Workshop for LEAP Alternate Assessment Level 1 (LAA 1)

1. Workshop for LEAP Alternate Assessment Level 1 (LAA 1)

2. Grades Tests Subjects Standards Scoring Reporting Tasks Accommodations Manipulatives LAA 1 is an assessment program composed of many parts.

3. Grades Tests Subjects Standards Scoring Tasks Reporting Accommodations Manipulatives Our goal is to help you assemble the LAA 1 puzzle!

4. Standards Extended Standards • Extended Standards are • the foundation of the LAA 1 assessment program • based on selected state content standards, benchmarks, and grade-level expectations (GLEs) • extensions of the state standards • organized by grade spans (3-4, 5-6, 7-8, and 10-11) • Grade 9 students will not be assessed. • Subjects: • English Language Arts • Mathematics • Science

5. Extended Standards (continued) • Represent the core academic content considered appropriate for LAA 1 students, not the entire curriculum for a given grade or content area • Articulate academic learning from one grade to the next • Facilitate access to grade-level content • Move from the concrete to the abstract Standards

6. Complexity Levels Standards • Three complexity levels for each extended standard • Descriptions of ways to access the academic content identified by the extended standard

7. Level 1 Least complex Reflects a student’s initial encounter with content related to the extended standard Level 2 A more complex application of the extended standards Level 3 Even more complex learning situations (e.g., comprehension and subsequent processing of discourse, text, and underlying text structure) Mastery of an extended standard generally indicated by a student performing at level 3 Standards

8. Standards Sample of Extended Standards ChartGrades 3-4English Language Arts

9. Extended Standards Handbook The best resource on Extended Standards • Bulletin 127 • Describes the development process • Summarizes the knowledge, skills, and abilities emphasized for each subject by grade span • Presents the extended standards and their link back to benchmarks and GLEs • Includes a glossary of terms • Can be downloaded from http://www.louisianaschools.net/lde/uploads/11618.pdf

10. Grades Tests Subjects LAA 1 Assessment Design • ELA and Mathematics • Grade spans 3–4, 5–6, 7–8 • Grade 10 (Grade 9 students will not be assessed.) • Science • Grades 4, 8, and 11 • Each subject area assessment is composed of 25 performance tasks.

11. LAA 1 Grades and Content Areas

12. Tests Test Administration Procedures • LAA 1 is administered individually. • The test administrator reads aloud or signs the test to students. • LAA 1 is administered over a 6–week period. • February 14 to March 25, 2011 • Test administrators should review materials before February 14 and start assessing students at the beginning of testing window.

13. Individualized Administration • Pacing is based on the individual needs of the student. • Allow sufficient wait time for the student to respond. • Repeat the question or directions if needed during a testing session. • Unless the task is interrupted, administer a task only once. The task must not be administered in its entirety multiple times (e.g., give the task today and repeat for a higher score tomorrow). • If student is having a “bad” day or is unresponsive, stop testing and reschedule testing.

14. Administrator Booklet Student Booklet Response Document Graphics Manipulatives List Task Descriptions PowerPoint Slides LAA 1 Resources and Professional Development (PD) Materials

15. Tests LAA 1 Administrator Booklet An 8½ X 11 inch spiral-bound booklet used by the test administrator: • one per grade span • all subjects tested in that grade span • task-specific instructions • each performance task includes • directions, • a scoring rubric, • correct answer(s), and • a copy of corresponding pages from the Student Booklet

16. Grades Subjects PD Administrator Booklet • Introduction • General Instructions • LAA 1 Practice Tasks

17. PD Administrator Booklet Tasks header bar • Header bar • Directions • Page numbers • Scoring rubric • Correct answer page numbers directions Scoring rubric correct answer

18. Scoring 1-point Scoring Rubric (one question, response is either correct or incorrect) Scoring Rubrics Question: Which object is a tool? Options: apple, toy blocks, ruler, ball

19. Scoring Scoring Rubrics 2-point Scoring Rubric (one question, two correct responses ) Question: Which two animals spend much of their lives in water? Options: fish, alligator, cat, pig

20. Scoring Scoring Rubrics2-point Scoring Rubric (two questions, one correct response for each question) Question A: Which animal spends most of its life in water? Question B: Which animal spends most of its life in the air? Options: rabbit, bird, fish,pig

21. Tests LAA 1 Student Booklet A large print spiral-bound booklet for the students: • one for each grade span • includes all subjects tested in that grade span • assessment tasks include • graphics and text • answer options • task number

22. SampleStudent BookletPage graphics and text answer options Tasks task #

23. Tests Response Document • one per student • grade specific • confidential • Test administrator enters student’s scores Use only #2 pencils to complete!

24. Tests Response Document (cont.) Wait until the student has completed all parts of a task before entering a score. Use only #2 pencils to complete!

25. Accommodations Accommodations Manipulatives • Assistive Technology • Manipulatives • Task Descriptions • Other

26. Accommodations Assistive Technology • Any item, piece of equipment, or product system used to enable a student to access the assessment • Augmentative communication devices • Switch with scanning • Voice recognition software • Communication board • Eye gaze board • Voice output device with dynamic display

27. Accommodations Assistive Technology (cont.) • Student’s symbol system • Not all students use a symbol system. • The language in the task may be translated into a student’s symbol system. • TAs who translate the task language utilizing the symbol system used in the classroom may do this for the assessment. • Translated tasks must be kept secure and returned to the School Test Coordinator (STC).

28. Assistive Technology (cont.) • A CD of graphics is available upon request for each grade span or the graphics may be downloaded from the LDOE website prior to testing. • Two file formats are available: tiff and jpeg. • Graphics may be imported into a device or printed as needed. • The graphics may be resized, or color, texture, or raised lines may be added.

29. Manipulatives Manipulatives • Manipulatives may be used to access any task. • Prior to testing, review tasks to determine if the student will need a manipulative for a task. • Code Assistive Technology in the Accommodations field on the response document. • Manipulatives Lists are provided. • Include suggested manipulatives and activities • Organized by subject and grade span • Can also be downloaded from http://www.louisianaschools.net prior to testing

30. Sample Manipulatives List

31. Using the Manipulatives List • The suggested manipulatives are optional, and other appropriate manipulatives, familiar to the student, may be used. • Use manipulatives in a manner consistent with the measurement goals of the task. • For example, if the task measures recognition of number symbols, don’t replace symbols with counters. • Use manipulatives consistently within a task. • For example, if the options are an apple, orange, ball, and table, don’t use a picture for the table and real objects for the others.

32. Using the Manipulatives List (cont.) • The statement, “This performance task does not lend itself to the use of manipulatives,” doesn’t mean that manipulatives can’t be used for the task. • Options to using Wikki Stix include soda straws, yarn, string, and dry spaghetti. • Counters can be used to count objects in a graphic (tree = counter, house = counter). • Different types of counters (different colors, different shapes) can represent the various objects in a pattern (red counter = bird, yellow counter = dog). • Be careful not to clue a response by the type of counter used.

33. Tips for Using Manipulatives

34. Tips for Using Manipulatives(cont.)

35. Accommodations  Task Descriptions • Includes a list of tasks needing further description and/or modifications to accommodate the needs of students who cannot access print graphics • For visually impaired-blind or other students who cannot access graphics • Automatically sent for students who have VI-Blind listed as their primary exceptionality • Available upon request for other students who cannot access graphics • Some tasks are not accessible for these students even with descriptions and are identified in the Task Descriptions as Omitted. • The accommodation Task Descriptionsmust be coded on the response document to ensure the student is not penalized.

36. Accommodations Task Descriptions Page information on omitted items instructions modified task description instructions task affected

37. Task Description Example • Here is an example of a performance task that requires a Task Description for students unable to access print graphics. • For the Task Description, the TA says: Students are reading. Which statement describes the meaning of the word students? A girl is reading. A boy and a girl are reading. A girl is reading with her dog.

38. Accommodations Other Accommodations? • Consider the intent of the task to ensure the accommodation does not invalidate the purpose • For example, if the task measures recognition of number symbols, don’t replace symbols with counters. • All accommodations must be used regularly during classroom instruction and assessment and documented on the IEP. • Questions about accommodations • Go from the test administrator to the School Test Coordinator, then to the District Test Coordinator, and finally to the Louisiana Department of Education

39. Test Administration Time! • Find a partner, one who teaches at the same grade span. • Determine roles: One serves as the Test Administrator (TA) and the other as the student taking the test. • Administer the first task at that grade span. • Reverse roles: The TA becomes the student, and the student becomes the TA. • Now administer the second task within the grade span.

40. Group Discussion on Administration of Tasks

41. Sharing LAA 1 Administration Experiences • Challenges • Successes • Helpful hints

42. Q&A 1. May I assess more than one student at a time? No. Each student must be assessed individually. 2. Must I move through the Administrator Booklet and the Student Booklet in the order of the tasks presented? In each content area the tasks are arranged in the order of complexity, from least to most complex. Consequently, within a content area, assess each student on tasks as ordered in the booklets. 3. Must I assess each student in the content order of the booklet? No. You may begin with the content area that you believe will provide the most success for the student. For, example, the mathematics test may be administered before the English language arts test.

43. 4. May I prompt the student? You must follow the directions as written in the Administrator Booklet. You may read the directions as many times as you think necessary. You may direct the student’s attention to the task or manipulatives and also encourage the student to attempt the task. 5. Must the student respond verbally? Students may communicate responses in their typical communication modality. 6. What if the student doesn’t respond to a question after it has been read several times? Mark a zero. 7. What if the student responds to the first part of a question, but then is not ready to proceed (too tired, nonresponsive) with the second part? Record score for the first part on a post-it note affixed to the Response Document and return to the question at a better time. Do not repeat the first part of the question.

44. 8. May a test administrator assess a student with a grade-span assessment that does not coincide with the student’s enrolled grade? For example, if the student is enrolled in grade 8, but the TA believes a 5–6 grade-span assessment is more appropriate, can that student be assessed in the 5–6 grade-span assessment? No. The student must take the test for the grade in which he or she is enrolled. This is a federal guideline based on No Child Left Behind (NCLB). 9. Must I read the directions in the Administrator Booklet word-for-word? Yes. (Some exceptions are made for students who are Visually Impaired-Blind.) 10. May I reduce the number of tasks administered, e.g., assess 20 tasks instead of 25? No, the student should have the opportunity to take all tasks. However, if after attempting at least 5 tasks in a content area the student is unresponsive on all of the items resulting in a score of zero, you may stop testing. Do not code a score on the RD for the remaining items. Note: If the student is unresponsive because he or she is having a bad day, try administering the test on another day.

45. Tests General Security of Materials • School Test Coordinators are responsible for storing and disseminating materials. • These materials must be returned at the end of the day if they are checked out: • Administrator Booklets • Student Booklets • Response Documents • Task Descriptions

46. Tests Security of Response Documents • Once the TA enters scores on the response document (RD), it becomes confidential information and must be kept secure. • Be sure to check Student and Administrator Booklets when assessment ends for RDs accidentally tucked inside. Count them! • There is a $100 charge for the testing company to look for a response document.

47. Scoring Dual Assessment (Scoring Study) Part of a required validity and reliability study • Student sample is 10 percent of the LAA 1 population within each district (random selection). • Each participating student’s name appears twice on the student label/roster. The scoring study document is identified with an X in the far-right column. • Each participating student receives two preidentified response documents. In the upper right corner of the scoring study document (beside the student name) and on the label, the words Scoring Study Document areprinted. • Both assessors score the student’s performance at the same time; therefore, schedules must accommodate both test administrators.

48. Scoring Dual Assessors Who is eligible to be 2nd assessor? • Central office special education personnel • Support personnel • Speech therapist • Adapted PE teacher • Occupational therapist • Physical therapist • Evaluation team members, including psychologist • Another special education teacher • Must be trained in LAA 1 administration • Not a paraprofessional

49. Other Key Materials • Parent’s Guide • General LAA 1 information • Interpretive Guide • Detailed information on and interpretation of state, district, school, and student scores

50. Grades Tests Subjects LAA 1 Assessment Guide The best resource on LAA 1 tests • Contains detailed information on purpose, design, and accommodations • Contains 33 sample performance tasks • Includes Frequently Asked Questions • Can be downloaded from http://www.louisianaschools.net