Navigating the State Assessment Program

Pam BiggsNCDPI Division of Accountability Services

Conference on Exceptional ChildrenNovember 7, 2006

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

Standard Test Administration

Standard Test Administratio

n with Accommodatio

ns

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

Student Participation in Testing Program - All Students

97%

3%

Standard TestAdministration w ithor w ithoutaccommodations

AlternateAssessments

1

1 Data Source: 2004-05 Green Book

Note: In 2004-05, the alternate assessments were the NCAAP and NCAAAI.

Student Participation in Testing Program - Students with Disabilities

86%

14%

Standard TestAdministrationw ith or w ithoutaccommodations

AlternateAssessments

1 Data Source: 2004-05 Green Book

Note: In 2004-05, the alternate assessments were the NCAAP and NCAAAI.

1

Standard Test AdministrationWithout Accommodations

• Information on test administration times, number of items, sample answer sheets, etc.

http://www.ncpublicschools.org/

accountability/testing/

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

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

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

Alternate Assessments

NC

CLA

SN

CEXTEN

D2

NCEXTEND1

NCCLAS

• North Carolina Checklist of Academic Standards

• Grade-level content (NCSCS)

• Grade-level achievement standards

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

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)

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

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

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

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

NCEXTEND1

• Aligned to grade-level content (NCSCS) through Extended Content standards

http://www.ncpublicschools.org/ec/

• Performance based assessment

• Alternate achievement standards

NCEXTEND1

• 1% cap at LEA and state levels

• Test will still need to be approved by NCLB peer review

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

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

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)

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

EOG Testing Options

• Standard Test Administration

• Test Administration w/ Accommodations

• Alternate Assessment – NCCLAS– NCEXTEND2– NCEXTEND1

Reading

Grades 3-8

Mathematics

Grades 3-8

Science

Grades 5 and 8

Writing Testing Options

• Standard Test Administration

• Test Administration w/ Accommodations

• Alternate Assessment – NCCLAS– NCEXTEND2 (grades 4 and 7)– NCEXTEND2 OCS (grade 10)– NCEXTEND1

Writing

Grades 4, 7, and 10

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

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)

EOC Testing Options

• Standard Test Administration

• Test Administration w/ Accommodations

• Alternate Assessment – NCCLAS

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)

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

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

Documentation

• Decisions must be documented in IEP

• IEP DEC 4, page 3

Additional Documentation

• NCTP Tables– 1: Graduation Tests– 2: Grades 3-8– 3: Grades 9-12– 4: IPT

• Optional, but encouraged

• LEA may requirehttp://www.ncpublicschools.org/accountability/policies/tswd/

Hopefully now the path is clearer...

…and there is light at the end of the tunnel.

?Questions?