Alaskas Alternate Assessment District Test Coordinator Training September 13, 2007 Aran Felix, Alternate Assessment Program Manager

2 How the Alternate Assessment is similar to Standards Based Assessments Part of Comprehensive System of Student Assessments (CSSA) For students in grades Assesses Content areas of Reading, Writing, Math, and Science Secure Assessment Test Security Agreements required

…more similarities Achievement Standards (cut scores and proficiency level descriptors) set by a standard setting committee Individual Student Reports 4-page Parent Guide to Interpreting Student Reports provided as well as Educator Guides

How is the AA different from SBA? Designed for a special population of students with disabilities (SWD): Students with significant cognitive disabilities Comprise 1% of the student population (approximately 550 students in Alaska) IEP team must designate the AA as the appropriate assessment following eligibility criteria

…other differences Districts encouraged to have a Qualified Mentor Trainers to help manage the delivery of the assessment and training of test administrators Test may be administered ONLY by Qualified Assessors who receive training, evaluation, and certificates Test administered one-on-one Secure tests become practice tests following year Different test security practices

…other differences Online components of assessment: Qualified Assessor training is delivered online with an offline component Secure test (student materials, scoring protocols, training manuals) delivered online Scoring and unofficial student reports AA is a non-diploma track assessment

Why is the Alternate Assessment Non- Diploma Track? Alaskas AA based on content standards called Extended Grade Level Expectations (ExGLEs) that are linked to the Grade Level Expectations. Different cut scores – called Alternate Achievement Standards Note: Alternate Assessment is NOT the Alternative Assessment which is part of the High School Exit Exam, Diploma Track IEP Team makes the decisions, documents on the IEP, and parents must sign acknowledging understanding of non-diploma path.

New this year Standard Setting (PLDs and Cut Scores) Grade Level Tests (3/4, 5/6, 7/8/, 9/10) Expanded Level Of Support items Science Existing Qualified Assessors only need to refresh their online training to maintain status as test administrators

Test Security Secure Test released February 18, 2008 Test Window: February 18 - April 6, 2008 Test available only to Qualified Assessors Online Levels of Security AA Test Security Forms Only certified Qualified Assessors may administer the Alternate

Test Security – Online Test Site Online levels of Security: Level 1-Demo for anyone to view Level 2-Registered Users (training to be Assessors) Level 3-Qualified Assessors (Mentors control this section) Level 4-Qualified Mentor Trainers Level 5-EED Program Manager, DRA Staff

Test Security – Signed Agreements Qualified Mentor Trainer Qualified Assessor Test Personnel

DTC Responsibilities FALL Distribute AA Manuals to mentors, teachers, special education directors Contact Special Education Director to determine if your district has a mentor and develop a plan of action with the mentor Work with Special Education to ensure that mentors are training sufficient number of teachers or paraprofessionals as Qualified Assessors

DTC Responsibilities FEBRUARY OR SOONER Ensure that Qualified Assessors, Mentor Trainers, and any staff handling Alternate Assessments signs a Test Security Form and DTC maintains copies Ensure that all students eligible to receive Alternate Assessment are being assessed Ensure that AK State IDs are being used to identify students

DTC Responsibilities AUGUST OR SEPTEMBER Distribute Individual Student Reports and a Guide to Interpreting Student Reports to parents Distribute one copy of Student Report to district for student files Future Plans: After a second round of standard setting in May 2008, Student Reports should be available in May In a year or so, Student Reports should be available on a secure FTP site

Additional DTC Responsibilities in districts WITHOUT Mentor-Trainers Work with special education director to identify any students with IEPs specifying Alternate as appropriate assessment. If no Qualified Assessor available in district, work with a neighboring district to develop a mentor relationship to get a Qualified Assessor trained, evaluated, and certified in your district. Another option is to bring in a Qualified Assessor from another district assess your student. Please encourage your district to send someone to EED mentor training next year Work with DRA and EED to ensure test delivery.

Timeline Fall: Distribute Alternate Assessment Administration/Training Manuals to appropriate special education teachers Contact Special Education Director to determine if your district has a mentor and develop a plan of action. Identify students eligible for Alternate. Work with Mentor to ensure that there are a sufficient number of Qualified Assessors trained in your district If no Mentor, or no Qualified Assessor in district, develop a plan to assess eligible students February or sooner: Ensure that Qualified Assessors, Mentor Trainers, and any staff handling Alternate Assessments signs a Test Security Form DTC maintains district copies Ensure that all students eligible to receive Alternate Assessment are scheduled to be assessed and receive assessment Ensure that Qualified Assessors are using Alaska State IDs (AKSID) Summer: Distribute Individual Student Reports and a Guide to Interpreting ISRs to parents (download and copy Guide from AA website) Distribute one copy of ISR to district for student files

Frequently Asked Questions Available on Alternate website aa.html aa.html Search Data button brings up all FAQs Keywords bring up select FAQs Send any questions you would like answered to the test vendors Help Desk and copy

Eligibility Criteria for Alternate aa.html aa.html Select General Information Use Participation Guidelines, June 2005 edition and Use Participation Criteria form found on AA website (soon to be included in the Participation Guidelines 2008 version)

Contact Information Program Manager: Aran Felix Alternate Assessment Program Manager Phone: , Fax: Website for Alternate Assessment Information: Test Vendor: Dillard Research Associates Help Desk: Website: