1. Universal Tools, Designated Supports, and Accommodations for the California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress, 2014–15
Accessibility and Accommodations for California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress (CAASPP): An Overview
October 22, 2014
Shobhana Rishi, Ed.D.
Education Programs Consultant
Assessment Development and Administration Division
Kristin Wright
Special Education Division

2. Today’s Overview Smarter Balanced Field Test Feedback
Purpose and Importance of Assessment Accessibility
Universal Tools, Designed Supports, and Accommodations
2014–15 Accessibility Highlights
Recommended Seven Step Process
Trainings and Webinars
Resources and Information
Questions and Answers

3. 2014 Smarter Balanced Field Test Feedback
Kudos to local educational agencies (LEAs) and schools.
Overall, Field Test was positive, successful, and useful:
Most schools completed tests.
Testing was a multi-department effort.
LEAs reported it was useful and eased LEAs’ fears.
Practice and Training Tests were very helpful.

4. 2014 Smarter Balanced Field Test Feedback (cont.)
Lessons learned; issues to be addressed:
More timely information needed
More training for designated supports
More planning for accessibility and accommodations

5. Purpose and Importance of Assessment Accessibility
Equal opportunity to demonstrate learning
Access to CAASPP assessments
Access to instruction
Access to classroom assessments

6. Purpose and Importance of Assessment Accessibility (cont.)
Accuracy and validity of test results
Standardization and consistency of
test administration procedures across
Consortium states through:
Alignment with Smarter Balanced policies
Alignment with California laws and regulations

7. Universal Tools, Designated Supports and Accommodations
New assessments, new access demands
Embedded: Digitally delivered via online testing platform
Universal tools
Designated supports
Accommodations
Non-embedded: Furnished by local school

8. Universal Tools, Designated Supports and Accommodations (cont.)
California Accessibility Supports for 2014–15

9. Universal Tools, Designated Supports and Accommodations (cont.)
CAASPP Universal Tools
For all students
Universal Tools
Breaks
Calculator
Digital notepad
English dictionary
English glossary
Expandable passages
Global notes
Highlighter
Keyboard navigation
Mark for review
Masking
Math tools
Spell check
Strikethrough
Writing tools
Zoom
Math dools
Marks in paper
/pencil test booklet
Scratch daper
Simplified or clarified
test administration
directions
Thesaurus
Universal Tools

10. Universal Tools, Designated Supports and Accommodations (cont.)
CAASPP Designated Supports
For all students with a need identified by an educator or team of educators, parent/guardian,and student.
Universal Tools
Breaks
Calculator
Digital Notepad
English Dictionary
English Glossary
Expandable Passages
Global Notes
Highlighter
Keyboard Navigation
Mark for Review
Math Tools
Spell Check
Strikethrough
Writing Tools
Zoom
Designated Supports
Administration of Test at the Most Beneficial Time of Day for Student
American Sign Language
Bilingual Dictionary
Color Contrast
Color Overlay
Magnification
Noise Buffers
Read Aloud
Scribe
Separate Setting
Special Lighting or Acoustics
Translated Test Directions
Translations (Glossary)
Color contrast
Masking
Text-to-speech
Translated test directions
Translations (glossary)
Translations (stacked)
Turn off Any universal tools
Breaks
English Dictionary
Math Tools
Pupil marks in paper
/pencil test booklet
Scratch Paper
Simplified or clarified
test administration
directions
Thesaurus

11. Universal Tools, Designated Supports and Accommodations (cont.)
CAASPP Accommodations
For students with an IEP plan or Section 504 plan.
Universal Tools
Breaks
Calculator
Digital Notepad
English Dictionary
English Glossary
Expandable Passages
Global Notes
Highlighter
Keyboard Navigation
Mark for Review
Math Tools
Spell Check
Strikethrough
Writing Tools
Zoom
Designated Supports
Color Contrast
Masking
Text-to-Speech
Translated Test Directions
Translations (Glossary)
Translations (Stacked)
Turn off Any Universal Tools
Accommodations
Abacus
Alternate response Options
American Sign Language
Braille
Calculator
Large-print version of
paper-pencil test
Multiplication table
Print on demand
Read aloud
Scribe
Speech-to-text
Administration of Test at the
Most Beneficial Time of
Day for Student
American Sign Language
Bilingual Dictionary
Color Contrast
Color Overlay
Magnification
Noise Buffers
Read Aloud
Scribe
Separate Setting
Special Lighting or Acoustics
Translated Test Directions
Translations (Glossary)
American sign
language
Braille
Closed Captioning
Streamlining
Text-to-speech
Breaks
English Dictionary
Math Tools
Pupil marks in paper
/pencil test booklet
Scratch Paper
Simplified or clarified
test administration
directions
Thesaurus

12. Universal Tools, Designated Supports and Accommodations (cont.)
CAASPP Individualized Aids:
Previously called Accessibility Supports, Unlisted accommodations
Require IEP or Section 504 Plan
Must request permission to use with the CAASPP Individualized Aid Request Form. COMING SOON

13. Universal Tools, Designated Supports and Accommodations (cont.)
General guidelines for use of all accessibility features:
Student is familiar with the support(s)
Supports are same or similar to those used for instruction and classroom assessment
Student has multiple opportunities to practice in test environment

14. 2014–15 Accessibility Highlights
For students who have IEP or Section 504 plans
SAME
Teams meet to determine student needs and select accessibility resources that match student needs for use in classroom and for assessment.
NEW
Online tests have different audio, visual, motor, and processing demands that must be considered in selecting accessibility resources.
Accessibility resources for the new Smarter Balanced assessments are new, and educators will require training on the functionality of the new accessibility features.

15. 2014–15 Accessibility Highlights (cont.)
For students who will benefit from the use of designated supports
NEW
Process is needed to determine which students will receive designated supports; a systematic process for consistency is recommended by Smarter Balanced.
The process is to address such access needs as:
Attention issues
Reading challenges
Language supports

16. Recommended Seven Steps
Designate key staff for roles and responsibilities in test administration related to student accessibility.
Provide information to parents and students early in the year; provide training to staff, as appropriate, for role in test administration.
Identify students who will benefit from designated supports and will need accommodations per IEP and 504 plans.

17. Recommended Seven Steps (cont.)
4. Assign designated supports and accommodations for all identified students who will require them. 5. Upload designated supports and accommodations into TOMS. 6. Perform a pre-administration check. 7. At time of test administration, confirm student has assigned accessibility support.

18. Recommended Seven Steps (cont.)
Designate key staff for roles and responsibilities in test administration related to student accessibility.
Have district or school accessibility team review all seven steps to assign specific roles to staff.
Make a plan (who, what, where, when, how) for all actions that must be addressed for each of the seven steps.

19. Recommended Seven Steps (cont.)
Provide information to parents and students early in the year; provide training to staff as appropriate for role in test administration.
Determine communications for parents.
Provide key information to staff:
Process for identifying students
Security agreements and affidavits
Request form for Individualized Aid
Process for checking for correct delivery of support

20. Recommended Seven Steps (cont.)
Identify students who will benefit from designated supports and will need accommodations per IEP and Section 504 plans.
Have existing IEP or Section 504 plans
Need IEP or Section 504 plans
Might benefit from designated supports
English learners
Students with attention difficulties
Students with other needs
Remember inclusion of parents/guardians

21. Recommended Seven Steps (cont.)
Assign designated supports and accommodations for all identified students who will require them.
For students with IEP and Section 504 Plans:
Update existing plans to align with selected accommodations and designated supports.
For students who will benefit from the use of designated supports:
Use district wide process to identify students and assign designated supports
For both:
Explore the use of supports during instruction and assessment.

22. Recommended Seven Steps (cont.)
Upload designated supports and accommodations into TOMS.
CAASPP Individual Assessment Accessibility Profile (CAASPP-ISAAP) Tool
Teacher friendly!
Template
Large districts may prefer this option
Manual entry in TOMS

23. Recommended Seven Steps (cont.)
Perform a pre-administration check.
Schools use a consistent process
At time of test administration, confirm student has assigned accessibility support.
Develop procedure.
Provide training to test administrators and site coordinators.

24. Trainings and Webinars
Accessibility and Accommodations for CAASPP: An Overview
Matrix One: 2014–15 Universal Tools, Designated Supports, and Accommodations
Designated Supports:
LEA Implementation
CAASPP ISAAP Process and Tool
Student Settings in Test Operations Management System (TOMS)

25. Matrix One Training Webinar
Trainings and Webinars (cont.)
Matrix One Training Webinar

26. Trainings and Webinars (cont.)
Matrix One Crosswalk

27. TRANSLATIONS (STACKED)
Trainings and Webinars (cont.)
Matrix One Training: Example UDA
TRANSLATIONS (STACKED)
Embedded
Designated Support
For mathematics items
Provides full translation of each test item in Spanish
Increases reading load and cognitive load

28. TRANSLATIONS (STACKED)
Trainings and Webinars (cont.)
Matrix One Training: Example UDA
TRANSLATIONS (STACKED)

29. Designated Supports: LEA Implementation Webinar
Trainings and Webinars (cont.)
Designated Supports: LEA Implementation
Identify student needs
Match
needs to
available supports
Evaluate effectiveness
of supports
Finalize support selections
Access Interim
Assessments
Use supports at classroom level
Use Practice Tests and Training Tests
Enter supports into TOMS
Access Summative
Designated Supports: LEA Implementation Webinar

30. Trainings and Webinars (cont.)
California Individual Student Assessment Accessibility Profile (CA-ISAAP) Webinar
Educator-friendly
Tool to facilitate selection of support

31. Student Settings in TOMS Webinar November 12, 2014
Trainings and Webinars (cont.)
Student Settings in TOMS Webinar November 12, 2014
Three options:
ISAAP upload to TOMS
Manually assign settings in TOMS
Template option (similar to Field Test)

32. Resources and Information
Smarter Balanced Usability, Accessibility, and Accommodations Guidelines and FAQs
Practice Tests and Training Tests (to support student fluency with Universal Tools, Designated Supports, and Accommodations

33. Resources and Information (cont.)
National Center on Educational Outcomes
National Center on Accessible Instructional Materials

34. For Further Information
California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress (CAASPP) Office California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress (CAASPP) Webpage