The Basics of Federal Accountability A dequate Y early P rogress AYP

1. The Basics ofFederal AccountabilityAdequate Yearly Progress AYP

2. Opening a Mindset • Changing behavior/actions/performance is not easy (after all, if it were, it would have already occurred) • Sometimes the solutions are evident and can be implemented quickly and effectively • Sometimes, however, the answers do not seem as easily accessible • The real challenge is to be able to remove our blinders and see beyond the problem to the solution . . .

3. IDEA, NCLB and the TEC have led to the development of 4 accountability systems • Academic Excellence Indicator System • State system • Student Performance • Campuses and districts • 35 indicators • Performance Based Monitoring • State system • 4 program areas (BE/ESL, CTE, NCLB, IDEA) • Districts • 88 indicators PBM AEIS • Adequate Yearly Progress • Federal system (NCLB) • Student performance • Campuses and districts • 3 indicators SPP AYP • State Performance Plan • Federal system (IDEA 2004) • Special education performance only • Districts • 29 indicators

4. State/Federal Assessments 2007-08 • TAKS • At panel recommendation – all grades/subjects • Bundled accommodations for students with dyslexia • For students identified with dyslexia AND who receive services under: • IDEA • Section 504, or • Campus dyslexia program • Accommodations are ALL 3: • Orally reading all proper nouns • Orally reading all question and answer choices • Extending the testing over a 2-day period • Other accommodations • Oral administration (Math, Science, Social Studies)

5. State/Federal Assessments 2007-08 • TAKS-Accommodated • ONLY for students receiving special education services • ONLY at EGL (Enrolled Grade Level) • Same test items that appear in corresponding TAKS tests – reformatted to Verdana font, larger, more white space • Fewer test items – does not include embedded field test items • Allowable accommodations (in addition to the formatting accommodations) described in Accommodations Manual

6. State/Federal Assessments 2007-08 • TAKS-Accommodated • Accountability implications • Group 1 • Included in AEIS; Not Included in AYP • Social Studies all grades (8, 10 and Exit) • Science all grades (5, 8, 10 and Exit) • ELA Exit level only • Math Exit level only • Group 2 • Not included in AEIS; Included in AYP in Reading/ELA and Math in Grades 3-8 and 10 • Reading (Grades 3-9) • ELA (Grade 10) • Math (Grades 3-10) • Writing (Grades 4, 7)

7. State/Federal Assessments 2007-08 • TAKS-Modified • Only for students receiving special education services (who meet participation requirements) • Alternate assessment based on modified academic achievement standards • For students whose disability prevents them from achieving full EGL proficiency • Operational TAKS-M in Spring 2008 (NCLB subjects/grades) • Reading (Grades 3-8); ELA (Grade 10) • Math (Grades 3-8 and 10) • Science (Grades 5, 8 and 10) • Passing standard to be developed in August 2008 • Field Test TAKS-M in all other grades/subjects • Passing standard to be developed in Summer 2009

8. State/Federal Assessments 2007-08 • TAKS-M • Based on USDE regulations, TAKS-M is intended for students: • Whose disability has prevented them from achieving grade-level proficiency; and • Whose progress to date in response to appropriate instruction (including special education and related services) is such that, even if significant growth occurs, the students’ IEP teams are reasonably certain will not achieve grade-level proficiency within the year covered by their IEPs • IEPs for students assessed based on TAKS-M must be based on enrolled grade-level (EGL) academic content standards

9. State/Federal Assessments 2007-08 • TAKS-Alternate • Only for students receiving special education services (who meet participation requirements) • Alternate assessment based on alternate academic achievement standards • For students with the most significant cognitive disabilities(MSCD) • Aligned with enrolled grade level (EGL) TEKS • Based on access activities that are designed to measure student’s mastery of prerequisite skills aligned to the essence of EGL TEKS • Passing standard = 24 out of 42 possible points

10. State/Federal Assessment: On the Horizon • TAKS-Alternate for 2008-09 • Anticipated changes for TAKS-Alt in 2008-09 • Standardized Essence Statements • All State-selected/State-mandated • Reduce in number from 6 to 4 • Standardized Instructional Activities • Select one of the three standardized instructional activities provided for each essence statement (low, medium, high)  • Pre-determined standardized scoring criteria for the activities • TAKS–Alt Training Modules • TAKS–Alt training modules will be mandatory for all district personnel who are involved in the administration of TAKS–Alt • Series of knowledge-check questions for each module that must be successfully completed

11. State/Federal Assessment: On the Horizon • TAKS-Alternate for 2008-09 • Anticipated changes for TAKS-Alt in 2008-09 (cont.) • Inter-Rater Reliability Study • Requires a second rater for certain students selected as part of a study sample  • Sample of student participants included in the study will be larger than in 2008 to provide additional reliability evidence required by USDE • 2008–09 TAKS–Alt Training and Testing Schedule • Due to the extensive changes that will be made to TAKS–Alt, training modules will be available later in the school year (November) • TAKS–Alt testing window will also open later in the school year (January–April)

12. Federal Accountability What are the rules?

13. 3 Indicators (Up to 29 Total Measures) AYP • Number of Accountability Measures (2008) • Reading • 14 • 7 Performance • 7 Participation • Math • 14 • 7 Performance • 7 Participation • Graduation/Attendance • 1

14. AYP: The Basics • Indicators used to determine AYP

15. AYP: The Basics • Standards

16. Compare to AEIS: Rdg and Math (Gr. 3-8 and 10), ONLY TAKS AYP: The Basics • Tests Results Evaluated: Reading/ELA and Math

17. What about the 1% & 2% cap? Example: • Achieve I.S.D.: 1000 students tested • TAKS Alt • 1% = 10 PROFICIENT student scores • TAKS Modified • 2% = 20 PROFICIENT student scores

18. What about the 1% & 2% cap? Problem: • The district is NOT limited to the 1% and 2% numbers of students tested • Many districts did not have enough PROFICIENT scores to “fill” the 1% and 2% AYP “buckets” • Often, students were placed on incorrect tests to try to avoid “artificial failures”

19. Don’t Forget… • In 2009-2010 (next school year), ALL of the TAKS Accommodated tests will count for the STATE accountability system. • Presently, the TAKS M and TAKS Alt will be a reportonly for the state system…but this may change • TAKS M and TAKS Alt results will be reported on AEIS, but will not affect accountability

20. AYP: The Basics • Student Groups Evaluated: Reading/ELA and Math 50/10%/200 Rule

21. Federal Performance Standards (AYP) • Participation Standards • 95% = Rdg/ELA • 95% = Math • Other Indicators • Attendance (Elementary and Middle Schools): 90.0% • Graduation Rate: 70.0%

22. Required ImprovementState vs. Federal • State Required Improvement • Gain in percent Met Standard required to reach current accountability standard for Academically Acceptable or Recognized in 2 years RI = • Federal Required Improvement • 10% reduction in previous year’s failure rate RI = 2008 Standard – 2007 Performance 2 (100 – 2007 Performance) x .10

23. Required ImprovementState vs. Federal

28. Issues to Consider • Guaranteed viable curriculum • Comprehensive Needs Assessment • Sufficient time and depth • In identifying “weaknesses” don’t forget to emphasize strengths • Instructional • Individual student strengths • Implement appropriate accommodations for students – Accommodations Manual • Differentiate interventions based on need • E.g., academic based tutorials vs. study hall

29. Questions? Comments?