RIDE – Office of Special Populations Proficiency Based Graduation Requirements and the Implications for Students with Special Needs J. David Sienko RIDE – Office of Special Populations

Goal of this session Provide an overview of the RI High School Regulations Provide an overview of the RI Performance Based Graduation System also called the RI Diploma System Summarize some of the opportunities in this system for exceptional learners Questions & Answers PBGR & Special Populations 5/11/06

Rhode Island High School Regulations Board of Regents, January 2003 (www.ride.ri.gov) Literacy Graduation By Proficiency Personalization PBGR & Special Populations 5/11/06

Rhode Island High School Regulations Literacy Assessment of all students Interventions Content Area Literacy “Ramp-Up” Intervention Intensive Intervention (Personal Literacy Plan) PBGR & Special Populations 5/11/06

Rhode Island High School Regulations Personalization Implementation strategies to improve personalization by January 2005 Includes: Advisories Schools within Schools Academies Individual Learning Plans Flexible schedules Dual enrollment Grade level teaming Comprehensive Counseling PBGR & Special Populations 5/11/06

Rhode Island High School Regulations Personalization Common planning time School Improvement Plans must include common planning time organized around students especially those with highest needs Professional Development 15 hours annually focused on the areas of: Literacy Graduation by Proficiency PBGR & Special Populations 5/11/06

Rhode Island High School Regulations Graduation By Proficiency “demonstration of student proficiency that involves multiple measures of performance” must be demonstrated through at least two of the following: departmental end of course exams Certificate of Initial Mastery Portfolios extended "capstone" projects public exhibitions the use of technological tools PBGR & Special Populations 5/11/06

Rhode Island High School Regulations Graduation By Proficiency Role of State Assessment “Individual student results on state assessments should be used in some manner by the school to determine the students programming, and may be used in some manner as one of the components for graduation.” PBGR & Special Populations 5/11/06

Performance Based Graduation System (PBGR) or RI Diploma System RIDE Guidance every student leaving RI public schools is well prepared for college and work. require districts to establish proficiency-based graduation requirements (PBGR) for all students beginning with the 2008 graduating class. PBGR & Special Populations 5/11/06

Performance Based Graduation System (PBGR) or RI Diploma System Proficiency Based on Statewide Standards Grade-Level and Grade-Span Expectations (GLE’s-GSE’s) identify the content knowledge and skills expected of all students for the state-wide assessments in reading, writing, and mathematics that will be used to meet the requirements of No Child Left Behind Evaluated Through State & Local Assessment PBGR & Special Populations 5/11/06

Performance Based Graduation System (PBGR) or RI Diploma System RIDE Guidance Schools must provide students multiple opportunities over multiple years to develop the identified proficiencies and provide students feedback as to their progress toward the desired level of performance. PBGR & Special Populations 5/11/06

Performance Based Graduation System (PBGR) or RI Diploma System Three Components State Assessment Earned Carnegie Units (Credits) Local Proficiency Assessment PBGR & Special Populations 5/11/06

State Assessment Districts may count student performance in State Assessment for up to 10% in their Diploma System Assessment Includes English Language Arts Mathematics Science (in 2008) PBGR & Special Populations 5/11/06

Earned Carnegie Units (Credits) Districts must require a minimum of 20 credits in their diploma system English Language Arts (4 units) Mathematics (4 units) Science (set by district) Social Studies (set by district) Arts (set by district) Technology (set by district) PBGR & Special Populations 5/11/06

Local Proficiency Assessment The intent of local proficiency based assessments… is to measure deep content knowledge, to foster student interest, to cultivate the active use of knowledge, and … prepare students for success in college and work. PBGR & Special Populations 5/11/06

Local Proficiency Assessment Content Knowledge Knowledge of core concepts, big ideas, and driving questions in ELA, mathematics, science, social studies, the arts, and technology Applied Learning Skills Communication, problem solving, critical thinking, research, personal/social responsibility, and interpersonal skills across all disciplines and courses PBGR & Special Populations 5/11/06

Local Proficiency Assessment Methods Exhibitions Capstone Projects Certificate of Initial Mastery Senior Project serve as a summative assessment of a student’s mastery PBGR & Special Populations 5/11/06

Local Proficiency Assessment Methods Portfolios designed to collect evidence aligned with the school’s requirements serve as formative and summative assessment of a student’s progress PBGR & Special Populations 5/11/06

Local Proficiency Assessment Methods Common Tasks Task that are commonly scored with a team of teachers used to assess students and promote professional collaboration on curriculum, instruction, and assessment. PBGR & Special Populations 5/11/06

Local Proficiency Assessment Methods Departmental End-of-Course Exams offer a viable way to ascertain student’s proficiency are purposefully designed to include proficiency based measures of performance are mapped back to the individual courses and appropriate Grade-Level / Grade-Span Expectations. PBGR & Special Populations 5/11/06

PBGR Summary Up to 10% State Assessment 20 Carnegie Units (Credits) Local Assessments End-of-Course Exams Common Tasks Portfolios Exhibitions PBGR & Special Populations 5/11/06

RI High School Regulations Opportunities for Special Populations Literacy & Improved Academic Performance Individualized learning plans High quality instruction Performance-based assessments Rigorous programs for ALL students Ensure equitable opportunities to learn for ALL students PBGR & Special Populations 5/11/06

RI High School Regulations Opportunities for Special Populations Literacy & Improved Academic Performance Scaffolded literacy including PLPs Focus on “Ramp-Up” interventions Improved strategic alignment of literacy interventions PBGR & Special Populations 5/11/06

RI High School Regulations Opportunities for Special Populations Literacy & Improved Academic Performance Special Ed Staff assisting/advising in curriculum for universal design and Access Collaborative teaching – modeling diversification of instruction Common Planning of Instruction – modifying before delivery Common Planning of Assessment – modifying before assessment PBGR & Special Populations 5/11/06

RI High School Regulations Opportunities for Special Populations Personalization Strategically Addressing Social & Emotional Learning Strategies for Progressive Levels of Intervention Utilization of Clinical Expertise Functional Behavior Analysis Transition Planning & Vocational Assessment Comprehensive School Counseling focused on outcome (Connection to ASCA Standards – Academic, Career, Emotional Development) PBGR & Special Populations 5/11/06

RI High School Regulations Opportunities for Special Populations Graduation by Proficiency Portfolio, Exhibitions, Senior Project Link to Transition Portfolio/Planning & Transition Folder Applied Learning Opportunities Credit for Out of School Learning Work Based Learning PBGR & Special Populations 5/11/06

RI High School Regulations Emerging Challenges Students who do not meet Proficiency Based on Grade 9-10 GLE’s Locally Determined Multiple Opportunities Multiple Methods Students on IEP’s remain eligible until they graduate with a regular diploma or turn age 21 PBGR & Special Populations 5/11/06

RI High School Regulations Emerging Challenges Students who are proficient in the alternate assessment Counts up to 10% Meet Alternate GSE’s (presentation here today) Meet Local PBGR System based on Alternate GSE’s PBGR & Special Populations 5/11/06

RI High School Regulations Emerging Challenges Students new to the district Align from previous school to local PBGR system Provide instruction and opportunities to meet local requirements not already met by the student PBGR & Special Populations 5/11/06

RI High School Regulations Next Steps Peer Review completed Commissioners Review underway Feedback to Districts – this Spring/Summer Ongoing Training PBGR & Special Populations 5/11/06

RI High School Regulations Questions & Answers PBGR & Special Populations 5/11/06