States’ Large-Scale Assessment Policies: Considering ELLs With Disabilities Jane Minnema National Center on Educational Outcomes CCSSO, 2003

ELLs with Disabilities …  Educators understood first!  Policymakers thinking!  Research catching up … - Disability identification mostly - Parents in IEP team meetings - Large-scale assessment recently

States’ policies for ELLs with disabilities  Same pattern as research - 25 states with special education policies for ELLs - Many address parent needs - Little large-scale assessment policy

ELLs with Disabilities Large-Scale Assessment Research Project  States’ large-scale assessment policies before NCLB  Ideas from state educational agencies  Update fall, 2003 after NCLB

Policy review results …  Texas only state with written policy  Referenced in special education policy (New Hampshire, Wisconsin)  Referenced in ELL policy (Illinois, Virginia)  Most policies address “cultural appropriateness”

Results continued …  Few similarities across states: - Statewide testing to include ALL -All states defer to IEP team decision -Few states require language expert -Parent language needs addressed -Student home language considerations -Some states mention accommodations

Results continued …  Wide variability across states - Terms for students differ across states & within policies - Testing options vary - Exemption criteria inconsistencies - Public reporting uncertainties

Implications …  Practitioners have little or no guidance  Lose benefits of educational reform  Students may be left behind

States’ Knowledge, Beliefs, and Opinions: Considering ELLs With Disabilities Michael Anderson National Center on Educational Outcomes CCSSO, 2003

SEA Telephone Interviews 14 states participated State Assessment Directors State Special Education Directors State ELL Directors

States participating in phone interviews StateAssessmentSpecial EducationESL ArkansasX ArizonaXXXXX CaliforniaXXX ColoradoXX DelawareXXX FloridaXXXX IllinoisXXX MichiganXX MinnesotaXXX New JerseyXXX New MexicoXXX New YorkXX Rhode IslandXX TexasX

Challenges of inclusion: BIG themes Appropriate referral to Special Education Language accommodations Is the test measuring what we think it is measuring?

Challenges of inclusion: state themes… Arkansas How does an LEP/SpEd student fit into the alternate assessment system? Solution: Special Ed. takes precedence

Challenges of inclusion: state themes… Arizona and California Laws at conflict: English only vs. appropriate accommodations Solution: Legal issues still being worked out. What is best for students?

Challenges of inclusion: state themes… Illinois How to include LEP/SpEd students in the assessment system? Solution: Three ways to participate in IL – training needed and monitoring.

Challenges of inclusion: state themes… Illinois Preparing portfolios so they: Show what a student knows Can be scored accurately Solution: Portfolio training takes time. State guidance needed.

Challenges of inclusion: state themes… Minnesota How to include a visually impaired student in English language test? How to include a hearing impaired student in the listening/speaking test? Solution: Simplified visuals in picture-based test Solution: More technology needed in assessment

More collaboration needed… Special Education needs to tap ESL resources at the state and local levels. ESL professionals need to be included in assessment decisions and on IEP teams (only 1 of 14 states reported being required)

Are ESL teachers consulted? “Well, again, I’ll give you the institutional standard answer is that we have IEP teams and they are all properly composed and the teams reach a consensus decision about what’s the right approach for each kid. Now, if you were to call one of the ELL teachers in one of our cities, they would say that they’re frustrated because they don’t always get a chance to communicate with other members of the team…”

NCEO Research Projects … Large-Scale Assessment Research Project for ELLs with Disabilitie Instructional Research Project for ELLs with Disabilities Parents of ELLs with Disabilities Research Project