Alaska Comprehensive System of Student Assessment (CSSA) and the Participation Guidelines

1. Alaska Comprehensive System of Student Assessment (CSSA) and the Participation Guidelines District Test Coordinator Training September 2011

2. State Accountability Assessments • Both federal and state laws require that all students with disabilities be administered assessments intended to hold schools accountable for the academic performance of students. 4 AAC 06.775 • Individualized Education Program (IEP) and 504 team members must actively engage in a planning process that addresses: • Assurance of the provision of accommodations to facilitate student access to grade-level instruction and state assessments. 4 AAC 06.775(c)

3. Assurance of Accommodations • The Participation Guidelines booklet was created to support Alaska students in state-wide assessments: • Students with limited English proficiency • Students with disabilities • Alaska regulation requires districts to follow the Participation Guidelines when making decision regarding assessment accommodations for students. 4 AAC 06.775(a) • Returning adults with disabilities also need assurance of accommodations.

4. Participation Guidelines “The Participation Guidelinesfor Alaska Students in State Assessments is designed to help Alaska fulfill the commitment to include all students in state assessments.” The Participation Guidelines booklet is Alaska Regulation 4 AAC 06.775(a)

5. Accommodations • Definition: • Accommodations are practices and procedures in the areas of timing/scheduling, setting, presentation, and response that provide equitable instructional and assessment access for students. • Accommodations should be applied in regular classroom practices as well as state-wide assessments. • Alaska statewide assessments which permit accommodations include: TerraNova, Standards Based Assessment (SBA), WorkKeys Assessment, and High School Graduation Qualifying Examination (HSGQE).

6. DO NOT BE CONFUSED • Accommodation is not the same as modification. • Modification is not synonymous to accommodation. • Know the difference – • Modification – a change in the content, format, and/or administration of a test that alters what the test is designed to measure or the comparability of scores. Generally, a modification makes a test invalid. (Page 29 in the Participation Guidelines.)

7. Table 1: LEP Accommodations New Accommodations are allowed for students with limited English proficiency when testing for academic content knowledge and skills, but not when testing for English language proficiency. New

8. LEP Accommodations • No LEP accommodations are permitted on the ELP Assessment (ACCESS for ELLs). • Table 1 lists the only allowable accommodations LEP students may use on statewide content assessments: Standards Based Assessment, HSGQE, Alternate, and TerraNova. • The NAEP has specific LEP accommodations; do not refer to Table 1 for the NAEP. • For WorkKeys accommodations, please refer to the Alaska Supplement for WorkKeys Assessment. Do not refer to Table 1 for WorkKeys.

9. LEP Accommodations • Who makes the decision on LEP accommodations? • A district shall appoint a team that includes, if practicable, a teacher with experience in teaching LEP students. • Once a decision is made, it is necessary and important to document the accommodations in the LEP student's file. • As an LEP student makes progress in English, the accommodations should be adjusted.

10. LEP Accommodations • Looking at Table 1 which accommodation is not allowable for a reading subtest? • Looking at Table 1 which accommodation is not allowable for a writing subtest? • How does your district communicate to the proctor the accommodations for LEP students?

11. Table 2: SWD Accommodations • Categories of students with disabilities (SWD): • Students experiencing transitory impairments; an impairment with an actual or expected duration of 6 months or less. • Students receiving special education services pursuant to an Individual Education Program. • Students receiving modifications or accommodations pursuant to Section 504 or the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. New

12. SWD Accommodations • Who makes the decision on accommodations? • Teams of people (teachers, administrator, etc.) who know the educational needs of the student with disabilities. • If a disability interferes with a student’s ability to demonstrate proficiency on an assessment, the student should be provided with an accommodation. • Once a decision is made, it is necessary and important to document all accommodations in the student’s file, IEP or 504 document.

13. Table 2: SWD Accommodations What is the appendix? Are there more accommodations?

14. Not exhaustive… • What if a student needs an abacus for the math subtest? • If the adaptation is not listed on table 2, the district team should determine whether it is an accommodation or modification. • Refer to page 14 in the Participation Guidelines What did your table group decide? Why?

15. Monitoring Accommodations • Districts must assure accommodations are provided on the day of testing. • Districts must communicate student accommodations to proctors. • Suggested forms are available on the assessment website.

16. Table 2 Accommodations • Can students use scratch paper on the reading test or is it an accommodation? • How many days in advance of testing must the Flexible Schedule application be submitted for approval? • Which subtest cannot be read aloud? New

17. Alternative Assessment • If a student with a disability is not proficient on one or more subtests of the HSGQE, the student is eligible for an alternative assessment program in the subtest(s)in which proficiency was not achieved. • Modified HSGQE • The modified HSGQE is offered in the spring and fall to all students with disabilities who have taken and not passed the HSGQE. • Nonstandardized HSGQE • The Nonstandardized HSGQE is limited to students with severe physical or emotional disabilities who have taken the HSGQE, and who can document that they are unable to demonstrate their proficiency on a standardized assessment.

18. Modified HSGQE • Before the testing date, sped directors and district test coordinators will receive a full list of NEW students approved for modifications. FALL 2011 • District test coordinators receive copies of the Modified applications. Teachers also receive copies for the students’ files. • It is the district’s responsibility to ensure that the modifications are available on testing day and the test proctor understands the testing procedures.

19. List of Applicants: • Which teachers are consistently receiving partial and/or denials • Are comments consistently the same issue.

20. Alternate Assessment • The Alternate Assessment assesses students with significant cognitive disabilities and meets the federal requirements of NCLB. • Does not apply to HSGQE. • Students taking the Alternate Assessment are on a non-diploma track. • District mentors are available to support DTCs with this assessment.

21. Department Support • Grace Gray, Program Manager, 907-465-8432, grace.gray@alaska.gov • Cera Jones, Assessment Clerk, 907-465-2900, cera.jones@alaska.gov