Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) of 1997

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North Carolina Department of Public InstructionDivision of Accountability Services/Testing SectionAugust 28, 2002

• Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) of 1997– All students, including those with IEPs or

Section 504 plans, must participate in the statewide testing program.

– NC Alternate Assessment Portfolio (NCAAP)– NC Computerized Adaptive Testing System

(NCCATS) Accommodation

Why was the NCAAAI Developed?

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History of the NCAAAI

• Late Fall 2000– It was determined that a small group of students

could not be supported by the NCAAP or NCCATS

– Late December 2000/Options/Development began

– Discussion/Conflict concerning implementation dates (Spring 2001 vs. Fall 2001)

– 2001-2002 School Year / Audit

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New Way of Thinking• The NCAAAI is an ALTERNATE

ASSESSMENT for ANY student who cannot access the traditional test even with accommodations (must meet requirements).

• Students with Disabilities just happened to be the first group required by federal law.

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What is the NCAAAI?• Checklist of competencies based on the

NCSCS scored using individual scales for each content area:– Reading (Grades 3-8, 10)– Mathematics (Grades 3-8, 10)– Writing (Grades 4, 7, & 10)– EOC (Pilot Spring 2003)

• Envelope format• Collection of evidence to support FINAL scores

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What Happened?

• No Child Left Behind

• No exemptions

• Same standard, Same content

• Options:– Multiple-Choice Test

– State-Developed Portfolio

– Checklist

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ESEA Requirements: Changes for 2002-03?


Reading and Math at grades 3-8 annually & 10-12 spanScience (2005-06) in each grade span (3-5, 6-9, &10-12)Tested in English at three consecutive years in USAnnual measurable assessment of LEP students

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Why not use the Local Portfolio?

• Designed for a different purpose

• Locally-developed

• Must be aligned with the state test and all objectives

• Greater work than a checklist

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Which LEP students are Eligible?

• Assigned grade level of 3-8 or 10

• Score below Intermediate/High for reading on IPT Test for Reading or Math Test

• Score below Superior for writing

• Within 24 months of entry into the LEA (must attempt to retrieve previous score and clock continues)

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Who decides?

• LEP Students assessed ON-GRADE level ONLY

• “May” participate in the NCAAAI for up to 24 months

• Local decision

• Different options

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Why should you use the NCAAAI?• Valid results

• Flexibility in showing performance

• Show growth

• Instructional value from year to year

• No test anxiety for the student

• AYP

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Who Completes?

• Must have training in the content area

• Must work routinely with the student

• Principal has authority

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Concerns and Quandaries

• No Exemptions

• NC Standard Course of Study (NC SCS)

• Using an “EC” assessment for “LEP”

• Workload/Myths

• Training

• It’s NEW

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Training?

• Train-the-Trainer Model (RACS)• LEA TC trains the Test Coordinator

– Training for local staff is a collaboration between Testing and LEA staff (local decision)

• NCDPI/EC Training (Summer 2002)

• Testing Section Training Fall 2003 (Dates to be announced this week)

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LEP & IEP


• Which is the overriding factor?

–No definitive guidelines

–Best judgement

–Review the different testing instruments

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When are the Inventories Scored?

• Three times per year– First month of participation=Baseline data– Interim Month– Last month of school=Final data

• Evidence is collected to support Final Spring scores Only.

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How is the Inventory Scored?

• Description of Student Performance to give each competency a score from 1-8

• Objectives by Goals, Categories, or Sections

• Overall Score

• Growth is ANY growth


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MATHEMATICS SKILLSNorth Carolina Testing Program

North Carolina Alternate Assessment Academic InventoryDescription of Student Performance

Descriptors Description of Performance

Distinguished8 – High7 – Low

Student consistently demonstrates mastery beyond grade-level skills,strategies, competencies, and expectations.

Student makes applications and extensions beyond grade level.

Proficient6 – High5 – Low

Student consistently demonstrates mastery of grade-level skills,strategies, and competencies.

Student responds with appropriate answers or procedures.

Apprentice4 – High3 – Low

Student occasionally demonstrates mastery of grade-level skills,strategies, and competencies.

Student sometimes responds with appropriate answers or procedures.

Novice2 – High1 – Low

Student rarely or never demonstrates mastery of grade-level skills,strategies, and competencies.

Student frequently responds with inappropriate answers and/orprocedures.

ScaleNovice Apprentice Proficient Distinguished

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

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Achievement Levels: Final Overall Score• Assessed On-Grade

Level:– Level 4 (7-8)– Level 3 (5-6)– Level 2 (3-4)– Level 1 (1-2)

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Examples of Evidence

• Local Tests (LT)

• Samples of Student Work (SW)

• Teacher Observations (TO)

• Teacher-Made Tests (TT)

• Audio Tapes (AT)

• Other (specify) – Any Means to show performance

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Reporting

• 2001-2002 Operational

—Locally scanned—School rosters—Frequency distributions—Individual Student Report (EC Advisory Committee)—Summary Reports

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Data Collection 2001-02

• Scores transferred to scannable sheets during the last month of school

• Local Test Coordinators scan the sheets

• Data transferred to the NCDPI during the end-of-year process

• Student Notebooks will be stored locally for six months (sample returned)

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2001-02 Sample Review (and 2002-2003)

• April 1 release of LEA sample list / 10%

• Return everything (inventories, notebook, evidence, forms, etc.)

• Report percentages for each area to the LEA

• Review in August

• Return to LEAs in September

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NCAAAI and the ABCs

2001-20022001-2002• Operational

administration• Performance

Composite

2002-20032002-2003

• Operational administration for Grades 3-8 &10

• Pilot administration for EOC (Spring only)

• Pending data analysis– Growth Component

• Performance Composite

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2002-2003 Timeline

• August 2002– Inventories available

on-line (TNN) to TC– Order system up

• August-Sept. 2002– Intact NCAAAI are

shipped

• May-June 2002– NCAAAIs scanned and

locally stored• July-August 2002

– Audit

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Update Guidelines for Testing LEP Students (moving forward)


• LEP Advisory Committee—LEP LEA Coordinators—ESL Teachers—Principals with LEP experience—Assistant Superintendent—LEA Test Coordinators—CommunityAdvocates (Hispanic and Hmong Representation)

• Met April 2002• Met July 2002

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More Information

Testing Section Website:http://www.NCPublicSchools.org/accountability/testing

Documents

Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) of 1997