DCAS Accommodations for English Language Learners Training Webinar August 2010 Helen Dennis & Margie Loveland

This is Just a recording. Do not try to type in the chat box. It is just a recording! After viewing this recording, if you have questions Watch the DCAS accommodations training Elluminate recording (recorded on 8/18/10 at 3:30 pm)... please attend the 9/1/10 ELL/DCAS Elluminate Session at 1:30 pm-2:30 pm OR You may contact DOE: or or (until 8/31/10) or

Agenda DOE Supports (documents) Discontinued Accommodations Accommodations carried over to new numbers New Accommodations Specific accommodation considerations

Support from DOE Guidelines for Inclusion Standard and Non-Standard Accommodations Memo (June 2010) Accommodations Roll-up memo – English Language Learners (July 30, 2010) Webinars ELL Informational Recording (you are watching it right now) DCAS Accommodations database training recording (recorded 8/18/10 at 3:30 pm) Q & A session (LIVE) scheduled for September 1, :30 pm – 2:30 pm

Discontinued Accommodations 602: Paraphrasing test questions in English 702: Student responds to the test by writing/typing responses in Spanish 706: Paraphrasing test questions for student in native language 707: Translating reading passages on the reading test into native language 713: Student dictates responses to test administrator in Spanish 801: Testing over multiple sessions: this is now permitted for all students, so this accommodation is not needed.

Accommodations Recoded to New Numbers 711: recoded to 600: Reading, re-reading, in SPANISH the test questions, including multiple-choice options. Mathematics, Science, and Social Studies ONLY. Student may be re-assigned to 711 in DCAS-A database if it is determined that human reader is more appropriate. 603: recoded to 600: Reading, re-reading, in ENGLISH the test questions, including multiple-choice options. All content areas. Student may be re-assigned to 603 in DCAS-A database if it is determined that human reader is more appropriate. 704 recoded to 703: All students who require a Spanish translation of the DCAS (mathematics, science, and social studies only) will take the Spanish-English side-by-side test. There is no DCAS presented in Spanish only.

New Accommodations for ELLs Text-to-Speech: A feature that allows the online test to read itself aloud to the student (headphones required if in room with other students) In ENGLISH: accommodation #600: read aloud the questions in all content areas. accommodation #606: read aloud the passages on the reading test only. Reading speed and voice selection must take place in the Microsoft control panel prior to starting the DCAS secure browser. In SPANISH: accommodation #600: read aloud the questions in mathematics, science, and social studies only. Reading speed and voice selection must take place in the Microsoft control panel prior to starting the DCAS secure browser.

New Accommodations for ELLs, contd A human reader may also be used if it is determined to be necessary. Accommodation 603: read the questions aloud. Accommodation 609: read the passages aloud. Individual administration is required for human reader

Side-by-Side Spanish and English Not new, but will be presented somewhat differently from the previous statewide test. Displayed vertically (stacked), rather than horizontally (side-by-side) is available for Mathematics, Science, and Social Studies and provides each test item in English and Spanish on a single screen (#703). Help screens and error messages will be appear in Spanish only, --make sure to provide a printed copy of the help screen in English to each student.

New Accommodations for ELLs, Contd Paper and Pencil Version Accommodation #610 provides for a separate paper and pencil version of the DCAS. The test is fixed-form (not adaptive) and multiple-choice only. It is offered for a two-week window once during each of the testing windows. English only. It is anticipated that very few students will require this accommodation. Tests will be shipped to AIR after testing is complete and scores will be made available in the score reporting system.

Standard and Non-Standard Accommodations Previously known as Parameters on UseExamples Standard AccomAggregableNo restrictionsWord-to-word dictionary, reading the test questions Non-Standard Accom Non- aggregable There are restrictions on who is eligible for this accommodation Reading aloud the reading passages

Accountability New Policy Students who use Non-Standard accommodations Will count as non-participants in AYP calculations of participation Will be excluded from AYP calculations of proficiency (% meets the standard) AYP ConsequencesExamples Standard Accom Counts for participation Counts for proficiency Word-to-word dictionary, reading aloud the test questions Non-Standard Accom Counts as non-participant Excluded from proficiency Reading aloud the reading passages

Accountability Contd ELA ProficiencyELA ParticipationMath Proficiency Math Participation AllExcludedNon-ParticipantIncludedParticipant Afr. Amer Amer. Indian Asian/Pac Isl. White HispanicExcludedNon-ParticipantIncludedParticipant ELLExcludedNon-ParticipantIncludedParticipant Spec Ed Low IncomeExcludedNon-ParticipantIncludedParticipant Example: Hispanic, low income, ELL student who has the reading passages read to him/her

DCAS Accommodation Management

Accommodations and the Online Test Delivery System NO LOCKDOWN of DCAS-Accommodations database There will be no lockdown period for DCAS-A database. Make sure student is identified in DELSIS as ELL FIRST Please enter accommodations at least 72 hours before the students scheduled testing time. If you enter accommodations less than 72 hours before the students scheduled testing time, the updated accommodations will not appear on the TAs screen and any accommodations that must be delivered by the delivery system will not be available to the student DOE will send accommodations data electronically to the testing contractor daily.

Accommodations Screen in Test Delivery System The test administrator will have access to a read- only screen that shows which students have accommodations, and which accommodations each student is to receive. Test administrators will NOT be able to modify the test accommodations displayed in the test delivery system screen. It is a good idea to also have a print-out from the DCAS Accommodations database at testing time.

Two Categories of Accommodations There are two categories of accommodations: Accommodations that must be delivered by the online system. For example: text-to-speech and Spanish-English side by side. Accommodations that are provided by the school. For example: translator, enhanced lighting, or preferential seating.

What if the online test delivery system does not deliver the accommodations that were expected? If the online system does not deliver an expected accommodation in the first category, accoms that must be delivered by online system, i.e. text-to-speech, students test will have to be rescheduled. students record in the DCAS Accommodations database must be updated/verified 2-3 days must pass before the test delivery system will be updated and able to deliver the updated accommodations. If the incorrect or missing accommodation falls into the second category, accommodations that are provided by the school, then staff may proceed with the test, providing the correct accommodations. As soon as possible, the DCAS Accommodations database must be updated to reflect the test accommodations actually delivered

Criteria for Receiving an ELL Exemption (Reading Test or High School English II Field Test) An ELL student is considered to be in the first year of enrollment in U.S. schools under the following condition: The student is new to the United States, AND is in the first year of enrollment in U.S. schools AND as of the date of the students scheduled test the student has been enrolled in U.S. schools for less than one year.

Examples Jose enrolled in US Schools on 4/1/2010. Date Joses class is scheduled to take DCAS Reading Has Jose been in US Schools for one year? Does Jose have to take the DCAS Reading in this window? DCAS Reading Window 110/11/2010No DCAS Reading Window 21/12/2011No DCAS Reading Window 34/29/2011Yes Date Dah Lies class is scheduled to take DCAS Reading Has Dah Lie been in US Schools for one year? Does Dah Lie have to take the DCAS Reading in this window? DCAS Reading Window 110/20/2010Yes DCAS Reading Window 21/12/2011Yes DCAS Reading Window 34/29/2011Yes Dah Lie enrolled in US Schools on 9/20/2009.

High School End of Course Field Test Grade 11 and 12 students enrolled in the following courses will need to have accommodations entered in DCAS-A: English II Biology U.S. History Algebra I Integrated Math I

Unique Accommodations Continue to use the Online System for Incidents and Exemptions and Unique Accommodations to submit Unique Accommodation requests Must be submitted to DOE online no later than 30 days prior to the date on which the student is scheduled to be tested.

Other Questions Will DCAS Practice Tests and Training Tests be Available in Spanish? Yes Will the accommodations be available on the practice and training test? Yes