Accessibility and Accommodations Alabama Student Assessment Program Nannette Pence Education Specialist Student Assessment Alabama State Department of Education

Alabama Student Assessment Program ACT with Writing ACT QualityCore ACT WorkKeys ACT Aspire ACCESS 2.0/Alternate ACCESS Alabama Alternate Assessment NAEP

Resources for the Alabama Student Assessment Program Alabama Student Assessment Program Handbook for Test Administration Student Assessment Policies and Procedures of Special Populations Manual Updated November 2015 Guidance regarding the inclusion of students with special needs in the state assessment program ACT Aspire Accessibility User’s Guide: ACT with Writing State and District Testing Manual ACT WorkKeys State and District Testing Manual ACT QualityCore Instructions for Accommodated Testing Manual ACCESS for Ells 2.0 Reference Guide for Test Administrations Procedures Accessibility Tools and Accommodations Manual

Required Forms for Accommodations in the Alabama Student Assessment Program Accommodations Checklists Reader Agreement Sign Language Interpreter Agreement Native Language Interpreter Agreement Scribe Agreement Temporary Medical Emergency Form Letter of Notification of Change for State Assessments

Levels of Support Support Level One- Default Embedded System Tools- are common supports made available to all users upon launch/start of test. These tools are either embedded in the basic computer test delivery platform, or they are provided locally, as needed. No advance request is needed for these supports. Students whose needs are met by default embedded tools do not need a Personal Needs Profile (PNP). Support Level Two- Open Access Tools- are available to anyone; however, they must be identified in advance in the PNP, planned for, and then selected from the pull-down menu inside the test (online) in order to be activated. Open access tools may also be provided via paper tests. Room supervisors must follow required procedures. Examinees should be familiar with the use of these types of tools and comfortable using them in combination with other tools. Prior practice is required. Support Level Three- Accommodations- are available to examinees who qualify to use them based upon their IEP/504/I-ELP documentation. Accommodations must be requested through the online PNP process. Prior practice is required. Support Level Four- Modifications- are supports that are sometimes used during instruction. Modifications alter the construct of the test and are Not Allowed on Alabama State Assessments.

Accessibility Universal Design for Learning (UDL) is an approach to curriculum design that can help teachers customize curriculum to serve all learners, regardless of ability, disability, age, gender, or cultural or linguistic background. Universal Design (UD) describes a concept or philosophy that, when applied to assessments, provides all students with equal opportunities to demonstrate what they have learned. Examples of UD Embedded Tools Zoom magnification Computer keyboard Computer screen display Computer mouse Cut, copy, and paste functions Scratch paper Answer eliminator Mark items for review Calculator Examples of UD Open Access Tools Large print Color overlay Magnifier tool Respond in test booklet or on separate paper Answer masking Dictate responses Highlighter Line reader Color contrast

Accommodations IEP, 504, I-ELP Accommodations- Definition High level accessibility tools needed by relatively few students. Accommodations are available to examinees whose disabilities have been identified through the IEP, 504 Plan, or I-ELP Plan. Examples of Accommodations IEP and 504- Text-to-Speech (English Audio) Text-to-Speech (English Audio + Orienting Description) (blind or low vision) Braille and tactile graphics Human Reader Sign language interpretation: Signed Exact English (SEE) and American Sign Language (ASL) Extra Time Examples of Accommodations I-ELP (limited)- Word-to-Word Translation Glossary Translated Directions NOTE: All state assessments are administered in English

Use of Accommodations in the State of Alabama Several years of data from our state assessments show that we are over accommodating students and the students’ test scores are impacted negatively. The number one misused accommodation: Reader (read-aloud) ACT Aspire- read aloud accommodations- approximately 10,000 students ACT with Writing- read aloud accommodations- approximately 1,800 students ACT WorkKeys- read aloud accommodations- approximately 1,500 students

Reader (read-aloud) Accommodation The use of a Reader may be provided for a student who has a documented reading disability that is two or more grade-levels below the student’s enrollment grade and that severely limits the student from decoding at any level of difficulty. Criteria for a read-aloud accommodation: Documented reading disability Reading two or more grade-levels below current enrollment grade Justification (proof of success) The deficit should be addressed throughout the student’s IEP or 504 Plan, and the student should be working toward mastery of those deficit skills. The criteria for determining the use of a Reader shall not be solely dependent upon the student’s grade level performance or his/her cognitive ability.

Reader (read-aloud) Accommodation A student who struggles to read on grade level material does not qualify for a Reader (read-aloud accommodation) on state assessments. An IEP team or 504 committee should determine if a student meets the criteria with justification (proof of success) before selecting a read-aloud accommodation on the state assessment accommodations checklist. A read-aloud accommodation will be provided by a human reader or via online or DVD administration (headphones) in a one-to-one (1:1) setting.

Accessibility and Accommodations Quick Guide Chart Note: Refer to the specific state assessment administration manual and accommodation checklist for further clarification and guidance for administering or providing the accessibility feature or accommodation. Most Selected Accessibility Feature or Accommodation Paper Testing (PT) Online Testing (OT) ACT QualityCore ACT WorkKeys The ACT Plus Writing ACT Aspire Human Reader 1:1 PT Only Yes IEP/504 Reader’s Script Yes IEP/504 Reader’s Script Yes IEP/504 Reader’s Script ACT Approval Only Yes IEP/504 No Reader’s Script Not allowed in reading or English subtests Text-to-Speech 1:1 English Audio OT No No No Yes IEP/504 Must Use Headphones Not allowed in reading or English subtests DVD 1:1 English Audio PT Yes IEP/504 Must Use Headphones Yes IEP/504 Must Use Headphones Yes ACT Approval Only IEP/504 Must Use Headphones NO Extended Time Yes PT Only IEP/504/I-ELP Yes PT and CT IEP/504/I-ELP Yes ACT Approval Only PT Only IEP/504 Yes PT and CT IEP/504 Large Print Yes IEP/504 Yes IEP/504 Yes ACT Approval Only IEP/504 Accessibility Feature Braille Yes IEP/504 Yes IEP/504 Yes IEP/504 Yes IEP/504 Scribe Yes IEP/504 or TMEF* Yes IEP/504 or TMEF* Yes ACT Approval Only Accessibility Feature Sign Language Yes IEP/504 Yes IEP/504 Yes ACT Approval Only IEP/504 Yes IEP/504 Homebound Yes IEP/504 Yes IEP/504 Yes ACT Approval Only IEP/504 Yes IEP/504 ELYes Word-to-Word Glossary Yes Word-to-Word Glossary NOYes Word-to-Word Glossary * Temporary Medical Emergency Form NAEP-SWD are required to participate and will be provided accommodations

Contact Information Nannette Pence Student Assessment, Alabama State Department of Education or Alabama State Department of Education, Student Assessment Webpage: ACT Alabama Webpage: