Navigating the State Assessment Program

1. Navigating the State Assessment Program Pam Biggs NCDPI Division of Accountability Services Conference on Exceptional Children November 7, 2006

2. State Testing Options • Standard Test Administration • Test Administration w/ Accommodations • Alternate Assessment - One or more of the following depending on the assessment: • NCCLAS • NCEXTEND2 • NCEXTEND1

3. Standard Test Administration Standard Test Administration with Accommodations NCCLAS Grade-level Content Grade-level Achievement Standards NCEXTEND2 Grade-level Content Modified Achievement Standards NCEXTEND1 Grade-level Content through Extended Content Standards Alternate Achievement Standards

4. 1 1Data Source: 2004-05 Green Book Note: In 2004-05, the alternate assessments were the NCAAP and NCAAAI.

5. 1 1Data Source: 2004-05 Green Book Note: In 2004-05, the alternate assessments were the NCAAP and NCAAAI.

6. Standard Test AdministrationWithout Accommodations • Information on test administration times, number of items, sample answer sheets, etc. http://www.ncpublicschools.org/ accountability/testing/

7. Test AdministrationWith Accommodations Modified Test Formats • Braille Edition • Large Print Edition • One Test Item Per Page Edition Special Test Environments • Hospital/Home Testing • Multiple Testing Sessions • Scheduled Extended Time • Testing in a Separate Room

8. Test AdministrationWith Accommodations Assistive Technology Devices and Special Arrangements • AT Devices • Dictation to a Scribe • Interpreter/Transliterator Signs/Cues Test • Student Marks Answers in Test Book • Student Reads Test Aloud to Self • Test Administrator Reads Test Aloud

9. Test AdministrationWith Accommodations Information on specific accommodations available in Testing Students with Disabilities (published July 2005) http://www.ncpublicschools.org/docs/accountability/testing/alternate/disabilities/testingstudents.pdf

10. NCCLAS Alternate Assessments NCEXTEND2 NCEXTEND1

11. NCCLAS • North Carolina Checklist of Academic Standards • Grade-level content (NCSCS) • Grade-level achievement standards

12. NCCLAS - Eligibility Criteria • Student cannot participate in standard administration with or without accommodations • Unable to access paper and pencil test • Some examples include: • Newly blinded • Recent traumatic brain injury • Physical disabilities that prohibit the student from being able to manipulate materials required for test

13. NCCLAS EOG Timelines • Halfway through year (January) • Beginning Student Profile (Assessor 1) • Throughout year • Maintain student work folder (A1) • Last 30 calendar days of year • Final Student Profile (A1) • Objective Level Scoring (A1) • Final Goal Level Scoring (A1 & A2) • Online submission of scores (A1 & A2)

14. NCEXTEND2 EOG • Grade-level content (NCSCS) • Modified multiple-choice • Fewer answer choices • Fewer test items • Different layout • Simplified language • May receive accommodations • Modified grade-level achievement standards

15. NCEXTEND2 EOG • 2% cap at LEA and state levels • Still awaiting final regulations from USED • Test will still need to be approved by NCLB peer review

16. NCEXTEND2 EOG Eligibility Criteria • Has an IEP • Is not identified as having a significant cognitive disability • Is not receiving instruction in the SCOS through the Extended Content Standards • Is receiving high-quality instruction, but is not likely to achieve grade-level proficiency within school year

17. NCEXTEND2 EOG Eligibility Criteria (cont’d) • Disability has precluded the student from achieving grade-level proficiency as demonstrated by objective evidence • Nature of student’s disability may require assessments that are different in design Testing Window • Last 4 weeks of school year

18. NCEXTEND1 • Aligned to grade-level content (NCSCS) through Extended Content standards http://www.ncpublicschools.org/ec/ • Performance based assessment • Alternate achievement standards

19. NCEXTEND1 • 1% cap at LEA and state levels • Test will still need to be approved by NCLB peer review

20. NCEXTEND1 Eligibility Criteria • Has an IEP with annual goals that focus on functional application of academics • Has a significant cognitive disability • Requires extensive and explicit instruction to acquire, maintain, and generalize new reading, mathematics, and writing skills for independent living

21. NCEXTEND1 Eligibility Criteria (cont’d) • Student exhibits severe and pervasive delays in multiple areas of development and in adaptive behavior (e.g. mobility, communication, daily living skills, and self-care) • Is receiving instruction in the grade level SCS Extended Content Standards for the subject(s) in which the students are being assessed

22. NCEXTEND1 Timelines • Nov. 6 - Dec. 1 • Decision Tree Process (Assessor 1) • Final 6 weeks of school year • Assess students on tasks (A1 & A2) • Documentation Verification sheets (A1 & A2) • Online submission of results (A1 & A2)

23. http://www.ncpublicschools.org/docs/accountability/policyoperations/nctpassessmentoptions.pdfhttp://www.ncpublicschools.org/docs/accountability/policyoperations/nctpassessmentoptions.pdf

24. Reading Grades 3-8 Mathematics Grades 3-8 Science Grades 5 and 8 EOG Testing Options • Standard Test Administration • Test Administration w/ Accommodations • Alternate Assessment • NCCLAS • NCEXTEND2 • NCEXTEND1

25. Writing Grades 4, 7, and 10 Writing Testing Options • Standard Test Administration • Test Administration w/ Accommodations • Alternate Assessment • NCCLAS • NCEXTEND2 (grades 4 and 7) • NCEXTEND2 OCS (grade 10) • NCEXTEND1

26. http://www.ncpublicschools.org/docs/accountability/policyoperations/nctphsassessmentoptions.pdfhttp://www.ncpublicschools.org/docs/accountability/policyoperations/nctphsassessmentoptions.pdf

27. End-of-Course (EOC) Tests • Algebra I • Algebra II • Geometry • English I • Civics & Economics • U.S. History • Biology (Operational & Sample Field Test 06-07) • Chemistry (Statewide Field Test 06-07) • Physical Science (Statewide Field Test 06-07) • Physics (Statewide Field Test 06-07)

28. EOC Testing Options • Standard Test Administration • Test Administration w/ Accommodations • Alternate Assessment • NCCLAS

29. NCEXTEND2 OCS • Occupational English I • Occupational Math I • Life Skills Science I and II (enrolled in second of the courses, regardless of the order taken)

30. NCEXTEND2 OCS Eligibility Criteria • Students enrolled in courses that are assessed must take the test • For Life Skills Science I and II, must be in 2nd of the 2 courses, regardless of the order taken

31. Grade 10 OCS Students • Will not have taken Occupational English I and/or Occupational Math I by end of 10th grade • Will have to take high school comprehensive test (HSCT) this year

32. Documentation • Decisions must be documented in IEP • IEP DEC 4, page 3

33. Additional Documentation • NCTP Tables • 1: Graduation Tests • 2: Grades 3-8 • 3: Grades 9-12 • 4: IPT • Optional, but encouraged • LEA may require http://www.ncpublicschools.org/ accountability/policies/tswd/

34. Hopefully now the path is clearer... …and there is light at the end of the tunnel.

35. ? Questions?