The New York State Alternate Assessment

SCDN Meeting in Albany

September 23, 2005NYSED

Office of Vocational and Educational Services for

Individuals with Disabilities

NYS Assessment System

• NYSAA is a component of the NYS Assessment that ensures participation by all students with disabilities, even those with severe cognitive disabilities.

• All students must be assessed in grades 3-8 and high school.

• No student is exempt from State assessments.

• The “Locally Selected Assessment” option is no longer available starting in 2005-06.

NCLB and General Assessments

New 3-8 testing in ELA and Mathematics begins in 2005-06 school year.

– ELA to be administered in January 2006.

– Mathematics to be administered in March 2006.

NCLB Act of 2001

Title 1, sec. 1001

“The Purpose of this title is to ensure that all children have a fair, equal and significant opportunity to obtain a high – quality education and reach, at a minimum, proficiency on challenging State academic achievement standards and State academic assessments.

This purpose can be accomplished by…

NCLB Act of 2001

(2)

Meeting the educational needs of low-achieving children in our Nation’s highest-poverty schools, limited English proficient children, migrant children, children with disabilities, Indian children, neglected or delinquent children, and young children in need of reading assistance; and

NCLB Act of 2001

(9)

Promoting school-wide reform and ensuring the access of children to effective, scientifically-based instructional strategies and challenging academic content.

IDEA 2004

Many of the provisions of IDEA 2004 require significant changes to:

•NYS laws

•Regulations

•Policies and

•Guidance documents.

IDEA 2004 and NYSAA

•It repeals the requirement for benchmarks and short term objectives on IEPs, except for students with significant cognitive disabilities taking the alternate assessment.

•Most of the IDEA 2004 amendments became effective July 1, 2005.

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70Agree

Disagree

No Response

Increase in my ability to assess

An increased value in teaching to academic standards

Increased expectations for student learning

Teachers Said Their Experience Administering NYSAA led to:

IDEA 2004 Requires the CSE to…

•Determine if the student must take an alternate assessment instead of the Statewide or district assessment.

•If the student is determined to need an alternate assessment, the IEP must include statements indicating:

•Why the student cannot participate in regular assessments, and

•Why this particular alternate assessment is appropriate.

Earlier Registration Dates

• School Administrators will have until October 31, 2005 to register their students for the NYSAA with the RIC

• A second registration deadline will be December 22, 2005 for students who need to be added or deleted from the district’s data.

• Registration Memo was released this week.

NYSAA Has Undergone Some Changes

NYS Changes for 2005-06

•There are several changes this year being made in NYS law and regulation to comply with NCLB and IDEA 2004 requirements.

•One major change is that NYSAA will be expanded to assess eligible students whose birth dates fall within the age range equivalents to grades 3-8 and high school.

Students to be Included in

NYSAA 2005-06

NYSAA Grade

Equivalent

Birth Date

Range

Content Areas

To Be

Assessed

Grade 3

Grade 4

Grade 5

Grade 6

Grade 7

Grade 8

High School

July 1, 1995 - June 30, 1996

July 1, 1994 - June 30, 1995

July 1, 1993 - June 30, 1994

July 1, 1992 - June 30, 1993

July 1, 1991 - June 30, 1992

July 1, 1990 - June 30, 1991

July 1, 1987 - June 30, 1988

ELA, Math

ELA, Math, Soc.St., Science

ELA, Math

ELA, Math

ELA, Math

ELA, Math, Soc.St., Science

ELA, Math, Soc.St., Science

Making Changes to NYSAA•NYSAA model designed with input from AATNs, SSCs, teachers and others

•Model parameters –

-based on Federal requirements of IDEA and NCLB;

-keep what we know and have done for grades 4, 8 and high school (anchor years);

-add for years 3, 5, 6 and 7 (expanded years)

•Stakeholders meeting held to present model and to elicit feedback

•Advisory committee established/NYSAA model finalized

•Design Teachers Guide and training materials based on 04-05 preliminary results and teacher feedback.

NYSAA Data Statewide in 2004-05

[Total of 7,205 datafolios]

•65% had datafolios that received scores in all areas (4,664).

•79% of completely scorable datafolios with AA levels 3 or 4 in at least one content area. (3,661)

NYSAA Data Statewide 2004-05

[Total of 7,205 datafolios]

•35% had at least one content area not scored (2,541)

•14% had all four content areas not scored (1,001)

•29% contained avoidable errors

_________________

•3% took another assessment in at least one area (214)

•0.2% were medically excused in at least one area (15)

•0.9% were not enrolled (68)

More on NYSAA Results from 2004-05

Scorer Comment Sheets

Overall, scorers made more positive comments than negative ones:

•Evidence was complete, data were well documented, well organized, instruction was clearly linked to the learning standards, student was clearly portrayed and evidence demonstrated rich and varied approaches to learning.

More on NYSAA Results from 2004-05 Scorer Comment Sheets

Some of the scorers’ negative comments were:

•dates were not circled on the DSS;

•task was not clearly linked to the API;

•student appears ready for more challenging content;

•required elements on the VE were missing;

•levels of accuracy and independence were not calculated correctly or were not indicated on VE or DSS;

•white-out and photocopies were used; and

•there was a need to consider adjusting the level of complexity to promote greater independence.

Highlights for 2005-06• NYSAA now extends to the equivalents of

grades 3-8 and high school.

• In fall 2005, we are providing Regional Trainings.

• Eligibility –continues to be based on criteria and birth date ranges

• Time Line

– Data Collection Period Oct 3, 2005-Feb 10, 2006

– Registration by October 31, 2005

– Benchmarking on January 11 and 12, 2006

– Scoring March 27 through May 5, 2006

– Reporting Results to Schools & Families, Summer 2006

Highlights for 2005-06

•Content areas vary according to the grade level equivalent

--Anchor Years: 4, 8 and high school

•Assess in ELA, Math, Soc. St. , Science

--Expanded Years: 3, 5, 6 and 7

•Assess in ELA and Math only.

8 THINGS for AATNs TO REMEMBER

1. Encourage accuracy and quality in administering NYSAA.

2. NYSAA should be integrated with the student’s IEP-consider PLP and IEP goals and objectives.

3. Align Standard, API, Task and present level of performance indicated on IEP.

4. Remember to integrate collegial review(s).

8 THINGS for AATNs TO REMEMBER

5. The tasks that are assessed should be part of the student’s curriculum and instruction.

6. Tasks need to be challenging, not ones that are already mastered.

7. Parent input is required, not optional. Complete the Parent/Guardian Survey.

8. Strive for procedural validity and the consistent administration of NYSAA statewide.

WHAT VESID WILL DO TO HELP

•Registration memo requires earlier Registration: by October 31, 2005.

•Update VESID’s Regional Associates and Supervisors about the 2005-06 NYSAA.

•Develop brochures about NYSAA and the roles of CSEs, Administrators, Teachers, Parents etc.

Resources

http://www.vesid.nysed.gov/specialed/

alterassessment/home.html

cwilson@mail.nysed.gov

Our goal is to have a successful trip

and a smooth landing of the

2005-06 NYSAA.