Overview of Indiana’s 2014-15 Alternate Assessment

October 2014

Karen Stein, IDOE

E/LA, Math, and Writing - NCSC Student response alternate assessment – adopted by SBOE in June 2014– Multiple Choice (MC), Constructed Response (CR)

(writing)

Test Design

Social Studies and Science• Teacher rated ISTAR Alternate

Assessment• Will remain unchanged for Spring

2015 Social Studies: grades 5, 7; Science: grades 4, 6, 10

Test Design

National Center and State Collaborative (NCSC)

• National Center and State Collaborative (NCSC)-24 States and 5 Organizations

• Resources online: http://www.doe.in.gov/standards/indiana%E2%80%99s-ncsc-alternate-assessment

• IDOE Participation

State Involvement in NCSC• Instructional Supports and Resources development

• Assessment design and development

• Technology

• Parent Resources

• Professional Development

NCSC Project Goal

To develop a system of assessments supported by curriculum, instruction and

professional development to ensure that students with the most significant cognitive disabilities

achieve increasingly higher academic outcomes and leave high school ready for post-secondary

options.

Curricular and Instructional Resources

• Provide guidance on how to “unpack” the instructional and assessed content;

• Promote strategies and resources for teaching challenging academic content through professional development opportunities; and

• Align challenging and attainable content that is observable and measurable for use in instruction and a thorough system of assessments.

• Identify the most salient grade-level, core academic content in ELA and mathematics found in both the CCSS and the LPF;

• Illustrate the necessary knowledge and skills in order to reach the learning targets within the LPF and the CCSS;

• Focus on the core content, knowledge and skills needed at each grade to promote success at the next; and

• Identify priorities in each content area to guide the instruction for students in this population and for the alternate assessment.

Core Content Connectors (CCCs)

NCSC ELA, Math and Writing

• Design of test:– 4 Tiers (Decrease complexity and increase

supports)– Semi-adaptive test which levels to student’s ability– Online student response– Accommodations as needed

Resources• IDOE website– http://www.doe.in.gov/assessment/alternate-ass

essments– Blueprints

• Learning Connection– Announcements by Special Education and

Assessment Communities – Future recorded webinars

• Project SUCCESS for supports and NCSC curriculum– http://projectsuccessindiana.com/

Project SUCCESS

Timeline• Pilot 2 registration: Sept. 15-26• Pilot 2 training modules: Sept. 29-Nov. 14• Pilot 2 assessment: Oct. 20-Nov. 14

Operational:• Indiana/NCSC Alternate Assessment (English/Language Arts &

Mathematics) March 30, 2015 - May 15, 2015**

• Indiana Standards Tool for Alternate Reporting (ISTAR) (Science & Social Studies)

March 1, 2015 - April 30, 2015• School year 2015-16: TBD

**Pending State Board of Education approval.

Getting it Right!

Thank you for all you do for students with significant cognitive disabilities!

Contacts

Karen Stein, Office of Student Assessment, kstein@doe.in.gov