Presented By:Joseph Fisher , Assistant Commissioner, Division of Special Education

Branson Townsend, Executive Director, Division of Accountability, Teaching and LearningJuly 2010

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Changes begin with the graduating class of 2013, and include the following: curriculum aligned with ACHIEVE’s standards new EOC assessments

transition from Gateway to EOC as percentage of grade

graduation requirements increased to 22 (including a fourth credit in math, ½ credit in personal finance, and ½ credit in PE)

either chemistry or physics as one of three science courses one diploma for all students 3-credit elective focus

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Same Expectations, Same Opportunities

• Students with disabilities will participate in the same coursework as their peers and must complete the required 22 credits to earn a regular high school diploma. However, students with disabilities will have some flexibility in how they demonstrate knowledge or skills.

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The High School policy adopted by the State Board of Education in January of 2008 States that

“Students with disabilities will be included in regular classes to the degree possible and with appropriate support and accommodations. To earn a regular high school diploma, students with disabilities must earn the prescribed 22 credit minimum. Students failing to earn a yearly grade of 70 in a course that has an end-of-course test and whose disability adversely affects performance on that test will be allowed, through an approved process, to add to their end-of-course assessment scores by demonstrating the State identified core knowledge and skills contained within that course through an alternative performance-based assessment.”

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The Department of Education called together curriculum committees of practitioners in the various subject areas which currently have end-of-course assessments to identify the core knowledge and skills contained within those courses that may be demonstrated by students in a performance-based assessment. These committees produced documents identifying the core knowledge and skills and a rubric for teacher assessment of those skills in a performance-based format.

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Final State Board approval for the instructions and rubrics was obtained on July 31, 2009, with the 2009-2010 school year being approved as the pilot year for the project. The Department is studying the process and will make any needed adjustments for the 2010 -2011 school year and beyond.

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This supports the Board’s Master Plan by providing a rigorous curriculum for all students by identifying core knowledge and skills contained in courses with end-of-course tests and allowing students with disabilities to demonstrate proficiency in the regular course curriculum in ways that may not be reflected on the State end -of -course tests.

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The pilot project for the identified core knowledge and skills rubric scoring process for alternative performance-based assessments was in the areas of Math, Science, English and U.S. History for the 2009-2010 school year.

Rubrics have been developed for Algebra I & II, Geometry, Biology, Chemistry, Physics, English I, II & III, and U.S. History.

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The five (5) operational End of Course Rubrics are: English I English II Biology I U. S. History Algebra I(These EOC rubrics are effective for 2009-

2010 incoming Freshmen).

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Students with disabilities must participate in the State End of Course (EOC) assessment.

These students must receive appropriate support and accommodations with the goal of mastering course content and passing the EOC assessment.

However, a student on an active IEP whose disability interferes with performance on the EOC assessment may demonstrate mastery of core knowledge and skills for that course through the APBA.

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Results of the performance based assessment will not improve Adequate Yearly Progress calculations for the school, but will count toward graduation rate.

Students with disabilities who successfully participate in this process will meet the course requirement leading to a regular high school diploma.

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All LEAs in the State were surveyed on the use of the APBA after both the first and second semester of the 2009-2010 school year.

As of July, 2010, the number of students using the APBA option totaled 389 with 458 rubrics used (more than one content area rubric used for some students).

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Course Used the APBA

Passed the Course as a

Result

Percent

Algebra I 167 60 35.9%

English I 188 103 54.8%

English II 46 21 45.7%

U.S. History 15 6 40.0%

Biology I 42 20 47.6%

Totals 458 210 45.85%

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Although numbers using the method were relatively low in some subject areas, it is clear that use of the APBA rubric had a positive impact on passing the course for some students with disabilities.

The overall pass rate of 45.85% when the rubric was used appears to initially validate its use as an alternative method of measuring competency in the course. Pass rate too high would = no rigor Pass rate too low would = no real

usefulness

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70.2% of LEAs reporting said that use of the rubric was The Determining Factor in Student Success, Very Helpful, Helpful, or Somewhat Helpful. Comments included:“ good alternative”, “very beneficial for those students who could

perform on a daily basis and earn passing grades but were unable to pass tests on a consistent basis”.

Of the remainder reporting that the use of the rubric was Little or No Help, comments included: “teachers did not encourage use of the option because of lack of

training and something new”, teachers felt it would be “difficult to prove proficiency”, “regular education teachers feel that this option is unfair, so they are hesitant to use it”.

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74% of respondents reported that they needed more training on the use of the APBA.

It is clear that LEAs were somewhat hesitant to use the APBA option, and the most cited reason given was need for additional training.

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Other Comments in General:“Great way to encourage differentiated

instruction and assessment.”

“happy to see the state recognizes there could be students who fail to meet the required scores on tests, but can demonstrate their proficiency through other means.”

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The use of the APBA option needs to increase.

Although use of the new APBA option has been helpful and it does appear to be a viable alternative for students with disabilities, additional training is needed to ensure that the information reaches the classroom teachers affected.

Special Education teachers and staff can and should assist.

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Before the course begins, the special education teacher and the teacher of record* for any course requiring a State End of Course Assessment should familiarize themselves with the core knowledge and skills outlined on the State rubric.

Discussion and planning should take place around the types of documentation needed as evidence for meeting the core knowledge and skills identified on the rubric (see Key that gives examples of Methods of Assessment) in the event that a student’s disability may cause him/her to fail to earn a passing grade in the course.

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During the course, the rubric can be used for reference and the types of documentation being collected on a regular basis should be kept in mind. The special education teacher can and should assist in the process.

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If the student fails to earn a yearly grade of 70 in a course that has an end-of course test and that student’s disability adversely affects his/her performance on that test, the teacher of record (with the assistance of the special education teacher*) will complete the rubric and assign a score for each essential skill area listed based on evidence from the student’s performance during the course.

Evidence should be available for review to document that the student has satisfactorily demonstrated proficiency or above of the essential skills for the course.

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The Method of Assessment should be documented by coding from the rubric Key.

The teacher will then assign a score based on the degree to which the student has demonstrated proficiency or above in each specific knowledge or skill area, based on a 0-2 scale.

This percent score will be used for calculating the student’s course grade.

The rubric will be kept on file as documentation .

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*The teacher of record assesses the students and assigns the grade, AND must be highly qualified in the course content.

*In some instances the Special Education teacher may be the teacher of record.

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•State Board of Educationhttp://tennessee.gov/sbe/2009Julypdfs/IVAIdentification of Core Knowledge and Skills for Performance Based Assessment of Students with Disabilities.pdf

TNDOE Webpageshttp://www.State.tn.us/education/speced/assessment.shtmlhttp://www.state.tn.us/education/assessment/alt_EOC.shtml

•EasyIEPEasyIEP

“New” EOC assessments aligned to “new” curriculum standards…

“New” student achievement performance standards aligned with college and career readiness… (below basic, basic, proficient, and advanced)

“New” achievement performance measure (proficiency) aligned with new college and career readiness definition and mastery of new curriculum standards…

End of Course ExamsSecondary Assessments

Entered 9th grade in or prior to 2008-09

Passes class in 2009-10 (takes class for 1st time…more than likely will meet GWY diploma requirement)

GWY Diploma requirement “cut” Not MET (EOC score was NOT high enough to meet GWY diploma requirement)

• Intervention NOW …• “Old GWY” intervention…take “Old” GWY assessment

End of Course ExamsSecondary Assessments

GATEWAY DIPLOMA REQUIREMENT

• Gateway Math, Language Arts, Science

• For students entering high school 2008-09 and before not enrolled and have earned course credit in Algebra I, English II, and Biology I but still need to pass the Gateway test to meet their “diploma” requirement…

• Interventions still required…

• May retake this assessment as many times as necessary…

• Moving to electronic administration of tests…

• Quick Score: Scale Score, Met/Not Met Diploma Requirement (Different from EOC)– Individual Student Report (Different from EOC)

Lori NixonLori.Nixon@tn.gov

Special Education Assessment Consultant:MAAS, PA, Elementary and Secondary ServicesAssessment, Evaluation, & Research  Division

Tennessee Department of Education1252 Foster Ave. Hardison Building

Nashville, TN 37243615-532-1679

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