Large Scale Assessment Conference

1
Assessments Shall Provide for

• Participation of all students
• Reasonable adaptations and accommodations for
  students with disabilities

2
The Department expects

• States to assess as many students as possible
  with assessments aligned to regular achievement
  standards
• Implement fully IDEA 1997
• Provide students access to the general curriculum
• Develop universally designed assessments
• Ensure both special and regular education
  teachers set high expectations for SWD and
  understand State content standards

3
Accommodations

• Most students with disabilities are expected to
  participate in regular statewide assessments
• without accommodations
• with appropriate accommodations that are
  consistent with accommodations provided during
  regular instruction
• in an alternate assessment based on grade-level
  content and achievement standards

4
Alternate Achievement Standards

• Use of alternate achievement standards permitted
  only for students with most significant cognitive
  disabilities
• All other students to be assessed using same
  academic standards that the State applies to all
  public schools and public school students

5
States may use more than one alternate assessment

• Alternate assessment scored against grade-level
  standards
• Alternate assessment scored against alternate
  achievement standards appropriate only for
  students with most significant cognitive
  disabilities

6
Alternate Assessments should have

• Clearly defined structure
• Guidelines for which students may participate
• Clearly defined scoring criteria and procedures
• Report format that clearly communicates student
  performance in terms of the academic achievement
  standards defined by the State

7
Under current regulation

• Out-of-level assessments are considered to be
  alternate assessments based on alternate
  achievement standards to which the 1 cap
  applies.
• By definition, these assessments do not
  represent a grade-level achievement standard.

8
OOLT as Alternate Achievement Standard

• Only if
• Standard defined through documented and validated
  standards-setting process
• Aligned with State content standards
• Promote access to the general curriculum
• Reflect professional judgment of highest
  achievement standards possible
• Results included in 1 cap on proficient scores
  for AYP

9
1 Cap on Alternate Achievement Standards in AYP

• Applies to the number of proficient and advanced
  scores that may be included in AYP determinations
• Does not limit the number of students taking an
  assessment against alternate achievement
  standards
• Applies at the State and district levels
• Alternate assessments based on grade level
  achievement standards would not be affected by
  the 1 cap

10
Assessment System Review

• Peer review will ask for evidence that
• The State provides clear, written guidelines to
  all LEAs concerning how to maximize inclusion of
  all students with disabilities in the regular
  assessment system.  
• The State provides for the use of appropriate
  accommodations and has conducted studies to
  ensure that scores based on accommodated
  administrations yield scores that can be
  meaningfully combined with the standard
  administrations.

11
So where are the gap kids?

• In the regular test based on grade level content
  and achievement standard
• OR
• In an alternate assessment based on grade-level
  content and achievement standards
• All are included in school AYP calculations -
  safe harbor provides a safety net