1. Federal NCLB Regulations
Understanding the 1% Cap for the Virginia Alternate Assessment Program (VAAP)
Federal NCLB Regulations

2. What is the VAAP?
Three types of SOL assessments for students with disabilities:
Regular SOL w/out accommodations
VGLA (Virginia Grade Level Assessment)
VAAP (Virginia Alternate Assessment Program)

3. What is the 1% Cap
NCLB regulations limit the number of alternate assessment that may be counted toward AYP to 1% of the students enrolled in tested grades
Tested grades are 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and 11

4. Where is the 1% cap applied?
1% applies at the state level
1% applies at the division level
1% does not apply at the school or classroom level

5. 1% History in Virginia since 2001
Virginia has always exceeded the 1% cap
Through the federal government granted Virginia a waiver
Fall 2007 the federal government notified VDOE that it will no longer grant the waiver

6. What are the consequences for ACPS?
All students exceeding the 1% cap will have their performance status reassigned from passing to failing for AYP calculations
The number of reassigned scores will be determined by dividing the number of VAAP proficient scores by the number of students in the tested grades
Reassigned scores apply to English and math

7. What is 1% calculation for ACPS?
ACPS had 1,560 students enrolled in tested grades as of 09/30/2007
1% of 1560 is 15.6 or 16
16 VAAP assessments can be counted toward division-wide AYP pass rates

8. ACPS numbers… 37 VAAP students in tested grades
Only 16 English and 16 math VAAP will count toward division-wide AYP
21 English and 21 math assessments will have to be reassigned as failing/non-participation for the division

9. What does reassigned mean?
Scores reassigned for AYP calculations only
Does not affect the student or the IEP
Does not affect the student’s graduation
Parent’s get notification of the original score as usual
Reassignments are done after scoring and test audits are complete

10. What are the local ramifications?
Knowing that 22 students will be reassigned from passing to failing for division-wide AYP calculations means that ACPS will not likely make AYP
Individual schools can still make AYP provided that all benchmarks are met.

11. What about next year?
Criteria for VAAP participation is being changed per VDOE regulations
IQ scores of 50 and below
Moderate to profound mental retardation
Adaptive behavior score of 50 or below

12. How do the new regulations apply to this years students?
Currently, 37 ACPS students are being assessed by VAAP
8 of the 37 qualify for VAAP using the new DOE standards
ACPS will not likely be above the 1% cap in

13. Questions?