not covered in this manual
accommodations that require the submission of an
Accommodation Request Form as indicated by
italicized text
students who do not meet the listed conditions
but have such a unique situation that the use of
the accommodation may be needed
Requests may be submitted by
online Accommodation Request Form (by Dec 08)
Fax
E-mail test.accomodations_at_tea.state.tx.us
by mail in rare situations
Request must be received by TEA at least two
weeks prior to testing to ensure enough time to
respond

42
Accommodation Request Process

Do not submit requests for accommodations listed
in the manual as No Accommodation Request Form
required
Objective Evidence should
be provided with every request
clearly indicate why the student needs the
accommodation
be individualized, specific, and relevant
Never include confidential student information
(e.g., first and last name, social security
number) with a request
If an accommodation requires the submission of an
Accommodation Request Form, the student may not
use the accommodation unless approved by TEA

43
If you can, please WAIT to begin sending
Accommodation Request Forms until the online
system is open (by Dec. 08).
44
LAT

No changes to linguistic accommodations or LAT
process
In addition to linguistic accommodations, a
student taking LAT may be eligible to receive
accommodations related to special needs.

45
LAT

Available special needs accommodations depend on
which test the student is takingLAT
administration of TAKS, TAKS (Accommodated), or
TAKS-M
Consult the Accommodations by Category chart
for information on available special needs
accommodations

46
LAT

In most cases, the accommodations listed for
TAKS, TAKS (Accommodated), and TAKSM are
available for eligible students who participate
in LAT administrations of these assessments.

Accommodation Request Forms are NOT
required for the linguistic accommodations used
during LAT

48
TELPAS

Student with special needs may be eligible to use
accommodations.
Which academic skill test is the student eligible
to take TAKS, TAKS (Accommodated), or TAKS-M?
Consult the Accommodations by Category chart
for information on available accommodations.

49
TELPAS
50
Resources

Student Assessment Division
Phone 512-463-9536
Website coming soon http//www.tea.state.tx.us/
student.assessment/resources/accommodations/index.
html
E-mail test.accommodations_at_tea.state.tx.us
Division of IDEA Coordination
Phone 512-463-9414
Website http//www.tea.state.tx.us/special.ed/
Texas Legislature Online
Website http//www.legis.state.tx.us/
No Child Left Behind
Website http//www.ed.gov/nclb/landing.jhtml