New Jersey Alternate Proficiency Assessment

1. Teacher Training 2014 – 2015 Please download the teacher training materials and APA Procedures Manual before beginning this presentation. A review of the Procedures Manual in addition to this presentation is necessary in order to be fully prepared to implement the APA process. Please note, if you have a hearing impairment, you should download the PDF files instead of or in addition to the PowerPoint files. The PDF files contain the PowerPoint slides plus the speaker notes section. The speaker’s notes reflect what the speaker presented, which may be in addition to the bulleted information you read on the slide. New Jersey Alternate Proficiency Assessment 1 2014-2015 NJ APA Teacher Training – Module I

2. Multiple Parts of the Presentation There are 12 different PowerPoint training modules to download and view in order to complete the APA teacher training. In order to keep the files a manageable size, the presentation was split across files. Please refer to the Questar website (https://nj-servicepoint.questarai.com) and make sure you have downloaded all necessary files before continuing with the presentation. You must also download and review the Procedures Manual, the CPI Links, and the Content Guide and Five Items Resource documents in order to be prepared to implement the APA. If you have questions following the completion of the teacher training please see your school APA coordinator. They will either answer your questions or send an email with the questions to APA staff. 2 2014-2015 NJ APA Teacher Training – Module I

3. Module Topics: Suggested Agenda • You may choose to view all of the modules in one day, or view groups of modules over several days. Some modules should be viewed simultaneously before taking a break. • You must review all 12 modules even if you have implemented the APA last year. Follow this agenda for optimum viewing: • Getting Started • Module I: APA Introduction, Student Participation, and APA Revisions • Module II: APA Test Design and CPI Links • Module III: Acceptable Evidence 2014-2015 NJ APA Teacher Training – Module I

4. Module Topics: Suggested Agenda (continued) • Understanding the Relationship Between Instruction and Assessment • Module IV: Steps to Developing an Entry – Part One • Module V: Steps to Developing an Entry – Part Two • Module VI: Teacher Instructional Resources • Scoring Rules and the APA Scoring Rubric • Module VII: Universal Scoring Rules • Module VIII: Complexity • Module IX: Performance • Module X: Independence 2014-2015 NJ APA Teacher Training – Module I

5. Module Topics: Suggested Agenda (continued) • Sample Entries and Administrative Topics • Module XI: Sample Entries • Module XII: Proficiency Levels, Score Reports, Administrative Topics and Dynamic Learning Maps Overview • Reminder that these modules are available throughout the year to view as a refresher. Also, don’t forget to refer to the other APA training materials, in order to review all of the important APA information. 2014-2015 NJ APA Teacher Training – Module I

6. Module I APA Introduction, Student Participation, and APA Revisions 2014-2015 NJ APA Teacher Training – Module I 6

7. What is the APA? • An alternate assessment that measures achievement of New Jersey’s Core Curriculum Content Standards (CCCS) specifically designed for students with the most significant cognitive disabilities. • A portfolio of student work that demonstrates a student’s performance of knowledge and skills that are linked to grade level knowledge and skills. • Assessment of skills that are linked to grade level is a federal requirement. 7 2014-2015 NJ APA Teacher Training – Module I

8. What is the Purpose of the APA? • To measure performance of students with the most significant cognitive disabilities on the CCCS – the knowledge and skills that ALL New Jersey students are learning • To ensure that ALL New Jersey students are included in the accountability system that is required by the No Child Left Behind Act 2014-2015 NJ APA Teacher Training – Module I 8

9. Common Core Standards? • For the 2014-2015 APA in Science, students are still assessed on the NJ Core Curriculum Content Standards. • Although there are many skills contained in the NJ CCCS that connect to the Common Core Standards, the APA is not yet directly assessing the new standards. • Please be sure to use the APA test specifications contained in the Procedures Manual when designing instruction and assessment. • Note that beginning 2014-2015 APA students will be tested on the Common Core Standards in English Language Arts and Mathematics using the Dynamic Learning Maps (DLM) assessment. • More information on the DLM will be available in September. • Districts will be notified when a NJ DLM module is available for teachers. 2014-2015 NJ APA Teacher Training – Module I

10. Participation Guidelines • Information on APA participation guidelines is provided in the training packet given to administrators and is included in the Procedures Manual. • This criteria checklist must be completed in order to determine which students are eligible for the APA. • Included in the administrator training materials are additional clarifying questions to help you use the criteria checklist correctly and make the appropriate decisions regarding participation. • Access to the Directory of Test Specifications and Sample Test for the general assessment is necessary in order to complete the checklist correctly. • An administrator must sign the form and include it in the APA binder. 2014-2015 NJ APA Teacher Training – Module I 10

11. Which Students Participate in the APA? • Students with the most significant cognitive disabilities • Decisions about participation in the APA are not based on • the student’s disability category • the student’s educational placement • which assessment the student is most likely to score highest 2014-2015 NJ APA Teacher Training – Module I 11

12. Participation Decisions Students with the most significant cognitive disabilities will participate in: the NJASK or NJBCT science assessment with accommodations OR the APA. Decision is made at student’s annual IEP meeting. 12 2014-2015 NJ APA Teacher Training – Module I

13. Assessment and CCCS Materials Additional copies of all APA materials may be obtained on the Questar website: https://nj-servicepoint.questarai.com/NJxx01_Documentation.aspx Copies of the Core Curriculum Content Standards, standards clarification project, and the test specifications for the general assessments, can be obtained on the DOE website: www.state.nj.us/education 2014-2015 NJ APA Teacher Training – Module I 13

14. Grades Assessed for Science • Students in grades 4 and 8 must be assessed in science. • Students in high school must be assessed in science the year they receive instruction in biology (grade 9, 10, 11, or 12). • High school students may have an APA submitted for science in a different year than the year the alternate assessment (DLM) is administered for English language arts and math. 2014-2015 NJ APA Teacher Training – Module I 14

15. Assigned Grade Level • The grade level of the student must be marked on the Student Demographic Information Form that is to be submitted with the portfolio. This is the assigned grade level used during scoring of the APA. • If a record change for the student’s grade level is submitted in April 2015, the APA assigned grade level becomes the grade level provided during record changes. • The assigned grade level will be matched against the grade level of the CPI Links selected for assessment during the scoring process. • If the grade level of the CPI Links does not match the assigned grade level provided during data collection, the entry will receive zero scores. • Please note that students in high school (grades 9, 10, 11, or 12) are tested on the grade 12 CPI Links. 2014-2015 NJ APA Teacher Training – Module I

16. Student Transferred to NJ District from Another State after October 31, 2014 • Students who require an APA, and enter your school after October 31, 2014, transferring from out of state, have missed the cut-off date for the development of the APA assessment. • Submit a binder, a completed Student Demographic Information Form, an attendance record, and a letter from an administrator that indicates from which state the student transferred, the date of the transfer, and noting this as the justification for missing APA evidence. • The score report will indicate a Void 4, no portfolio evidence, when the student is a late registrant. • Please note that instruction related to the CCCS must still occur, regardless of the enrollment date. 2014-2015 NJ APA Teacher Training – Module I 16

17. Student Transferred from One NJ District to Another NJ District • The district that has the student during any part of a collection period must compile the portfolio. Once the student transfers within NJ, the district must send the portfolio to the new district. The new district must complete the portfolio and submit it for scoring. • If a student is enrolled in a district after July 1, 2014, the administrator may bubble on the student demographic information form Time In School less than one year. This will remove the student’s results from the Accountability Report. 2014-2015 NJ APA Teacher Training – Module I 17

18. Student Transferred from One NJ District to Another NJ District • If the student moved to another district you must send the portfolio to the district where the student is newly enrolled. • As long as a student is in your district, even for a limited time, you must begin instruction of the CPI Links, and begin collecting APA evidence. Be sure to transfer the APA materials to the “new” district in a timely manner. • You, the “former” district, do not need to submit a binder or letter to the APA program since the “new” district will send in the portfolio. Please note that if the student transfers out of the state prior to the end of the second collection period (February 13, 2015), the portfolio does not need to be submitted for scoring. It may be sent to the out-of-state school for use when reviewing the student’s educational program, or given to the parent. 2014-2015 NJ APA Teacher Training – Module I

19. Medical Emergency • Medical emergency is the occurrence of a severe medical or psychiatric condition or episode which requires medical attention or supervision during which time the student is not able to participate in state assessments. • APA students who are not receiving instruction due to a medical emergency may be eligible for a Void Code due to Medical Emergency when there is not enough APA evidence. • APA uses the term extensive sick leave/hospitalization interchangeably with the term medical emergency. Note that no other definition may be used when determining a void due to medical emergency. • See the requirements for the use of this void on the next slide. 2014-2015 NJ APA Teacher Training – Module I 19

20. Medical Emergency • When a student is out of school for an extended amount of time and not receiving instruction due to extensive sick leave or hospitalization, the portfolio may be eligible to receive a Void 1 (medical emergency). Eligibility is based only on the info below. • If the student is receiving instruction for 10 days or less during a collection period, and • The student has an extended hospitalization or leave due to illness and is not receiving instruction, and • An official record documenting the student absence is available, then • Include a letter from an administrator documenting the medical emergency. You must also include a formal district record of the student’s absences that is clear and provides a legend if necessary. The portfolio will be voided due to extended illness during the collection period if the documentation is complete. • A district administrator can call the Office of Assessments if additional clarification is needed on the use of this exemption. 2014-2015 NJ APA Teacher Training – Module I

21. Absenteeism – Non Medical Emergency • If a student is receiving instruction for 10 days or less in a collection period (excessive absenteeism), and the reason for absence is unrelated to a medical emergency/extensive illness, then the school administrator should contact the Office of Assessments. 2014-2015 NJ APA Teacher Training – Module I

22. Changes for 2014 - 2015 • You must use the 2014 - 2015 updated CPI Links when assessing a standard, strand, and CPI for the APA. • Many CPIs have been deleted based on the fall 2013 most frequently used links survey. • A few CPI Links were revised to make them more clear. • A few CPI Links were deleted. • The asterisk following a link is a reminder that there is a sample test item available in the Content Guide and Five Items Resource documents. • Yes/No item formats and True/False item formats are no longer acceptable • Use of these formats in 2014 – 2015 will result in unscorable entries 2014-2015 NJ APA Teacher Training – Module I 22

23. Changes for 2014 - 2015 • Important CPI Link clarifications and information are included in the revised Content Guide and Five Items Resource documents. Be sure to read all of the relevant grade-level materials thoroughly. • You must use the updated Procedures Manual as it has been updated specifically for the 2014 -2015 administration. 2014-2015 NJ APA Teacher Training – Module I 23

24. Reminders for 2014 - 2015 • Remember to Keep It Simple: • Assess only the specific CPI Link skills for each entry. • Only assess the skills you want to use for APA evidence during instructional activity. 2014-2015 NJ APA Teacher Training – Module I