Skills and Achievement Commencement Credential

1. Skills and Achievement Commencement Credential New York State Education Department P-12: Office of Special Education Webinar Presentation April 2013

2. Topics • Anticipated outcomes of credential • Regulatory requirements • Eligibility • NYSAA participation criteria • Documentation requirements • Student Exit Summary Form • Instruction in Career Development and Occupational Studies (CDOS) learning standards and work-related experiences • Resources for additional information and technical assistance

3. Anticipated Outcomes • Improve post-secondary opportunities • Emphasize curriculum and instruction related to CDOS Learning Standards • Promote learning experiences to support functional, basic academic and career skills

4. Anticipated Outcomes (con’t) • Provide documentation of a student’s strengths, independence and level of skill achievement • Provide standardization and detail to the requirement to provide a student with a disability with an Exit Summary

5. Student Exit Summary (§200.4(c)(4)) • Summary of student’s academic achievement and functional performance • Recommendations on how to assist the student in meeting post-secondary goals • Provided upon school exit

6. Regulatory Requirements • Skills and Achievement Commencement Credential is effective with 2013-14 school year. • No IEP diploma shall be awarded on or after July 1, 2013.

7. Regulatory Requirements (con’t) Student Eligibility for Credential • Severe disability; • CSE recommended student take New York State Alternate Assessment (NYSAA); and • Attended school 12 years, excluding kindergarten, or until the end of school year student turns 21.

8. Eligibility Criteria to Take NYSAA CSE determination based on student: • having severe cognitive disability and significant deficits in communication and language and significant deficits in adaptive behavior; and • requiring highly specialized educational program that facilitates acquisition, application, and transfer of skills across natural environments (home, school, community, and/or workplace); and • requiring educational support systems, such as assistive technology, personal care services, health/medical services, or behavioral intervention.

9. Regulatory Requirements (con’t) • Parent notification: Continued eligibility for free appropriate public education (FAPE) • Credential is similar in form to diploma with annotation that it is based on alternate academic achievement standards • Credential must be issued by Board of Education or trustees of school district • May be issued by principal of nonpublic school

10. Regulatory Requirements (con’t) • Issued with summary of student’s academic and functional performance (Student Exit Summary) that documents: • Level of achievement and independence on CDOS learning standards; • Academic skills as measured by NYSAA; • Strengths and interests; and • As appropriate, other achievements and accomplishments.

11. Preparing for Skills and Achievement Commencement Credential • Instruction • Documentation Procedures • Professional Development

12. Instruction • CDOS learning standards • Coursework and participation in work-based learning experiences • Transition planning and services

13. Documentation Procedures • Data Sources • Gather data from multiple measures across variety of settings and over time to document student skills • Observations • Coursework • Community/school/work experiences • Career Plan • Career assessments (including Level 1) • Other functional vocational and transition assessments • Student Exit Summary • Use as an annual planning and instructional tool • Establish goals, guide instruction, assess student progress and assist with transition planning • Complete through a team process including student, family, school personnel, adult agency personnel • Provide final summary at school exit

14. Professional Development • Transition planning and services • CDOS standards and NYSAA • Experiences that prepare student for post-school life

22. Resources • April 2012 Field Memo: Skills and Achievement Commencement Credential for Students with Severe Disabilities http://www.p12.nysed.gov/specialed/publications/SACCmemo.htm • March 2006 Field Memo: Student Exit Summary as Required by IDEA 2004 http://www.p12.nysed.gov/specialed/idea/exitsumm.htm • The National Secondary Transition Technical Assistance Center (NSTTAC) http://www.nsttac.org/content/summary-performance-resources • Regional Special Education Technical Assistance Support Center (RSE-TASC) Transition Specialists http://www.p12.nysed.gov/specialed/techassist/rsetasc/tslist.htm • Transition Services Professional Development Support Center (PDSC) http://www.p12.nysed.gov/specialed/techassist/announcePDSC.htm • Transition Source http://www.transitionsource.org

23. Resources (cont’d) • New York State Alternate Assessment (NYSAA) http://www.p12.nysed.gov/assessment/nysaa/home.html • NYSAA High School Frameworks (ELA, Math, Social Studies, Science) http://www.p12.nysed.gov/assessment/nysaa/2011-12/manual-12/framework/hs.pdf • CDOS Learning Standards http://www.p12.nysed.gov/cte/cdlearn/ • CDOS Resource Guide with Core Curriculum http://www.p12.nysed.gov/cte/cdlearn/cdosresourceguide.html • Work-based Learning Programs http://www.p12.nysed.gov/cte/wbl/home.html • Career Zone www.careerzone.ny.gov

24. Next Steps • Training - Regional Special Education Technical Assistance Support Centers (RSE-TASC) http://www.p12.nysed.gov/specialed/techassist/rsetasc • Questions: email skillscred@mail.nysed.gov • Special Education Policy (518) 473-2878