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The New Mexico Alternate The New Mexico Alternate AssessmentAssessment

Albuquerque TVI Workforce Albuquerque TVI Workforce Training CenterTraining Center

July 24, 2006July 24, 2006

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• At the end of this training, you should have an increased understanding of:1. what alternate assessments are2. the student population of students with significant

cognitive disabilities3. the participation criteria for our alternate

assessments4. how the alternate assessments fit within our

assessment system• 1% Rule

5. how all students with disabilities are included in New Mexico’s assessment program

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What is alternate assessment?What is alternate assessment?

• Alternate assessments are tests designed for students with significant cognitive disabilities, who are unable to participate in the general assessment even with allowable accommodations

• They are not pencil/paper assessments• They must meet the same technical

adequacy expectations as the general assessments

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Topical AgendaTopical Agenda

• Student Profiles• Participation Criteria• Test development process• Test design of NMAPA• Test results generated• Reporting• Systems improvement• Accommodations

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Meet Anne

• 14 year old student• Non verbal• Uses a wheelchair

for mobility• Can visually attend

to task• Uses eye gaze when

answering or requesting

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Meet Juan

• 13 year old middle school student

• Uses a wheelchair

• Poor articulation skills

• Visually impaired

• Reads 3 – 5 word sentences

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Participation CriteriaParticipation Criteria

• (a) the student’s past and present levels of performance in multiple settings (i.e., home, school, community) indicate that a significant cognitive disability is present;

• (b) the student needs intensive, pervasive, or extensive levels of support in school, home, and community settings; and,

• (c) the student’s current cognitive and adaptive skills and performance levels require direct instruction to accomplish the acquisition, maintenance and generalization of skills in multiple settings (home, school, community).

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Test Design of NMAPATest Design of NMAPA

• Standardized performance tasks– administered one on one– teacher scores responses

• Mathematics, reading, writing, and science

• Grades 3-12 and beyond

• Four proficiency levels: beginning step, nearing proficiency, proficient, advanced

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Reporting ResultsReporting Results

• Results are reported in the same manner and frequency as the results for the general assessments

• Alternate assessment results must be reported separately, both number of students and academic achievement

• Standard setting defines achievement level descriptions (ALDs) and cut scores, which set the bar for proficiency levels

• 1.0 Percent Rule

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Ensuring appropriate participation Ensuring appropriate participation of students with disabilitiesof students with disabilities

• Participation in the general assessment

• Participation in the general assessment with accommodations

• Participation in the alternate assessment

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AccommodationsAccommodations

• The NMPED publishes a comprehensive array of accommodations in our Procedures Manual to address the following deficits and ensure that our assessments are measuring ability and not disability:– Cognitive– Sensory (vision, hearing, integration)– Orthopedic– Attention/behavior

• Accommodations are changes to the administration of an assessment that do not affect the results

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Accommodations AuditingAccommodations Auditing

• The NMPED monitors accommodations in three ways:

1. Focused Monitoring through special education2. Online accommodations audit (10% sample)3. Assessment system random on-site audits

• This helps to ensure that all students with disabilities receive accommodations that are instructionally relevant and necessary because of a specific skill deficit

• We must uphold high standards for our students

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Review & Questions?Review & Questions?1. what alternate assessments are2. the student population of students with

significant cognitive disabilities3. participation criteria for the alternate

assessments4. how the alternate assessments fit within our

assessment system• 1% Rule

5. how all students with disabilities are included in our assessment system

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Thank You for Coming!Thank You for Coming!

• If you have any questions regarding the New Mexico Alternate Assessments, please contact:

– Dan Farley (505) 827-6577 or dan.farley@state.nm.us

and I’ll refer you to Beverly!