Testing Students with Disabilities Update

Participation of Students with Disabilities in Statewide Testing 43,639 students with disabilities (SWD) were tested in grades 3-8 in 2012 (includes PASS and SC-Alt students) SWD students made up 13.2% of all students tested in grades % of SWD students were tested with SC-Alt The number of students tested with SC-Alt was 0.9% of all students tested with PASS and SC-Alt (SWD and Non-SWD) 2

Use of Accommodations with PASS 2012 Content Area Percent of SWD Students Using Accommodations Grades 3-8 or 5-8 as Noted (*) Any Accommodation Oral/Signed Administration Calculator Non-Standard Accommodation ELA *1.9 Writing Math *0.16 Science Social Studies

Percent of SWD Receiving Oral Administration of ELA by Grade

Percent of SWD Using Calculator Administrations by Grade

Existing Resources For Teachers The Office of Assessment resources available online: – Accommodations Manual – Test Administration Manuals (TAMS)- Appendix C 6

New Resource Now Available Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs): Oral Administration 7

Oral Administration FAQ Available online as a guidance document to assist IEP teams in the consideration of Oral Administration The guidelines are the same, the FAQ focuses on the clarification of the accommodation and the process to determine if a student is a non-reader Addresses who should be considered and how an IEP team determines if a student is a non-reader and requires oral administration 8

9 Link for page containing FAQs

Updates to Program TAMS for School Year

Clarifications to Existing Policies PASS- may use a four function calculator was clarified to if a student is using a calculator accommodation, the calculator must be a four function model All programs- Audio CD oral administration of assessment must be done on computer with headphones. One student only per CD, so students can work at their own pace.

Clarifications- contd. No speech to text software is allowable on statewide assessments. – This is clarified under Supplemental Materials and Devices in Appendix C of the TAMS

Clarifications- contd. In previous TAM editions there was a sentence following information regarding testing dates which stated : This regulation does not apply to students with IEPs requiring a scheduling accommodation. This sentence has been removed to prevent confusion. ALL students MUST begin testing on the date specified by the SCDE.

Newly Permissible Options Graph paper has been added to the supplemental materials list for PASS. Use of online dictionaries has been added for use by blind students only. Audio CD ROM directions in the case may be read by TA in advance of testing- note the CD may not be previewed in advance.

New Best Practice Highlighting by students is now a best practice and allowable for ALL students. – Teachers may still highlight key words or phrases in the directions only for students with an IEP. This may be done immediately after reading the directions.

Special Circumstances Request Forms Continue using these forms for accommodations which are not expressly listed in Appendix C of the TAM but are needed to provide a student access to the assessment.

Questions? Anne Mruz