News U Can Use from Exceptional Education Leadership Meeting – October, 2005

1. News U Can UsefromExceptional EducationLeadership Meeting – October, 2005

2. Today’s Topics • Assessment • 45 Day Reminder • Job-Alike Information • EEMS Information • Ask A Question

3. Assessment Topics • AIMS & Graduation • Accommodations • Benchmarks • Alternate Assessment

4. Assessment:AIMS & Graduation • ALL High School students who have not yet passed the AIMS in any of the content areas MUST take the assessment with appropriate accommodations as specified on their IEP EVERY time it is offered.

5. Assessment:AIMS & Graduation • All students take State and District assessmentsat grade levelunless the student qualifies for alternate assessments. • These are students with significant cognitive disabilities (SCD) who qualify for alternate assessments based on their IEP, SPED Attachment C – Alternate Assessment Eligibility Critieria.

6. Assessment:AIMS & Graduation • Therefore, no student is exempt from taking the test! • Grade level or alternate! • This is consistent with Federal guidelines, ADE guidelines, and TUSD Governing Board Policy (IKF, revised 8-9-05) under Graduation Requirements/Exceptions – “All exceptional education students must take the AIMS test or the alternative assessment to the AIMS”.

7. Assessment:AIMS & Graduation • Furthermore, students must participate in academic remediation programs that are available to them.

8. Assessment:AIMS & Graduation Email from Joanne Phillips, Deputy Associate Superintendent, Exceptional Student Services, ADE “We have been working with the Attorney General's office to wade through the new statutes passed by the Legislature this past session regarding the need to pass the AIMS for graduation.  As you probably know, there were 2 laws passed, one exempting sp. education students under certain conditions, and the other created an alternative pathway for graduation. What fun!As one might suspect, the language in both laws is fairly muddy and will take SBOE rules to actually interpret and operationalize the statutesso they make sense (key approach!).  I presented to the SBOE executive director that we create a focus group of stakeholders and ADE staff to draft language for the new rules ASAP; he agreed.  Soooo, I haven't forgotten you, but we have gotten sidetracked by what should be a better plan.  Once we have the rules, we will know content of graduation requirements so as to have some consistency, the goal all along.  Look for a session at Directors Institute as a first run at explaining all this and to get some initial input form the field.  Thank you for your continued patience. Please share this information with the rest of the southern AZ group. to be met or will require an addendum to change.”

9. Assessment:AIMS & Graduation • Previous Email Summary • School districts do not have clear guidelines at this time! • ADE is working with Attorney General’s Office • 2 new laws – language is muddy • ADE working with State Board of Education (SBOE) to interpret and operationalize the laws.

10. Assessment:AIMS & Graduation • Because the state has not provided clarification to date • do not write IEP addendumsat this time • until the Exceptional Ed. Department gets clarification from the state.

11. Assessment:AIMS & Graduation • It is also recommended that IEP teams DO NOT mark that the student will approach or meet the standard. • If it is determined by the State Board of Education (SBOE) that this is not a requirement, then those IEPs will have put further restrictions on the student that will either need to be met or will require an addendum to change.

12. Assessment:AIMS & Graduation • Information will be forthcoming. • The Exceptional Education Department is: • attending the State Director’s Institute where additional guidance is anticipated • working closely with Accountability and Research • working with a coalition of surrounding districts • Waiting for ADE and SBOE to provide guidelines.

13. Assessment:Accommodations • 2 Types of Accommodations • Standard Accommodationsminor change from 04-05 • Available to students with IEPs, 504 plans, or LEP/FEP students (2 or fewer years) • Alternate Accommodationsminor changes from 04-05 (formerly known as Non-Standard) • Available only to students with IEPs • Please refer to the attached Accommodations Charts for specific information.

14. Assessment:Accommodations • ADE guidelines are clear • If accommodations areneeded in routine instruction, students need them for assessments. • If accommodations are not needed in routine instruction, students do not need them for assessments. “When students need accommodations in how they learn or demonstrate learning, they are likely to need accommodations in how they are assessed. Conversely, if students do not need accommodations in how they learn or demonstrate learning, they will not need accommodations in how they are assessed.”* *Testing Accommodations: Guidelines for 2005-2006, ADE, August 2005

15. Assessment:Accommodations • Accommodations apply to ALL State and District assessments, including Benchmarks. • During assessment, all accommodations identified in an IEP or 504 plan must be made available. * • However, students may choose not to use the accommodation(s).* • If a student refuses an accommodation, the circumstances should be documented and placed in the student’s cum file. *Testing Accommodations: Guidelines for 2005-2006, ADE, August 2005

16. Assessment:TUSD Benchmarks (formerly Quarterly Assessments) • Students on IEPs take the Benchmarks on grade level just as they do on all district & state assessments. • The ONLY exception to this are the students who qualify for alternate assessments based upon their IEP, SPED Attachment C – Alternate Assessment Eligibility Criteria. • Accommodations need to be provided and consistent with the student’s routine instruction and IEP. • Please have accommodation materials, such as number charts and calculators, ready prior to the assessment. • If a student refuses an accommodation, remember to document the circumstances!

17. Assessment:Need-to-Know & Remember • Students with alternate accommodations • do not count for AZ Learns (Arizona Accountability System) • do count for 95% tested and for AYP • The Fall Administration of AIMS HS plays no role in AYP calculations, but student results are included in AZ Learns calculations. • To qualify for AIMS Augmentation, students must participate in ALL HS Testing.

18. Assessment:Alternate Assessments • Alternate Assessments • AIMS-A & ASAT • Level I – Functional and Kindergarten standards(students in grades K-12) • Level II – 1st through 3rd grade standards(students in grades 6-12) • They are intended for a very small number of students with significant cognitive disabilities (SCD) – less than 1% of the TUSD population. • IEP teams must determine eligibility each year using TUSD SPED Attachment C.

19. Assessment:Alternate Assessments • The Alternate Assessment process involves yearlong instruction and data collection. • Level I and Level II activities should be occurring throughout the ENTIRE year for identified students!

20. Assessment:Alternate Assessments • Alternate Assessment data is submitted online to the Arizona Department of Education (ADE) when the system opens (anticipated in November). • We need to know who the teachers are that have students who qualify in order to get them a login and password! • Please ask your teachers to register at http://edweb.tusd.k12.az.us/exced/alternate_04_05/TUSD/TUSD_Teacher_Identification.htm • TUSD training will become available in November.

21. 45 Day Reminder • Contact your Psychologist (or Program Specialist) immediately if your staff has not received the training for the 45 Day New Student Screening Process! • The ExEd Dept will contact them also. • Remember to have everyone sign in! • ADE needs the sign-in sheets! • If we are found out of compliance again, the District loses $$$$$.

22. ExEd Job –Alike Update • For Special Ed. Teachers • Monthly team meetings with Program Specialists at school sites. • Professional Learning Community forums offered during the school year. (This is a work in progress.)

23. EEMS Information • EEMS = Exceptional Education Management System which is a combined electronic IEP/Service Capture System • The Service Capture will extract our billable services for Medicaid. • We want to hear from Principals!

24. EEMS Information • If you haven’t told us how you feel yet, please do so!http://edweb.tusd.k12.az.us/exced/EEMS/eems_data_1.htm • Are you • Gung Ho! • Heck No! • In Between, or • I Don’t Know! Based on the data submitted by September 9, 2005 –Pueblo High School has been chosen as the 1st site to be trained in late October.This web site will remain open through October to continue collecting information.

25. EEMS Information • ExEd Teacher Assistants • If they have not done so, please submit account requests to TTS to get login access for TUSD email. • The first few schools will continue to assist us in fine tuning the system. • We will start slow to go fast. • More information coming in November!

26. Ask-A-Question • Submit ?s online to the Exceptional Education Department at http://edweb.tusd.k12.az.us/exced/FAQs/Ask_A_Question.htm • Every Friday, Program Specialists will answer your question. • Answers will be posted within 2 weeks of every Friday on the FAQs pages at http://edweb.tusd.k12.az.us/exced/FAQs/FAQs_main.htm

27. Thank You We appreciate your time and attention today.