1. On-Line Assessment Presented by: The V Team Melissa Moss Melinda Owens, Valerie Stokes, Jeanelle McGuire Regional Assistive Technology Committee Meeting

2. CATS Online is… An online assessment accommodation for students An online assessment accommodation for students with disabilities that meet the following eligibility criteria: with disabilities that meet the following eligibility criteria: Students with an IEP or 504 Plan that specifies the need for a "reader" as an instructional and assessment accommodation. Students with an IEP or 504 Plan that specifies the need for a "reader" as an instructional and assessment accommodation. Students who require and routinely (e.g., daily to weekly) use textreader or screenreader (i.e., text to speech) technology in order to access printed material in classroom instruction and assessment. Students who require and routinely (e.g., daily to weekly) use textreader or screenreader (i.e., text to speech) technology in order to access printed material in classroom instruction and assessment. Students who have accessed and used the CATS Online Practice Area sufficiently to be comfortable with site navigation and independently reading the content with their textreader or screenreader. Students who have accessed and used the CATS Online Practice Area sufficiently to be comfortable with site navigation and independently reading the content with their textreader or screenreader. KDE – CATS Online Assessment

3. How does it work? An interactive website has been created in an “accessible” digital format. An interactive website has been created in an “accessible” digital format. Text has been formatted to be read using a screenreader or textreader. Text has been formatted to be read using a screenreader or textreader. Students access the CATS assessment online using their own user name & passwords. Students access the CATS assessment online using their own user name & passwords. Listen through headphones to the text being read by the screenreader or textreader. Listen through headphones to the text being read by the screenreader or textreader. And, based on student/teacher choice, answer the question online or in traditional student And, based on student/teacher choice, answer the question online or in traditional student response booklet. response booklet.

4. A screenreader or textreader is… A software program that audibly reads selected text. A software program that audibly reads selected text. It works with any program that uses a text format. It works with any program that uses a text format. Examples: Word, Power Point, Outlook, Internet, & even PDF files. Examples: Word, Power Point, Outlook, Internet, & even PDF files. It will also “speak as you type” so that students hear what they are writing. It will also “speak as you type” so that students hear what they are writing. And much, much more…

5. Benefits for students… Builds confidence. Builds confidence. Independence in reading at their own pace anything that they usually could not read without support. Independence in reading at their own pace anything that they usually could not read without support. Students spend more time on reading Students spend more time on reading the assessment. (ex. Re-read passage the assessment. (ex. Re-read passage for correct answer) for correct answer) Students stay on task and are less Students stay on task and are less distracted. distracted.

6. Very Important! To participate… Students MUST MUST meet the eligibility requirements: IEP IEP Reader Reader listed as an accommodation Routinely Routinely uses textreader

7. Resources www.thevteam.org (Power Point, software training materials) www.thevteam.org (Power Point, software training materials) www.thevteam.org http://www.kde.state.ky.us (keyword search for CATS Online) http://www.kde.state.ky.us (keyword search for CATS Online) http://www.kde.state.ky.us http://www.texthelp.com (Read & Write software information) http://www.texthelp.com (Read & Write software information) http://www.texthelp.com http://kysig.louisville.edu/udl/links.htm (E-text sources) http://kysig.louisville.edu/udl/links.htm (E-text sources) http://kysig.louisville.edu/udl/links.htm http://www.kentuckyschools.net/KDE/Instructional+Res ources/Technology/Teacher+Resources/Universal+Desig n+for+Learning/default.htm (Universal Design for Learning) http://www.kentuckyschools.net/KDE/Instructional+Res ources/Technology/Teacher+Resources/Universal+Desig n+for+Learning/default.htm (Universal Design for Learning) http://www.kentuckyschools.net/KDE/Instructional+Res ources/Technology/Teacher+Resources/Universal+Desig n+for+Learning/default.htm http://www.kentuckyschools.net/KDE/Instructional+Res ources/Technology/Teacher+Resources/Universal+Desig n+for+Learning/default.htm Linnie Calland - lcalland@kde.state.ky.us & Preston Lewis - plewis@kde.state.ky.us (Contacts at KDE) Linnie Calland - lcalland@kde.state.ky.us & Preston Lewis - plewis@kde.state.ky.us (Contacts at KDE)lcalland@kde.state.ky.us plewis@kde.state.ky.uslcalland@kde.state.ky.us plewis@kde.state.ky.us