1. Slide 1 National Center on Educational Outcomes (NCEO) High School Exit Exams: Performance, Validity and Use Martha L. Thurlow National Center on Educational Outcomes www.nceo.info

2. Slide 2 National Center on Educational Outcomes (NCEO) Number of students using accommodations during state assessments: ElementaryMiddle SchoolHigh School 1999 53%44%44% 2005 65%64%61%

3. Slide 3 National Center on Educational Outcomes (NCEO) Complexity of policies has increased over time, as reflected in coding systems used to summarize state accommodation policies YearCoding System 1993X = allowed; O = prohibited 1995Lists of states with certain accommodations 1997X = allowed; O = prohibited 1999X = allowed; O = prohibited 2001X = allowed; X* = score not aggregated if used; O = prohibited 2003A = allowed; AC = allowed in certain circumstances; AI = allowed with implications for scoring and/or aggregation; P = prohibited 2005A = allowed; A* = allowed but called nonstandard (with no implications for scoring or aggregation); AC = allowed in certain circumstances; AI = allowed with implications for scoring and/or aggregation; P = prohibited

4. Slide 4 National Center on Educational Outcomes (NCEO) AA*ACAIAC/AIP Large Print1000000 Braille1000000 Sign Directions901000 Read Aloud Direct.900000 Repeat Directions710000 Visual Cues500000 Familiar Examiner700000 Admin. by Others600000 Sign Questions212020 Addtl. Examples200000 Read Aloud Quest.313020 Presentation Accommodations Sample of 10 States with Distinct Policies for High School Exit Exam

5. Slide 5 National Center on Educational Outcomes (NCEO) AA*ACAIAC/AIP Mag. Equipment800000 Amp. Equipment900000 Light/Acous.800000 Calculator311112 Templates/Graph900000 Audio/Video500000 Noise Buffer500000 Adap/Spec Furn800000 Abacus400000 Manipulatives500100 Equipment and Material Accommodations Sample of 10 States with Distinct Policies for High School Exit Exam

6. Slide 6 National Center on Educational Outcomes (NCEO) AA*ACAIAC/AI Proctor/Scribe 70111 Write in Test Booklet 100000 Brailler 70100 Tape Recorder 80100 Computer/Mach. 61201 Sign Responses 80001 Comm. Device 51100 Pointing 70100 Speech/Text Dev. 31000 Spell Checker 31202 Response Accommodations Sample of 10 States with Distinct Policies for High School Exit Exam

7. Slide 7 National Center on Educational Outcomes (NCEO) AA*ACAIAC/AI With Breaks90000 Extended Time80000 Time Beneficial to Student 80000 Multiple Sessions30000 Over Multiple Days 70000 Scheduling/Timing Accommodations Sample of 10 States with Distinct Policies for High School Exit Exam

8. Slide 8 National Center on Educational Outcomes (NCEO) Sample of 10 States with Distinct Policies for High School Exit Exam AA*ACAIAC/AI Individual100000 Small Group100000 Carrel90000 Seat Location80000 Separate Room50000 Minimize Dist.30000 Student’s Home70100 Special Ed. Classroom30000 Setting Accommodations

9. Slide 9 National Center on Educational Outcomes (NCEO) Who Receives Accommodations (besides IEP students)? 504 students (41 states) ELLs with IEPs (25 states) All students, with qualifications (6 states) All students (no qualifications) (2 states) Other (11 states)

10. Slide 10 National Center on Educational Outcomes (NCEO) Complicating Matters Some states use college admission tests as their high school exams (not as “exit exams” per se), with the accommodation policies conforming to those of the admission test rather than the typical state policy – but this may in turn affect state practice!

11. Slide 11 National Center on Educational Outcomes (NCEO) Alternative Routes Study conducted in 2003-2004 Figure 1. Alternative Routes to a Standard Diploma (2003-2004)

12. Slide 12 National Center on Educational Outcomes (NCEO) Many of states’ alternative routes are not very alternative! And, for students with disabilities, including students with learning disabilities, states seem to be willing to accept noncomparable alternative routes.

13. Slide 13 National Center on Educational Outcomes (NCEO) Policy Implications Accommodations should meet students’ needs, and not necessarily be a function of the test. There is no real reason for accommodations to vary just because an assessment is an exit exam (other than content) There are many reasons to provide much more viable alternative routes to standard diplomas – ones that are based on the same standards and expectations, but that are truly alternative routes.

14. Slide 14 National Center on Educational Outcomes (NCEO) Practice Recommendations Students, parents, and educators need to think about the implications of the transition from an open and flexible (relatively) accommodations system to a closed and inflexible (relatively) accommodations system. Accommodations should be tested out to make sure that they are really needed. If they are, document them.

15. Slide 15 National Center on Educational Outcomes (NCEO) Product Recommendations Tools are needed to help with training and decision making Some exist – ASES SCASS Accommodations Manual: how to Select, Administer, and Evaluate Use of Accommodations for Instruction and Assessment of Students with Disabilities More are needed!