North Carolina Department of Public Instruction Division of Accountability Services/Testing Section September, Hope Tesh-Blum Division of Accountability Services Testing Section The North Carolina Alternate Assessment Academic Inventory

North Carolina Department of Public Instruction Division of Accountability Services/Testing Section September, Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) of 1997 –All students, including those with IEPs or Section 504 plans, must participate in the statewide testing program. –NC Alternate Assessment Portfolio (NCAAP) –NC Computerized Adaptive Testing System (NCCATS) Accommodation Why was the NCAAAI Developed?

North Carolina Department of Public Instruction Division of Accountability Services/Testing Section September, New Way of Thinking The NCAAAI is an ALTERNATE ASSESSMENT for ANY student who cannot access the traditional test even with accommodations (must meet requirements). Students with Disabilities just happened to be the first group required by federal law.

North Carolina Department of Public Instruction Division of Accountability Services/Testing Section September, What is the NCAAAI? Checklist of competencies based on the NCSCS scored using individual scales for each content area: –Reading (Grades 3-8, 10) –Mathematics (Grades 3-8, 10) –Writing (Grades 4, 7, & 10) –EOC (Pilot Spring 2003) Envelope format Collection of evidence to support FINAL scores

North Carolina Department of Public Instruction Division of Accountability Services/Testing Section September, Whats New? No Child Left Behind No exemptions Same standard, Same content Options: –Multiple-Choice Test –State-Developed Portfolio –Checklist

North Carolina Department of Public Instruction Division of Accountability Services/Testing Section September, ESEA Requirements: Changes for ? North Carolina Department of Public Instruction Division of Accountability Services/Testing Section 3Reading and Math at grades 3-8 annually & span 6Science ( ) in each grade span (3-5, 6-9, &10-12) ÑLEP Students tested in English at 3 consecutive years in US 3Annual measurable assessment of All students

North Carolina Department of Public Instruction Division of Accountability Services/Testing Section September, Which EC students are Eligible? Current Individualized Education Program (IEP) or Section 504 Plan Following the NC Standard Course of Study (NC SCS) {important} Unable to access statewide testing with or without accommodations {important} Assigned grade level of 3-8 or 10

North Carolina Department of Public Instruction Division of Accountability Services/Testing Section September, Who decides? IEP TeamThe IEP Team determines student participation in the NCAAAI and the grade level at which the student will be assessed. School PrincipalAssigned grade level is determined by the School Principal. Different options

North Carolina Department of Public Instruction Division of Accountability Services/Testing Section September, Why should you use the NCAAAI? Flexibility in showing performance Show growth Instructional value from year to year No test anxiety for the student AYP OCR

North Carolina Department of Public Instruction Division of Accountability Services/Testing Section September, Who Completes? Must have training in the content area Must work routinely with the student Principal has authority HSCT

North Carolina Department of Public Instruction Division of Accountability Services/Testing Section September, Concerns and Quandaries No Exemptions NC Standard Course of Study (NC SCS) Workload/Myths Training Its STILL NEW Adding LEP Students

North Carolina Department of Public Instruction Division of Accountability Services/Testing Section September, Training? Train-the-Trainer Model (RACS) LEA TC trains the Test Coordinator –Training for local staff is a collaboration between Testing and LEA staff (local decision) NCDPI/EC Training (Summer 2002) Testing Section Training (Fall 2002)

North Carolina Department of Public Instruction Division of Accountability Services/Testing Section September, Training Website /testing/ncaaaitraining/ Registration by City (10 Sites) Lists of Participants Sites/Directions to be announced EC and LEP Sessions

North Carolina Department of Public Instruction Division of Accountability Services/Testing Section September, LEP & IEP North Carolina Department of Public Instruction Division of Accountability Services/Testing Section August 28, 2002 Which is the overriding factor? –No definitive guidelines –Best judgement –Review the different testing instruments

North Carolina Department of Public Instruction Division of Accountability Services/Testing Section September, When are the Inventories Scored? Three times per year –First month of participation=Baseline data –Interim Month –Last month of school=Final data Evidence is collected to support Final Spring scores Only.

North Carolina Department of Public Instruction Division of Accountability Services/Testing Section September, How is the Inventory Scored? Description of Student Performance to give each competency a score from 1-8 Objectives by Goals, Categories, or Sections Overall Score Growth is ANY growth

North Carolina Department of Public Instruction Division of Accountability Services/Testing Section September,

North Carolina Department of Public Instruction Division of Accountability Services/Testing Section September, Achievement Levels: Final Spring Overall Score Assessed On-Grade Level : –Level 4 (7-8) –Level 3 (5-6) –Level 2 (3-4) –Level 1 (1-2) Assessed Off-Grade Level : –Student may only receive a Level 1 or Level 2 –Grade level standard

North Carolina Department of Public Instruction Division of Accountability Services/Testing Section September, On v/s Off Grade Level LEP Students cannot be assessed off-grade level EC students may be assessed off-grade level Writing cannot be assessed off-grade level –options

North Carolina Department of Public Instruction Division of Accountability Services/Testing Section September, Examples of Evidence Local Tests (LT) Samples of Student Work (SW) Teacher Observations (TO) Teacher-Made Tests (TT) Audio Tapes (AT) Other (specify) – Any Means to show performance

North Carolina Department of Public Instruction Division of Accountability Services/Testing Section September, Reporting Operational Locally scanned School rosters Frequency distributions Individual Student Report Summary Reports Preliminary Report/Green Book

North Carolina Department of Public Instruction Division of Accountability Services/Testing Section September, Data Collection Scores transferred to scannable sheets during the last month of school Local Test Coordinators scan the sheets Data transferred to the NCDPI during the end-of-year process Student Notebooks will be stored locally for six months (sample returned)

North Carolina Department of Public Instruction Division of Accountability Services/Testing Section September, Sample Review (and ) April 1 release of LEA sample list/10% Return everything (inventories, evidence, forms, etc.) Report percentages for each area to the LEA Review in August Return to LEAs in September

North Carolina Department of Public Instruction Division of Accountability Services/Testing Section September, NCAAAI and the ABCs Operational administration Performance Composite Operational administration for Grades 3-8 &10Operational administration for Grades 3-8 &10 Pilot administration for EOC (Spring only)Pilot administration for EOC (Spring only) Pending data analysisPending data analysis –Growth Component Performance CompositePerformance Composite

North Carolina Department of Public Instruction Division of Accountability Services/Testing Section September, Timeline August 2002 –Inventories available on-line (TNN) to TC –Order system up August-Sept –Intact NCAAAI are shipped –Begin Baseline May-June 2003 –NCAAAIs scanned and locally stored July-August 2003 –Audit

North Carolina Department of Public Instruction Division of Accountability Services/Testing Section September, More Information Testing Section Website: Regional Accountability Coordinators may be contacted for questions Exceptional Children Website: