NCEO Pre-conference Clinic

NCEO Pre-conference Clinic Under the Big Top! Accommodating Assessments for ALL Students National Center on Educational Outcomes

Example Pre-Clinic Tasks • Please fill out your nametag: • Your JOB TITLE • Your NAME • A CIRCUS JOB 2. The table that creates the best balloon creature wins a prize! Work as a team. NCEO Director of NCEO Martha Thurlow Trapeze Artist National Center on Educational Outcomes

Clinic Overview Ring 1: Developing accommodations policy Ring 2: Accommodations policy implementation Ring 3: Looking at accommodations data Finale: Wrap-up and evaluations National Center on Educational Outcomes

What teachers in the field say… When my students are tested it is with an adult they do not know and in an unfamiliar environment. National Center on Educational Outcomes

What teachers in the field say… Special Education students are scattered since testing was determined by the specific period of the day. National Center on Educational Outcomes

What teachers in the field say… Most of the time teachers do not follow the accommodations provided on the IEPs of the students. National Center on Educational Outcomes

What teachers in the field say… The hardest thing is getting the general ed teachers to understand that the accommodations are mandatory and not a “suggestion.” National Center on Educational Outcomes

What teachers in the field say… Given the diversity and volume of students and the increasing limitations of staff resources it’s difficult to provide fully individualized accommodations because we have to test in large groups. National Center on Educational Outcomes

What teachers in the field say… The proper way to implement an accommodation is not explained to the proctors. National Center on Educational Outcomes

What teachers in the field say… Because of changes in procedures or laws, …there is uncertainty. National Center on Educational Outcomes

What teachers in the field say… I am deeply concerned that decisions about modifications and accommodations are being made by people who…have never met the child. National Center on Educational Outcomes

What teachers in the field say… It becomes very frustrating when students with disabilities are not allowed accommodations that will level the playing field. National Center on Educational Outcomes

What teachers in the field say… I feel that I could use further training in this area. National Center on Educational Outcomes

Ring One Developing Accommodations Policy National Center on Educational Outcomes

What we know… • EPRRI Study • 67% of Special Ed. teachers unable to identify read-aloud or calculator accommodation as standard or non-standard • 34% of teachers did not know what happened to students’ scores with a non-standard accommodation National Center on Educational Outcomes

What we know… During statewide testing: “School personnel were frequently unprepared for and unable to handle the logistics of providing partial participation or individual accommodations.” (Shriner & DeStefano, 2003) National Center on Educational Outcomes

What we know… • Test accommodations provided not always linked to instructional accommodations. • Accommodations decision making not made on the individual student level (DeStefano, Shriner, & Lloyd, 2001) National Center on Educational Outcomes

What we know… • Teachers do not always make decisions about ELL accommodations based on research • ELL accommodations given often related to logistical practicality (Maihoff, 2004) National Center on Educational Outcomes

What we know… • English language learners may not use a blanket accommodation because • They are unfamiliar with it • They don’t think it will help • They are not literate in their first-language (Anderson, et al., 2000; Liu, et al., 1999) National Center on Educational Outcomes

Problem How do we design systems so that better accommodation decisions are made and we don’t feel like we are working without a net on the day of testing? National Center on Educational Outcomes

Alignment Policies Procedures Training Materials National Center on Educational Outcomes

Consistency Special Education -------------------- Policies Procedures Training Materials Assessment -------------------- Policies Procedures Training Materials Curriculum & Instruction -------------------- Policies Procedures Training Materials National Center on Educational Outcomes

Ring Two Training materials National Center on Educational Outcomes

How to Choose, Administer, and Evaluate Accommodations for Instruction and Assessment IN 5, YES, ONLY 5 *EASY* STEPS! TA DA!!!! *(well, maybe not THAT easy) National Center on Educational Outcomes

This Training Package is Brought to You By: State Collaborative on Assessment and Student Standards National Center on Educational Outcomes

Here are the 5 steps: • Expect students to meet grade level academic content standards • Learn about accommodations for instruction and assessment • Choose accommodations with students • Administer assessment accommodations • Evaluate and improve accommodations use National Center on Educational Outcomes

Ring Three Accommodations Data and Evaluation National Center on Educational Outcomes

Thank you! Please fill out the orange evaluation form National Center on Educational Outcomes

NCEO Pre-conference Clinic