Navigating the State Assessment Program Pam Biggs NCDPI Division of Accountability Services Conference on Exceptional Children November 7, 2006

State Testing Options Standard Test Administration Test Administration w/ Accommodations Alternate Assessment - One or more of the following depending on the assessment: –NCCLAS –NCEXTEND2 –NCEXTEND1

Standard Test Administration Standard Test Administration with Accommodations NCCLAS Grade-level Content Grade-level Achievement Standards NCEXTEND2 Grade-level Content Modified Achievement Standards NCEXTEND1 Grade-level Content through Extended Content Standards Alternate Achievement Standards

1 1 Data Source: Green Book Note: In , the alternate assessments were the NCAAP and NCAAAI.

1 Data Source: Green Book Note: In , the alternate assessments were the NCAAP and NCAAAI. 1

Standard Test Administration Without Accommodations Information on test administration times, number of items, sample answer sheets, etc. accountability/testing/

Test Administration With Accommodations Modified Test Formats Braille Edition Large Print Edition One Test Item Per Page Edition Special Test Environments Hospital/Home Testing Multiple Testing Sessions Scheduled Extended Time Testing in a Separate Room

Test Administration With Accommodations Assistive Technology Devices and Special Arrangements AT Devices Dictation to a Scribe Interpreter/Transliterator Signs/Cues Test Student Marks Answers in Test Book Student Reads Test Aloud to Self Test Administrator Reads Test Aloud

Test Administration With Accommodations Information on specific accommodations available in Testing Students with Disabilities (published July 2005) alternate/disabilities/testingstudents.pdf

Alternate Assessments NCCLAS NCEXTEND2 NCEXTEND1

NCCLAS North Carolina Checklist of Academic Standards Grade-level content (NCSCS) Grade-level achievement standards

NCCLAS - Eligibility Criteria Student cannot participate in standard administration with or without accommodations Unable to access paper and pencil test Some examples include: –Newly blinded –Recent traumatic brain injury –Physical disabilities that prohibit the student from being able to manipulate materials required for test

NCCLAS EOG Timelines Halfway through year (January) –Beginning Student Profile (Assessor 1) Throughout year –Maintain student work folder (A1) Last 30 calendar days of year –Final Student Profile (A1) –Objective Level Scoring (A1) –Final Goal Level Scoring (A1 & A2) –Online submission of scores (A1 & A2)

NCEXTEND2 EOG Grade-level content (NCSCS) Modified multiple-choice –Fewer answer choices –Fewer test items –Different layout –Simplified language –May receive accommodations Modified grade-level achievement standards

NCEXTEND2 EOG 2% cap at LEA and state levels Still awaiting final regulations from USED Test will still need to be approved by NCLB peer review

NCEXTEND2 EOG Eligibility Criteria Has an IEP Is not identified as having a significant cognitive disability Is not receiving instruction in the SCOS through the Extended Content Standards Is receiving high-quality instruction, but is not likely to achieve grade-level proficiency within school year

NCEXTEND2 EOG Eligibility Criteria (cont’d) Disability has precluded the student from achieving grade-level proficiency as demonstrated by objective evidence Nature of student’s disability may require assessments that are different in design Testing Window Last 4 weeks of school year

NCEXTEND1 Aligned to grade-level content (NCSCS) through Extended Content standards Performance based assessment Alternate achievement standards

NCEXTEND1 1% cap at LEA and state levels Test will still need to be approved by NCLB peer review

NCEXTEND1 Eligibility Criteria Has an IEP with annual goals that focus on functional application of academics Has a significant cognitive disability Requires extensive and explicit instruction to acquire, maintain, and generalize new reading, mathematics, and writing skills for independent living

NCEXTEND1 Eligibility Criteria (cont’d) Student exhibits severe and pervasive delays in multiple areas of development and in adaptive behavior (e.g. mobility, communication, daily living skills, and self- care) Is receiving instruction in the grade level SCS Extended Content Standards for the subject(s) in which the students are being assessed

NCEXTEND1 Timelines Nov. 6 - Dec. 1 –Decision Tree Process (Assessor 1) Final 6 weeks of school year –Assess students on tasks (A1 & A2) –Documentation Verification sheets (A1 & A2) –Online submission of results (A1 & A2)

ntoptions.pdf

EOG Testing Options Standard Test Administration Test Administration w/ Accommodations Alternate Assessment –NCCLAS –NCEXTEND2 –NCEXTEND1 Reading Grades 3-8 Mathematics Grades 3-8 Science Grades 5 and 8

Writing Testing Options Standard Test Administration Test Administration w/ Accommodations Alternate Assessment –NCCLAS –NCEXTEND2 (grades 4 and 7) –NCEXTEND2 OCS (grade 10) –NCEXTEND1 Writing Grades 4, 7, and 10

assessmentoptions.pdf

End-of-Course (EOC) Tests Algebra I Algebra II Geometry English I Civics & Economics U.S. History Biology (Operational & Sample Field Test 06-07) Chemistry (Statewide Field Test 06-07) Physical Science (Statewide Field Test 06-07) Physics (Statewide Field Test 06-07)

EOC Testing Options Standard Test Administration Test Administration w/ Accommodations Alternate Assessment –NCCLAS

NCEXTEND2 OCS Occupational English I Occupational Math I Life Skills Science I and II (enrolled in second of the courses, regardless of the order taken)

NCEXTEND2 OCS Eligibility Criteria Students enrolled in courses that are assessed must take the test For Life Skills Science I and II, must be in 2 nd of the 2 courses, regardless of the order taken

Grade 10 OCS Students Will not have taken Occupational English I and/or Occupational Math I by end of 10 th grade –Will have to take high school comprehensive test (HSCT) this year

Documentation Decisions must be documented in IEP IEP DEC 4, page 3

Additional Documentation NCTP Tables –1: Graduation Tests –2: Grades 3-8 –3: Grades 9-12 –4: IPT Optional, but encouraged LEA may require accountability/policies/tswd/

Hopefully now the path is clearer... …and there is light at the end of the tunnel.

? Questions?