Meeting Every Student’s Needs:Alternate Routes to Graduation

Nick Smith, Deputy SuperintendentSchool Support Services

www.sde.idaho.gov

• In Idaho, students must pass the 10th grade Idaho Standards Achievement Test (ISAT) in reading, language usage, mathematics, – Students who entered high school in Fall 2009 must also achieve proficient on

the Science ISAT.

• Students who do not pass one or more subject areas of the test may appeal to their local school district to use an alternative pathway to graduation.

• Currently students must be in the fall semester of senior year of high school to make an appeal.– Students with disabilities or English Language Learners (ELL) may

submit an appeal at an earlier grade level.

History and Background

• Idaho school districts are required to develop a plan for an alternative pathway at the point that a student makes such an appeal. – Those plans must be submitted to the State Board of

Education for review.– The plans must meet the IDAPA Rules Governing

Thoroughness 08.02.03.105• 90 percent of the criteria of the measure(s) must be based on

academic proficiency and performance;• The measure(s) must be aligned to a minimum of 10th grade

content standards and aligned to the subject matter;• The measure(s) must be valid and reliable.

History and Background

• Idaho is one of 23 states in the nation that require students to pass an exit exam in order to receive a high school diploma.– All these 23 states have also identified alternative

pathways to graduation for student with disabilities.– 18 of 23 states have alternative pathways for general

education students.– All 23 states have alternative pathways for ELL students.

History and Background

• Alternative Tests (8 School Districts)– District identifies at least one alternative test that students can use in place

of the ISAT, i.e., Idaho Alternative Assessment, EOCs, ACT, SAT, etc.• I-PLN (17 school districts):

– Districts allow students to use the results of their work on PLATO modules to demonstrate proficiency on areas of the ISAT that they have failed to pass.

• Multiple Options (6 school districts):– The district provides at least one non-test option for demonstrating

proficiency. District provides more than one way for students to demonstrate proficiency.

– Includes ISAT courses, performance measures and student grades.• Multiple Measures (17 school districts):

– District compiles information from multiple sources to determine students’ eligibility for a diploma.

– Includes student grades, portfolios, senior projects, attendance, work-based learning experiences, and recommendations from teachers.

Types of Plans in Idaho

• The State Board of Education requested Education Northwest perform an analysis and study of Idaho’s Alternate Pathways to graduation.

• As a result, the Office of the State Board of Education staff have submitted revisions to IDAPA 08.02.03.105.

Recommendations For Change

• Revisions to IDAPA 08.02.03.105 include:

– Earlier identification of students:• Fall semester of the junior year rather than fall semester of the

senior year.

– Require plans to contain multiple measures of student achievement.

Recommendations For Change

• At least 90% of the criteria of the measures should be based on academic proficiency.

• A majority of measures should be aligned with content standards.

• Plan should ensure validity and reliability.• Plan should include multiple measures for

demonstrating proficiency.

Developing a Quality Alternative Pathway to Graduation Plan

• Plan should provide information about how students will be identified and provide for early identification.

• Plan should provide information about early opportunities for remediation.

• Plan should provide information about explicit alternatives for students with disabilities, IEP or 504 plans and English Language Learners.

Developing a Quality Alternative Pathways to Graduation Plan

• Education Northwest reviewed all plans currently on file with the State Board of Education.

• Of those reviewed, 9 received a high rating indicating that they were closely aligned to these standards.– Blaine County School District – Cassia County School District– Dietrich School District– Emmett School District– Firth School District– Hagerman School District– Lake Pend Oreille School District– Lewiston School District– Mountain Home School District

Rating of Plans

Nick SmithDeputy Superintendent

School Support Servicesnwsmith@sde.idaho.gov

(208) 332-6959

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