1 Alternate Assessments Based on Modified Academic Achievement Standards Fen Chou, Ph.D. Louisiana Department of Education GSEG Project Kick-off Meeting January 16, 2008

2 What is LAA 2? LEAP Alternate Assessment, Level 2,  Designed for students with persistent academic disabilities  Mandated by federal and state law: all students must be assessed and must be included in the accountability system  State board action required development of a “2%” assessment  The first operational test given spring 2006

 with persistent academic disabilities  served under IDEA  in grades 4 – 11  meet the participation criteria Note: Participation criteria form on the LDE Web site ( Which students take LAA 2?

What subjects are tested? In spring 2008, students will be tested  Grades 4–10 English Language Arts Mathematics  Grades 4, 8, 11 Science Social Studies

5 Committees of Louisiana educators Identified the range of abilities/capabilities of LAA 2 population Defined appropriate grade-level expectations regarding breadth and depth Identified a range of appropriate sample items taken from general assessment item banks Reviewed proposed assessment design and made recommendations regarding: Content depth, breadth, and complexity Item types (MC and CR) Test length and format Test accommodations How was LAA 2 developed?

6  Selected from general assessment item banks  Reviewed by LDE staff: assessment development and special populations  Prior review of items by Content and Bias Committees LAA 2 Items

How is LAA 2 like general assessments?  LAA 2 Is based on Louisiana content standards (but reduces the range and depth of GLEs) Includes both multiple-choice and constructed-response questions Uses the same item pool Requires the same procedures for test administration and test security Results reported by Achievement Levels (e.g., Basic)

How does LAA 2 differ from general assessments?  LAA 2 has fewer questions less reading less writing a modified format fewer questions per page more white space larger font

Most Significant Format Changes English Language Arts  Using Information Resources General Assessments one resource packet with about 4 to 6 sources 5 MC items and 2 CR items Questions follow all resource materials. LAA 2 one resource packet with about 4 to 6 sources 5 MC items and 1 CR items Question is adjacent to the related resource.

Most Significant Format Changes English Language Arts  Proofreading General Assessments short passage to edit 8 MC items Student refers to underlined parts in a passage to edit, followed by MC items corresponding to the underlined portions. LAA 2 8 MC items Each item is a sentence (taken from a short passage) with an underlined part to edit followed by 4 answer options.

Alignment of Achievement Levels: General Assessments and LAA 2

Questions?  Fen Chou Louisiana Dept. of Education