National Conference on Student Assessment 2008 June 17, 2008 Tom Hicks, Coordinator Special Education Unit Arkansas Department of Education

Arkansas Comprehensive Testing, Assessment, and Accountability Program (ACTAAP) Established by State Law Governs the State’s assessment activity Requires (in part) – Testing of ALL Students – Monitoring of exams

Curriculum, Assessment, and Research Unit Responsibility Test development Training and professional development Administration of tests Scoring process Range finding/standard setting Score reporting

Special Education Unit/Curriculum, Assessment, and Research Unit combined activities Professional development training Decision making Range finding/standard setting Bias Review Problem Solving Test Monitoring

On-site Monitoring Activity Involves ALL Units of the Department of Education Curriculum and Assessment Special Education Standards Assurance School Improvement Title Programs Accountability Content/Curriculum Specialists

Selection of Schools for Monitoring Random Selection Previous Violations New Administrators

Tests Monitored Benchmark Exams Grades 3-8 (Math/Literacy) End of Course Exams – Algebra – Geometry – Biology Literacy Exam grade 11

SEA Training for Monitoring Visits Test administration protocol Basic rules for test administration IEP Team recommendation vs actual testing – IEP review Type of test to be administered Accommodations – Observations

On-site Monitoring Visit Interviews – School test coordinator – Test security – Distribution of test materials – Principal – Test Administrator Observations Complete monitoring checklist

Local district monitoring Self-reporting Parents reporting

Required training District Test Coordinator Test Administrators (teachers, etc.)

Local Training Test Administrators (Certified/Licensed Teachers) – Regular Teachers – Special Education Teachers – Librarians – Counselors – Coaches – Substitute Teachers – Retired Teachers

SEA Test Investigation Training (with the Manual) Rigorous Detailed Fact Finding Activity Report Writing Procedures

Test Investigation Teams Conduct On-Site Investigations Collect Data Material Collection Other Information