Age Appropriate Assessments: A Necessary Component to Transition

This event is being funded with State and/or Federal funds and is being provided for employees of school districts, employees of the Mississippi Department of Education and Department contractors. Miss. Const. Art. 4, Section 66 prohibits governing authorities from making donations. According to the Mississippi Attorney General, once the Federal funds are turned over to the State, the rules for the expenditure of State funds apply. Based on Mississippi law, this event is not being provided for third party vendors or external providers. Age Appropriate Assessment Webinar ©MDE-Bureau of District Support2

Vision _________________________________ To create a world-class educational system that gives students the knowledge and skills to be successful in college and the workforce, and to flourish as parents and citizens Mission _______________________________ To provide leadership through the development of policy and accountability systems so that all students are prepared to compete in the global community Age Appropriate Assessment Webinar ©MDE-Bureau of District Support3

All Students Proficient and Showing Growth in All Assessed Areas Every Student Graduates High School and is Ready for College and Career Every Child Has Access to a High-Quality Early Childhood Program Every School Has Effective Teachers and Leaders Every Community Effectively Using a World-Class Data System to Improve Student Outcomes Age Appropriate Assessment Webinar ©MDE-Bureau of District Support4

This training is designed to provide participants with information regarding transitional supports for children with disabilities and best practices related to implementation of State Board Policy This training provides support to public agencies addressing the transitional needs of students with disabilities in an effort to (a) facilitate academic growth for all students and (b) effectively train teachers and leaders in the area of transition. The use of these strategies are aligned to the Mississippi Department of Education (MDE) Strategic Plan. Age Appropriate Assessment Webinar ©MDE-Bureau of District Support5

The OSE has a teacher listserv available for special education teachers. The purpose of the listserv will be to inform special education teachers of upcoming trainings, upcoming webinars, and other resources provided by MDE. Age Appropriate Assessment Webinar ©MDE-Bureau of District Support6

Age Appropriate Assessment Webinar ©MDE-Bureau of District Support7

“The ongoing process of collecting data on the individual’s needs, preferences, and interests as they relate to the demands of current and future working, educational, living, and personal and social environments.” Age Appropriate Assessment Webinar ©MDE-Bureau of District Support8

“Appropriate measurable postsecondary goals based upon age appropriate transition assessments related to training, education, employment, and, where appropriate, independent living skills” (34 C.F.R. § [b][1]). Age Appropriate Assessment Webinar ©MDE-Bureau of District Support9

Behavioral assessment information Aptitude tests Interest and work values inventories Intelligence tests and achievement tests Personality or preference tests Career maturity or readiness tests Self-determination assessments Work-related temperament scales Transition planning inventories Age Appropriate Assessment Webinar ©MDE-Bureau of District Support10

To develop IEP goals and objectives for the transition component of the IEP To make instructional programming decisions To include information in the present level of academic achievement and functional performance related to a student’s interests, preferences, and needs Age Appropriate Assessment Webinar ©MDE-Bureau of District Support11

Transition assessments are an excellent way to learn about students individually, especially their strengths outside of academics and their career ambitions. Age Appropriate Assessment Webinar ©MDE-Bureau of District Support12

The results of transition assessments should be used in making recommendations for instructional strategies, accommodations in instruction, and environments to meet the student’s strengths and needs. Age Appropriate Assessment Webinar ©MDE-Bureau of District Support13

The results should also help students make a connection between their individual academic program and their post-school ambitions. Age Appropriate Assessment Webinar ©MDE-Bureau of District Support14

It is important that you become familiar with the different types of transition assessments and their characteristics. Age Appropriate Assessment Webinar ©MDE-Bureau of District Support15

An effective assessment may ask the questions: Who am I? What do I want in life, now and in the future? What are some of life’s demands that I can meet now? What are the main barriers to getting what I want from school and my community? What are my options in the school and community for preparing me for what I want, now and in the future? Age Appropriate Assessment Webinar ©MDE-Bureau of District Support16

Be sure to consider the nature of their disability, their post-school ambitions, and community opportunities. For example, students with more involved disabilities would be best served by a person-centered planning approach. Age Appropriate Assessment Webinar ©MDE-Bureau of District Support17

Must incorporate assistive technology or accommodations that will allow an individual to demonstrate his or her abilities and potential. Age Appropriate Assessment Webinar ©MDE-Bureau of District Support18

Must occur in environments that resemble actual vocational training, employment, independent living, or community environments. Age Appropriate Assessment Webinar ©MDE-Bureau of District Support19

Must produce outcomes that contribute to ongoing development, planning, and implementation of “next steps” in the individual’s transition process. Age Appropriate Assessment Webinar ©MDE-Bureau of District Support20

Must be varied and include a sequence of activities that sample an individual’s behavior and skills over time. Age Appropriate Assessment Webinar ©MDE-Bureau of District Support21

Must be verified by more than one method. Age Appropriate Assessment Webinar ©MDE-Bureau of District Support22

Must be synthesized and interpreted to individuals with disabilities, their families, and transition team members. Age Appropriate Assessment Webinar ©MDE-Bureau of District Support23

Assessment data and the results of the assessment process must be documented in a format that can be used to facilitate transition planning. Age Appropriate Assessment Webinar ©MDE-Bureau of District Support24

May include interviews with parents and student to gather information to determine a student’s needs, preferences, and interests relative to anticipated post-school outcomes: –Dream Sheets –Employability Interviews Age Appropriate Assessment Webinar ©MDE-Bureau of District Support25

Direct observation should be conducted within the natural or school employment, post-secondary, or community setting: –Task Analysis –Work Behaviors –Performance Analysis Age Appropriate Assessment Webinar ©MDE-Bureau of District Support26

Career Interest Inventory – Levels One and Two The Strong Interest Inventory Self-Directed Search Form R, E, and Career Explorer The Harrington/O’Shea System for Career Decision-Making Wide Range Interest-Opinion Test Revised (WRIOT-R) Age Appropriate Assessment Webinar ©MDE-Bureau of District Support27

Sixteen Personality Factor Questionnaire (16PF, Fifth Edition) Personal Career Development Profile (PCDP) and PC/DP Plus Myers-Briggs Type Indicator ® (MBTI ® ) Instrument Student Styles Questionnaire (SSQ) Age Appropriate Assessment Webinar ©MDE-Bureau of District Support28

Office of Special Education Candice Kelly, Ed.S. Age Appropriate Assessment Webinar ©MDE-Bureau of District Support29