Grade-level and Competency Portfolios for 2014 MCAS-Alt Heather Vigorito

1. Grade-level and Competency Portfolios for 2014 MCAS-Alt Heather Vigorito Accommodations and Competency Portfolio Specialist

2. Who Should Be Considered for “Grade-level” and “Competency” Portfolios? • Any student with a disability who: • performs classroom work at or near grade-level expectations, but cannot fully demonstrate grade-level knowledge and skills on the MCAS test in that grade and subject • is attempting to earn a score of Needs Improvement or higher Some examples of significant disabilities that could be appropriate for consideration: • physical, emotional/behavioral, health-related, deaf or blind, deaf-blind, CP, mild autism, or mild intellectual 2 Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education

3. Educator’s Manual, pp. 20-21 What is a “Grade-Level Portfolio?” (Grades 3-8) • Collection of work produced at grade-level complexity by a student who cannot show what they know on an MCAS test • IEP team determines how student participates in MCAS • Work samples must address a total of nine (9) standards for each subject required for the student’s grade. • Multiple work samples must be included for each standard. • Together, the work samples must demonstrate all aspects of the standard (i.e., not just one skill). • Refer to Educator’s Manual for requirements for ELA, Math, and STE. • Work will be scored by grade-level content experts. Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education

4. Changes in Grade Level Portfolios for the 2013-2014 School Year • Data charts are no longer required. • Work samples for English language arts (ELA) and Mathematics portfolios must be based on the 2013 Resource Guide • Work samples for Science and Technology/ Engineering (STE) portfolios must be based on the 2006 Resource Guide • Use the new Work Description label (p. 80) Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education

5. Educator’s Manual, pp. 22-29 What is a High School “Competency Portfolio?” • A collection of work samples that allows a high school student with a disability to attempt to meet the MCAS graduation requirements and be eligible to receive a high school diploma. • Work samples must meet requirements described in the 2014 Educator’s Manual for MCAS-Alt (and on MCAS Appeals web page). • No data charts are required • Work may be cumulative, beginning as early as grade 9. • Portfolios are reviewed by high school content experts who provide detailed feedback after their review (Feedback Forms). • Portfolio may be submitted multiple times with additional work samples, if initial submission received a score of Failing and the student wishes to continue working towards a score of Needs Improvement or higher. • Otherwise, MCAS-Alt is not required after grade 10. Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education

6. Educator’s Manual, p. 23 Meeting Graduation Requirements • Students must meet stateandlocal graduation requirements to earn a diploma. • More than 250 high school students have met the Competency Determination (CD) requirement by earning a score of Needs Improvement or higher on an MCAS-Alt competency portfolio. Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education

7. Required to Earn a CD through the Competency Portfolio • To earn a score of Needs Improvement or above: • Work documenting all required standards must be submitted. • Work must demonstrate knowledge of all aspects of the required standards. • Work must be completed independently (i.e., above 75% independent) • Work must be equivalent to that of a student who scored Needs Improvement on MCAS test. Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education

8. How Should Schools Approach the Task of Compiling a Competency Portfolio? • Determine students for whom a competency portfolio would be appropriate. • Become familiar with submission requirements. • Identify potential resources and staff to assist you. • E.g., content area teachers, curriculum frameworks • Sample portfolio samples posted to MCAS-Alt and Appeals web pages • Instruct student based on standards required for the portfolio and collect samples of student’s work. Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education

9. ELA Competency Portfolio • Five essays on required topics • Outline, rough draft, revisions by student, additional draft(s) • Final draft • Student work must be based on grade-appropriate (high school) literature. • Student must respond to the assignment. • No plot summaries or “book reports” Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education

10. Mathematics Competency Portfolio • Total of 14 mathematics learning standards must be addressed (all aspects of each standard). • All student work must be shown (i.e., the answer alone isn’t enough—must show thought process) • Work must demonstrate grade 10 level of complexity • Correct responses must be given for at least 4 problems, and together all work samples for a given standard must demonstrate understanding of all aspectsof the learning standard. Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education

11. Science and Tech/EngineeringCompetency Portfolio • All topics in the discipline must be included. • At least one standard in each topic, 10 standards in all • Student must show all work. • Work must demonstrate grade 10 level of complexity. • Responses must be accurate, and completed independently. • Together all work samples for a given standard must demonstrate understanding of all aspects of the learning standard. Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education

12. Also consider MCAS Retests, if possible • MCAS retests are an additional option for meeting the CD standard. • Students who previously took one or more standard MCAS tests should also consider taking retests, even if submitting competency portfolios (okay to do both after grade 10). • Students may also pursue an MCAS Performance Appeal. • Either a “Cohort Appeal” or “Portfolio Appeal,” depending on whether a cohort exists. • See www.doe.mass.edu/mcasappeals/ Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education

13. Resources • 2014 MCAS-Alt Educator’s Manual • Grade-level and Competency Portfolio Requirements (Pp. 20-30) • Work Description Labels (Pp. 80-85, and in MCAS-Alt Forms and Graphs) • Feedback Forms for previously-submitted portfolios • Portfolio samples that scored Needs Improvement posted to MCAS-Alt and MCAS Appeals web pages • Math, ELA, and STE staff in your school/district can: • check that portfolio evidence is matched to specific standards • assist in adapting activities, as needed, for individual learners • plan and/or conduct instructional activities Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education

14. Contact Information • MA Dept. of Elementary & Secondary Education Student Assessment Office – 781-338-3625 • Dan Wiener – dwiener@doe.mass.edu • Heather Vigorito –hvigorito@doe.mass.edu • MCAS-Alt Website – www.doe.mass.edu/mcas/alt • Measured Progress MCAS Service Center – 800-737-5103 Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education