Alabama Alternate Assessment (AAA) Spring 2018 Testing Training Thomasville City Schools 2017-2018

Alabama Alternate Assessment (AAA) Reading Grades 3-8 and 10 Math Science Grades 5, 7, and 10

Alabama Alternate Assessment (AAA) Administered 1:1 (Test Admin. - Student) Proctor (Optional) Paper Test (30 questions per subject) Answer Document Student Booklet Test Administrator Manual (TAM) Test Coordinator Manual (TCM)

Test Security Tests should be secured in a secure locked storage according to the Test Security Plan. Do NOT photocopy, make an electronic copy, keep a personal copy of the test, or take notes on test items. Disclosure of test content is strictly prohibited by state law. Test may be amplified on Elmo if a font larger than 18 will be used. Do NOT access or obtain a student test booklet or test questions prior to the test for any reason.

Scheduling Independent student needs should determine the test administration schedule for each student. fatigue physical or emotional needs All assessments must be completed by the end of the testing window – March 5 – April 13, 2018

Breaks Students may require multiple testing sessions to complete each content area assessed. Test Administrators should plan testing sessions accordingly. (multiple days) When stopping a session of the assessment, it is recommended that the session end after the student has completed an item. When resuming the assessment, all items that have already been administered may not be repeated. The Test Administrator must pick up the assessment at the point where it was stopped during the previous administration.

Breaks Test is untimed Every student must be given sufficient time to respond and complete every test item. Students are allowed breaks (i.e., 10-15 minutes) during the testing period. Test materials must not be left unsupervised, in the testing environment. Before the student leaves the room, the Test Administrator must collect the student’s test booklet, answer document, and scratch paper (if applicable).

Testing Schedule - District

Testing Schedule-School

Student ID Label The labels contain barcodes that indicate the answer document should be processed and scored for the student whose name is printed on the label. These labels eliminate the need to hand bubble the student’s name, birth date, and Student Number.

System/School Label If a student does not have a Student-ID Label, school personnel must use a System/School Label and hand bubble all student information on the Student Answer Document. The labels contain barcodes with system/school-specific information that indicates the document should be processed and scored for the student whose information is bubbled on the Student Answer Document.

Student Answer Document

Sample Student Answer Document

Student Transfers & Test Administrators

Student Transfers System Test Coordinator/Special Education Coordinator should contact Help Desk. Student transferring within a system or to a new system, please contact the Alabama HelpDesk, alalthelpdesk@datarecognitioncorp.com 1-800-282-5082.

Test Administrator The student’s special education teacher should administer the assessment. If this is not possible, a certificated Test Administrator may administer the assessment. Tests must be administered to individual students (no group testing). Using a Proctor is optional. No relative of a student who is taking the test may serve as the Test Administrator or Proctor for that student.

Test Administrator Students may only use the materials and/or supplies that are specified in this manual or provided with the Student Test Booklet for a specific test and grade level. Any adaptations or modifications must fall within the guidelines specified in the “Accommodations” section of the Test Administrator’s Manual for the AAA.

Test Administrator The Test Administrator should arrange to have the permissible materials available for each student to use during the testing session prior to administering the test. There are instructions/scripts in the Alabama Alternate Assessment Teacher Books provided that must be read to students to ensure fairness and accuracy during testing. These instructions/scripts may only be changed in accordance with the “Accommodations” section of the Test Administrator’s Manual for the AAA.

Test Administrator Prior to and during testing, the Test Administrator must follow the script provided in the Teacher Book. He or she cannot provide additional assistance or direct the student’s attention to any materials in the room for the purpose of enhancing test performance. However, the Test Administrator may provide additional assistance to direct the student’s attention to the testing materials as specified in the Test Administrator’s Manual.

Test Administrator Each content area in the Student Test Booklet should match a specific content area on the Student Answer Document. All items for a given content area should be completed. Using a No. 2 pencil, only enter one response per item or the item response will be invalid. If a mistake is made, completely erase the mistakenly filled bubble then bubble the intended response. If a content area is not assessed, the section of the Student Answer Document should be left blank. The Test Administrator must record the individual student responses on the Alabama Alternate Assessment Answer Document.

Accommodations & Assistive Devices

Accommodations Accommodations are available to allow assistive technology devices to be used by students with visual impairments, students with hearing impairments, and/or students with limited physical ability and/or mobility, and Limited English Proficiency (LEP) students. All accommodations used during the administration of the assessment should align with what the student uses on a daily basis during classroom instruction.

Permissible Materials for Use by Students During Testing Calculators, number lines, generic counters, and/or scratch paper and pencils may be set out on the work surface for the student to use with any mathematics item. However, it is important to only place these tools on the work surface if the student uses them during instruction in mathematics.

Augmented/Alternative Devices The Alabama Alternate Assessment is to be completed using the student’s communication modality (e.g., sign language, pointing, eye gazing, assistive technology). This does not mean an augmentative/alternative device should be programmed to do the cognition for the student.

Low Vision Accommodation Braille materials are not provided. If needed and supported in the student’s IEP for students with low vision or with blindness, Test Administrators may describe the pictures to the student for Reading, Mathematics and Science. Low Vision Accommodation Low vision generally refers to a severe visual impairment. Low vision applies to all individuals with sight who are unable to read text at a normal viewing distance, even with the aid of eyeglasses or contact lenses. They use a combination of vision and other senses to learn, although they may require adaptations in lighting or the size of print, and, sometimes, Braille. Totally blind students learn via Braille or other non-visual media. The AAA Low Vision Accommodation Form should be completed for students who qualify for this type of accommodation. The System Test Coordinator should submit the form to ALSDE prior to testing. ALSDE will review the students IEP to verify the student qualifies for the Low Vision accommodation.

Test Design

Test Design There are a total of 30 test items per grade per subject (reading, mathematics, and science) assessed. The test is untimed. Each item has four answer choices including “No Response.” “No Response” should be bubbled if a student does not provide a response for an item.

Test Design If the Test Administrator attempts to administer the test to a student, but the student does not provide a response for an item, fill in the bubble on the Answer Document for “No Response”.

Test Design 10 Item Rule- Test Administrator may stop the test when a student provides “No Response” to the first 10 items. (FORM) The student will count as a participant on the AAA.

Test Design Test items have been designed to be meaningful and engaging to students. The different test items should give all students the opportunity to show what they know across content. Each content standard has been assessed by items written at different Depths of Knowledge (DOK).

Sample Test Items…

Sample Grade 5 Teacher Book

Reading Sample Grade 5 Teacher Book Text in italics – Tells what to do -should not be read aloud BOLD text – Read word for word

Reading Sample Grade 5 Teacher Book Say : BOLD Do: Italics

Reading Sample Grade 5 Teacher Book

Sample Grade 5 Student Test Booklet

Sample Grade 5 - Student Test Booklet

Sample Grade 5 - Student Test Booklet

Sample Grade 5 - Student Test Booklet

“How to Administer the Test” AAA Webinar (ALSDE) 48:37 http://www.alsde.edu/sec/sa/Pages/VideoLargeItem.aspx?ID=1000

Sample Test Items Booklet Sample Test Items booklet has been posted to the AAA Webpage under Student Assessment. The sample items are a useful tool for Alabama educators to use in preparing students for the format of the Alabama Alternate Assessment.

Voiding an Answer Document Each system will be provided with a supply of Do Not Score labels. These labels will be applied to answer documents to indicate that an answer document should not be scored.   Before a Do Not Score label is applied to an answer document, the System Test Coordinator must contact ALSDE to review the case. The System Test Coordinator will ensure an Irregularity Report is completed at the school and submitted to ALSDE. All voided answer documents with Do Not Score labels applied must be returned to DRC.

Handling Test Materials Complete the Test Administrator’s Receipt and Return of AAA Test Materials form. All testing material is to be returned to a secure and locked location after the student’s testing session. Materials should not be left unattended or in a classroom overnight. Materials should be checked out and returned daily to the Building Test Coordinator. Test Administrators should have only one student’s testing materials checked out.

Testing Materials Student Test Booklets (for each student, one per grade level, per content area – not to be reused) Teacher Book (one per student per grade level – reuse if needed) Student Answer Document (one per student – not to be reused) Test Administrator’s Manual (TAM) (one per three students per grade level – reuse if needed) Student Barcode Label (one per student)

Answer Documents A pre-coded Student-ID label must be applied to each answer document. Students without a pre-coded Student ID label will use the generic system label/school barcode label and the test administrator should complete the demographic section of the Student Answer Document.

Answer Documents The Building Test Coordinator should ensure the accuracy of the student demographic information. Do not correct the information on a student label that contains incorrect information.

AAA 2017 Required Subjects

Refer to ALSDE Webinar 1:08:49 http://www.alsde.edu/sec/sa/Pages/VideoLargeItem.aspx?ID=1000

Forms and Resources

AAA Assessment Chart

Test Administrator’s Receipt and Return of AAA Testing Materials Form

BTC Receipt and Return of Testing Materials Form

AAA Webinar (ALSDE) http://www. alsde. edu/sec/sa/Pages/VideoLargeItem

Special Education Services ALSDE Contact Information Student Assessment Nannette Pence 334.242.8038 npence@alsde.edu Special Education Services Susan Goldthwaite 334.242.8114 sgoldthwaite@alsde.edu