LEP Updates: Testing Accommodations & Alternate ACCESS

1. LEP Updates:Testing Accommodations & Alternate ACCESS Carrie Perkis Division of Accountability Services September 12, 2012

2. Accommodations for Students Identified as Limited English Proficient

3. Guidelines for Testing Students Identified as Limited English Proficient • Document contains detailed information on testing accommodations • http://www.ncpublicschools.org/accountability/policies/slep/ • Updated document in October 2012

4. LEP Students & Accommodations • Eligibility criteria for accommodations: • Students scoring below Level 5.0 Bridging on the reading subtests of the W-APT/ACCESS for ELLs eligible to receive state-approved LEP accommodations on state tests

5. State-Approved LEP Accommodations • Multiple Testing Sessions • Scheduled Extended Time • Student Reads Test Aloud to Self • Test Administrator Reads Test Aloud (In English) • Computer Reads Test Aloud – Student Controlled • Word-to-Word Bilingual English/Native Language Dictionary/Translator

6. drive Instructional Accommodations Testing Accommodations

7. Considerations for Committee Decision-Making Students should be using accommodations ROUTINELY during instruction and similar classroom assessments – accommodations should not be a surprise on test day! Routine use = at least 30 days prior to test date

8. Multiple Testing Sessions • Allows student to test in mini sessions • More frequent breaks (e.g., every 20 minutes, every 10 questions completed) • May test over one day or multiple days (e.g., half of test day 1, half of test day 2) • Must complete test within the allowed time unless student has Scheduled Extended Time • If breaks differ from the standard, student will require Testing in a Separate Room

9. Scheduled Extended Time • For students who need extra time to test • LEP team documents estimated extended time, but student is allowed as much time as needed with this accommodation • Student must finish the test in one day, unless he/she also has Multiple Testing Sessions

10. Student Reads Aloud to Self • Student may read the test aloud, but the test administrator may not help or correct errors the student makes • Requires Testing in a Separate Room – One-on-One accommodation

11. Test Administrator Reads Test Aloud (In English) • LEP team must document specifics - Read Aloud Everything vs. Read Aloud by Student Request • Not available for EOG English Language Arts or EOC English II • Requires Testing in a Separate Room (one-on-one or small group)

12. Test Administrator Reads Test Aloud (In English), cont’d • Test administrator should be familiar with grade-level/course content • Information should be read so as not to give away the answer • e.g., read number as 1-0-0 instead of one hundred when place value is tested

13. Computer Reads Test Aloud – Student Controlled • Available for EOC Biology, EOC Algebra I/Integrated I, grade 5 & 8 science EOG, NCEXTEND2 tests • Students press audio button to hear recorded human reader • Students may use headphones to test in regular setting • Without headphones, students will require separate setting (one-on-one)

14. Computer Reads Test Aloud – Student Controlled, cont’d • Limitation: only item stems and answer choices read by computer (not graphs, charts, etc) • For online tests, student may have the test read aloud by: • Test Administrator Reads Test Aloud • Computer Reads Test Aloud – Student Controlled • Combination of the two methods

15. ACT, EXPLORE, PLAN, and WorkKeys • ACT – LEP students may only use State-Allowed accommodations. If used, ACT score is not college-reportable • EXPLORE/PLAN – LEP accommodations are a local decision • WorkKeys – LEP students may only use word-to-word bilingual dictionary

16. ACT, EXPLORE, PLAN, and WorkKeys cont’d • LEP teams may record accommodations for these assessments on the LEP plan, or may use existing classroom/testing accommodations documentation to support accommodations decisions • Accommodation policies may differ from NC policies. LEP teams must be aware of differences • http://www.act.org/aap/northcarolina/index.html

17. Alternate ACCESS

18. What is Alternate ACCESS? • A new test developed specifically for students identified as limited English proficient with significant cognitive disabilities • http://www.wida.us/assessment/alternateaccess.aspx

19. Eligibility Criteria • Student has been identified as LEP • Student has been identified as having one or more of the existing categories of disabilities under IDEA (e.g.; intellectual disabilities, autism, traumatic brain injury, multiple disabilities, etc.) • Student is participating in alternate curriculum and in state-wide alternate accountability assessments • IEP team recommended the assessment after considering all three criteria above

20. Alternate ACCESS Student Identification • Collaboration between LEP and EC • 3-12 – look for LEP students with NCEXTEND1 documented on IEP • K-2 – No NCEXTEND1 documentation, will need to consider LEP and disability status

21. Alternate ACCESS Testing Details • Alternate ACCESS is individually administered • Testing window will be the same as ACCESS • February 1 – March 15, 2013 • Ordering will be the same as ACCESS • Training materials online • Formal training to occur this winter

22. Questions? Carrie Perkis carrie.perkis@dpi.nc.gov