Guidance, Requirements and Preparation for Peer Review of the AA-MAS Sue Rigney Sharon Hall OESE/USED

Topics Peer Review Dates Guidance, Requirements and Considerations for AA-MAS Suggestions for preparing submission for peer review

Peer Review March 17-20, 2008 Submission due February 25 Fall Review-TBA

Requirements If a State currently administers an AA-MAS or will administer an AA-MAS in 2007-2008, submit for peer review in March 2008. There is no requirement for a State to develop an AA-MAS.

Requirements AA-MAS must be aligned with grade level expectations; only the achievement standards may be modified. Interim flexibility may be requested for 2007-2008 and 2008-2009. By 2009-2010 AA-MAS must be operational.

Peer Review Guidance Overview 1.0 Content Standards 2.0 Achievement Standards 3.0 System of Annual Assessments 4.0 Technical Quality 5.0 Alignment 6.0 Inclusion 7.0 Reports

Consider Is there a need to develop an AA-MAS for each grade? Is there a need to develop an AA-MAS in each content area? A student may participate in an AA-MAS in only one content area. Has State investigated different ways for students to demonstrate knowledge and skills?

Suggestions for Organizing Submission Designate SEA team leader and team to prepare submission. Using the Peer Review Guidance as a framework, assign responsibilities to individual team members: 1.0 Content Standards 2.0 Achievement Standards 3.0 System of Annual Assessments 4.0 Technical Quality 5.0 Alignment 6.0 Inclusion 7.0 Reports Team meets to: (a) review progress, (b) identify the documents that are duplicative, (c) identify missing documentation and a plan for development Assemble final submission and index of evidence within documents Send documents to assigned Program Specialist at US Department of Education. Use messenger service or US Mail with tracking. Confirm by e-mail that documents have been sent March 17-20, 2008

Each Team Member (a) Prepares list of documents available related to the critical element assigned, (b) Creates an index indicating where the evidence related to the critical element is located in the documentation, and (c) Identifies additional documents needed

Team Meets to (a) Review progress, (b) Identify the documents that are duplicative, (c) Identify missing documentation and a plan for development

Team Leader Assembles final submission and index of evidence within documents Sends documents to assigned Program Specialist at US Department of Education. Uses messenger service or US Mail with tracking. Confirms by e-mail that documents have been sent.

DON’T Reference only a url Send content standards Send documents unless they are directly applicable to the critical element Send assurances

DO Provide evidence rather than assurances Include only pertinent documents Provide a response for each critical element Organize documents so evidence is easy to find Cite page numbers in documents so pertinent information can be easily located If there is no evidence available, acknowledge this and include a plan with benchmarks to address the missing evidence Send hardcopy, CD, or electronic submission.