1. Accommodations Policies and Training: What Do We Know So Far? Laurene Christensen NCEO Teleconference September 29, 2008 National Center on Educational Outcomes (NCEO)

2. CCSSO Accommodations Manual Published in 2005 Developed in collaboration with ASES SCASS Presents a 5-step process for making decisions about accommodations for instruction and assessment Customizable for each state’s needs National Center on Educational Outcomes (NCEO)

3. How have states adapted the CCSSO Manual? Examples: Minnesota Washington National Center on Educational Outcomes (NCEO)

4. Minnesota Accommodations Manual Minnesota theme Complements the Minnesota Procedures Manual Updated content –Inclusion of ELLs with disabilities –Updated definitions of accommodations –Increased focus on test validity –Updated tools National Center on Educational Outcomes (NCEO)

5. STEP 3 Decision Framework for Assessment Accommodations National Center on Educational Outcomes (NCEO)

6. Tool 2.1 Page 33

7. Tool 2.1 Page 35

8. Tool 3.1 Page 54 National Center on Educational Outcomes (NCEO)

9. MN Training Model Train the trainer model In 2008, roughly 220 people participated in the training Used both in-person and teleconference formats for training Included updated training manual, which has multiple-format activities and evaluation forms to be used in districts National Center on Educational Outcomes (NCEO)

10. Washington Accommodations Manual CCSSO decision- making process embedded in manual WA policies included in manual Concrete examples to assist decision-makers Designed with pull- out sections National Center on Educational Outcomes (NCEO)

11. Washington Accommodations Review Process Requests for unique accommodations are made to the state Requests are recorded and reviewed each year by a team Changes are reflected in subsequent years National Center on Educational Outcomes (NCEO)

12. Page 12

13. Page 6/26 National Center on Educational Outcomes (NCEO)

14. Page 22 National Center on Educational Outcomes (NCEO)

15. Washington Training Model WA trains a core group of 12 trainers at the state level; core group is updated yearly This group then brings training to the district level Special education directors are trained using a similar model National Center on Educational Outcomes (NCEO)

16. Future Directions in Accommodations Manuals and Trainings 1.Continuing to provide information on accommodations policies and decision-making on an as needed, on demand basis 2.Making sure of the integrity of the information as it reaches its intended audience 3.Focusing on sound policies and decision-making as a basis for maintaining validity of the assessment 4.Maintaining accurate records of training and decision- making processes at the local level 5.Studying the effects of training on decision-making and on student outcomes National Center on Educational Outcomes (NCEO)