Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) of 1997

1. Why was the NCAAAI 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

2. History of the NCAAAI • Late Fall 2000 • It was determined that a small group of students could not be supported by the NCAAP or NCCATS • Late December 2000/Options/Development began • Discussion/Conflict concerning implementation dates (Spring 2001 vs. Fall 2001) • 2001-2002 School Year / Audit

3. New Way of Thinking • The NCAAAI is an ALTERNATE ASSESSMENT for ANY student who cannot access the traditional test even with accommodations (must meet requirements). • Students with Disabilities just happened to be the first group required by federal law.

4. What is the NCAAAI? • Checklist of competencies based on the NCSCS scored using individual scales for each content area: • Reading (Grades 3-8, 10) • Mathematics (Grades 3-8, 10) • Writing (Grades 4, 7, & 10) • EOC (Pilot Spring 2003) • Envelope format • Collection of evidence to support FINAL scores

5. What Happened? • No Child Left Behind • No exemptions • Same standard, Same content • Options: • Multiple-Choice Test • State-Developed Portfolio • Checklist

6. North Carolina Department of Public Instruction • Division of Accountability Services/Testing Section • August 28, 2002 ESEA Requirements: Changes for 2002-03? • Reading and Math at grades 3-8 annually & 10-12 span • Science (2005-06) in each grade span (3-5, 6-9, &10-12) • Tested in English at three consecutive years in US • Annual measurable assessment of LEP students

7. Why not use the Local Portfolio? • Designed for a different purpose • Locally-developed • Must be aligned with the state test and all objectives • Greater work than a checklist

8. Which LEP students are Eligible? • Assigned grade level of 3-8 or 10 • Score below Intermediate/High for reading on IPT Test for Reading or Math Test • Score below Superior for writing • Within 24 months of entry into the LEA (must attempt to retrieve previous score and clock continues)

9. Who decides? • LEP Students assessed ON-GRADE level ONLY • “May” participate in the NCAAAI for up to 24 months • Local decision • Different options

10. Why should you use the NCAAAI? • Valid results • Flexibility in showing performance • Show growth • Instructional value from year to year • No test anxiety for the student • AYP

11. Who Completes? • Must have training in the content area • Must work routinely with the student • Principal has authority

12. Concerns and Quandaries • No Exemptions • NC Standard Course of Study (NC SCS) • Using an “EC” assessment for “LEP” • Workload/Myths • Training • It’s NEW

13. Training? • Train-the-Trainer Model (RACS) • LEA TC trains the Test Coordinator • Training for local staff is a collaboration between Testing and LEA staff (local decision) • NCDPI/EC Training (Summer 2002) • Testing Section Training Fall 2003 (Dates to be announced this week)

14. North Carolina Department of Public Instruction • Division of Accountability Services/Testing Section • August 28, 2002 LEP & IEP • Which is the overriding factor? • No definitive guidelines • Best judgement • Review the different testing instruments

15. When are the Inventories Scored? • Three times per year • First month of participation=Baseline data • Interim Month • Last month of school=Final data • Evidence is collected to support Final Spring scores Only.

16. How is the Inventory Scored? • Description of Student Performance to give each competency a score from 1-8 • Objectives by Goals, Categories, or Sections • Overall Score • Growth is ANY growth

18. Assessed On-Grade Level: Level 4 (7-8) Level 3 (5-6) Level 2 (3-4) Level 1 (1-2) Achievement Levels: Final Overall Score

19. Examples of Evidence • Local Tests (LT) • Samples of Student Work (SW) • Teacher Observations (TO) • Teacher-Made Tests (TT) • Audio Tapes (AT) • Other (specify) – Any Means to show performance

20. 2001-2002 Operational Locally scanned School rosters Frequency distributions Individual Student Report (EC Advisory Committee) Summary Reports Reporting

21. Data Collection 2001-02 • Scores transferred to scannable sheets during the last month of school • Local Test Coordinators scan the sheets • Data transferred to the NCDPI during the end-of-year process • Student Notebooks will be stored locally for six months (sample returned)

22. 2001-02 Sample Review (and 2002-2003) • April 1 release of LEA sample list / 10% • Return everything (inventories, notebook, evidence, forms, etc.) • Report percentages for each area to the LEA • Review in August • Return to LEAs in September

23. 2001-2002 Operational administration Performance Composite 2002-2003 Operational administration for Grades 3-8 &10 Pilot administration for EOC (Spring only) Pending data analysis Growth Component Performance Composite NCAAAI and the ABCs

24. August 2002 Inventories available on-line (TNN) to TC Order system up August-Sept. 2002 Intact NCAAAI are shipped May-June 2002 NCAAAIs scanned and locally stored July-August 2002 Audit 2002-2003 Timeline

25. North Carolina Department of Public Instruction • Division of Accountability Services/Testing Section • August 28, 2002 Update Guidelines for Testing LEP Students (moving forward) • LEP Advisory Committee • LEP LEA Coordinators • ESL Teachers • Principals with LEP experience • Assistant Superintendent • LEA Test Coordinators • CommunityAdvocates (Hispanic and Hmong Representation) • Met April 2002 • Met July 2002

26. More Information Testing Section Website: http://www.NCPublicSchools.org/accountability/testing