2014 Fall Assessment Conference Assessment Program Update 2014-2015 - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

2014 Fall Assessment Conference Assessment Program Update 2014-2015

September 9, 2014 (Part 2), 1:00-3:00 PM

General Updates

• Testing/Assessment homepage has been

reconfigured

– Current Assessments – Legacy Assessments – Former/Retired Assessments

• Georgia Milestones webpage launched

– Content Weights

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Georgia Milestones Calculator Policy

Content Area Grade Level/Course Type of Calculator Mathematics Grades 3 – 5 EOG Not Allowed Grade 6 EOG Basic1 Grades 7 – 8 EOG Scientific or Basic1 Coordinate Algebra EOC Graphing2 or Scientific Analytic Geometry EOC Graphing2 or Scientific Science Physical Science EOC Scientific or Basic1 Social Studies Economics EOC Scientific or Basic1

3 1Basic four-function calculator with square root and percentage functions. 2Graphing calculator with functionalities consistent with TI-84 or similar models.

Calculators are not permitted on certain designated sections of each mathematics test. New

Georgia Milestones Calculator Policy

Students and staff must adhere to the guidelines listed below and those that appear

• n subsequent slides. Given that technology changes rapidly, these guidelines may

change at any time. A list of state approved calculators will not be issued.

• It is incumbent upon the System Test Coordinators, School Test Coordinators, and

Test Examiners to ensure all calculator policies are implemented and followed. Calculators may not be shared by students.

The following devices/features are NOT allowed:

• For Basic and Scientific calculators, devices that store text and/or have QWERTY keyboards or

typewriter-like keyboards.

• Calculators that have programs stored in the memory other than those that are factory

installed

• No cell phones, personal laptops, minicomputers, pocket organizers, iPods, and personal

tablets

• Calculators with beaming capabilities
• Calculators with wireless communication technologies and/or Internet access
• Calculators with built in Computer Algebra System – CAS
• Calculators that make noise, have paper tape, or that have voice

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Georgia Milestones Calculator Policy

Graphing Calculators and End of Course (EOC) Mathematics

• Graphing calculators will be allowed for student use on the Coordinate Algebra and Analytic

Geometry EOCs ONLY. (Note: For Physical Science and Economics only a scientific calculator is allowed.)

• Given that many models of graphing calculators possess the ability to store text, and may

prevent that feature from being disabled, it is required that System and School Test Coordinators, and Test Examiners, confirm prior to testing and immediately after testing (before dismissing students) that all graphing calculators are cleared of any stored text. – A failure to confirm that text is cleared may raise school-wide (and possibly system-wide) security concerns. – A failure to take these steps constitutes an irregularity that must be reported to GaDOE.

• Should it be confirmed that a student either brought information into a test setting through

stored text, or left the test setting with secure test information stored on a device, the student’s test will be invalidated. Such an event must be reported to GaDOE.

• Georgia Milestones will provide an online graphing calculator, where appropriate, for student
• use. Concerns regarding the logistics and stipulations surrounding the use of hand-held

graphing calculators can be eliminated by testing students online. – GaDOE encourages online test administration

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Additional Georgia Milestones Calculator Considerations and Information

• Review calculator guidelines for elementary, middle, and high school very

carefully as they vary.

• Mathematics test forms will have sections where calculator use is permitted

and a section where calculator use is NOT permitted. Test manuals will be very clear on this point and will include script to address the logistics involved. Adherence, by examiners and students, will be critically important.

• Again, online testing will ease the logistics around the transition from

calculator to non-calculator sections.

• All students testing online must use the online calculator provided and may

not use a hand-held device.

• All questions regarding calculator usage should be directed to the System Test

Coordinator who can then contact the GaDOE Assessment Administration Division if necessary. Do not refer school-level staff directly to GaDOE – this is important to ensure consistent information is shared across your district. Calculator questions that come to GaDOE from school-level staff will be forwarded to the System Test Coordinator for review.

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Please note that Linux OS cannot support the online scientific or graphing calculator at this time.

REMINDER: Calculator Policies for Legacy High School Assessments (EOCT & GHSGT)

Remember, the calculator guidelines for Georgia Milestones and our legacy high school testing programs differ . . . Students and staff must adhere to the guidelines listed below. It is incumbent upon the School Test Coordinator and Test Examiner to ensure all calculator policies are implemented and

• followed. Calculators may not be shared by students.

The following features are NOT allowed:

• Graphing calculators
• Calculators that store text and/or have QWERTY keyboards or typewriter-like keyboards
• Calculators that have programs stored in the memory other than those that are factory
• installed
• Non-calculators such as cell phones, PDAs, laptops, minicomputers, pocket organizers, iPods,
• etc.
• Calculators with beaming capabilities
• Calculators with wireless communication technologies and/or Internet access
• Calculators with built in Computer Algebra Systems – CAS
• Calculators that make noise, have paper tape, or that have voice

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Test Administration Accommodations

8

Online Tools Available for All Students

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• Blocking Tool
• Eraser
• Highlighter
• Magnifying Glass
• Mark for Review
• Online Calculator – if allowable
• Option Eliminator
• Scratch Pad
• Test Pause

These tools are available to all students who test online and are therefore NOT considered accommodations.

Accommodations

• Accommodations allow access…

– they are practices and procedures in the areas of presentation, response, setting, and scheduling that provide equitable instructional and assessment access for students with disabilities and English learners.

• Accommodations reduce or eliminate the effects of a

student’s disability or limited English proficiency

• Accommodations do not provide an unfair advantage
• Accommodations do not reduce or change learning

expectations

Modifications

• Modifications, on the other hand, involve:

– Changing, lowering, or reducing learning or assessment expectations – May result in implications that could adversely affect a student throughout that individual’s educational career – Examples include

• Requiring a student to learn less material
• Revising assignments or tests to make them easier

Modifications are not allowed on Georgia assessments.

Accommodations

In Georgia accommodations MAY NOT

• alter, explain, simplify, paraphrase, or eliminate

any test item, reading passage, writing prompt, or choice option

• provide verbal or other clues or suggestions that

hint at or give away the correct response to the student

These types of practices would constitute modifications.

Only state-approve accommodations may be used on state-mandated assessment, following the guidance issued.

Eligible Students

• Students eligible for accommodations include:

– Students with Disabilities

• students with individualized educational plans
• students served under Section 5041

– English Language Learners

• Students qualifying for language assistance services
• ELL students who are also SWD
• Students who have exited language assistance services

in the last two years (ELL-Monitored) 2

1Only in the rarest of circumstances would a 504 student

qualify for a conditional accommodation.

2ELL-M students are not eligible for conditional

accommodations.

Test Administration Accommodations

• Accommodations provide access for demonstration of

achievement – Allow participation – Do not guarantee proficiency

• and therefore should not be selected solely as mean to help

ensure proficiency

• Must be required by the student in order to participate in the

assessment

• Must be provided during routine instruction and assessment

in the classroom (both before and after the state tests are administered)

Conditional Accommodations

• More expansive accommodations that provide

access for students with more severe disabilities or more limited English proficiency who would not be able to access the assessment to demonstrate their achievement without such support

– must be used sparingly, per State Board Rule – must be considered when interpreting scores

State Board Rule 160-3-1-.07 limits the use of conditional accommodations to 3%.

Conditional Accommodations

• Guidance on the appropriate use of

conditional accommodations is provided in the Student Assessment Handbook

• Only students meeting the guidance criteria

are eligible for conditional accommodations

• The educational plans for students qualifying

for conditional accommodations must include specific goals that address the deficits which necessitate the accommodation

Conditional Accommodations

• There are three accommodations that are

considered conditional:

– Signing reading passages (SWD only) – Reading of reading passages (SWD or EL) – Use of a basic function calculator (SWD only)

Reminder: It is exceptionally rare for a student with a 504 plan to qualify for a conditional accommodation.

Eligibility Criteria Reading of Reading Passages: SWD

The use of this conditional accommodation for the English Language Arts Georgia Milestones, regardless of grade level, must be restricted to only those students with IEPs who meet ALL eligibility criteria outlined below:

• 1. The student has a specific documented disability that severely limits or prevents

his or her ability to decode text at any level of difficulty, even after varied and repeated attempts to teach the student to do so (i.e., the student is a non-reader, not simply reading below grade level); and

• 2. The student has access to printed materials only through a reader or other

electronic format during routine instruction; and

• 3. There are clear and specific goals within the student’s IEP addressing the deficits

which necessitate the need for this conditional accommodation. NOTE: Students who are assigned this conditional accommodation must be administered Georgia Milestones online using the screen reader functionality of the

• nline platform with a headset.

Note that these criteria now apply to all grades, including the high school ELA courses.

Eligibility Criteria Reading of Reading Passages: EL

The use of this conditional accommodation for the English Language Arts Georgia Milestones, regardless of grade level, must be restricted to only those EL students who meet ALL eligibility criteria outlined below:

• The student’s English proficiency scores and performance in the classroom indicate

that the student cannot access, retain, or comprehend text without the assistance

• f a reader (i.e., the student is unable to access English text due to their language

proficiency, not simply reading below grade level); and

• The student is not poised to exit language services within the current school year;

and

• There are clear and specific goals within the student’s educational plan addressing

the deficits which necessitate the need for this conditional accommodation. NOTE: Students who are assigned this conditional accommodation must be administered Georgia Milestones online using the screen reader functionality of the

• nline platform with a headset.

Students poised to exit: Tier C or any student approaching a performance level of 4. Consider ACCESS reading score – if approaching a 3, this accommodation is not appropriate.

Note that these criteria now apply to all grades, including the high school ELA courses.

Reading of Test Questions

• Most students who need accommodations are

struggling readers (e.g., read below grade level).

– Reading of the questions reducing the reading load and allows the student to focus on the passages

• Given that we are not attempting to measure reading

comprehension on other content area tests (ELA, Mathematics, Science, Social Studies), it is permissible to read any prompts that accompany the items.

– This should only be done when appropriate

NOTE: Students who are assigned this accommodation must be administered Georgia Milestones online using the screen reader functionality

• f the online platform with a headset.

Eligibility Criteria Calculator: SWD Grades 3 - 5

The use of this conditional accommodation for the Mathematics Georgia Milestones for students in grades 3 - 5 must be restricted too only those students with IEPs who meet ALL eligibility criteria outlined below:

• 1. The student has a specific disability that prohibits his or her from performing basic

calculations (i.e., addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division), even after varied and repeated attempts to teach the student to do so; and

• 2. The student is unable to perform calculation only without the use of a calculating

device during routine instruction; and

• 3. There are clear and specific goals within the student’s IEP addressing the deficits

which necessitate the need for this conditional accommodation. NOTE: Only a basic function or basic adapted calculator may be used; scientific and

• ther advanced calculators are strictly prohibited. The test administrator may not

provide any assistance or direction to the student regarding the use of the calculator.

What is a basic function calculator?

• A basic function calculator has the four

computational functions (addition, subtraction, multiplication, & division).

– many basic function calculators also have square root and percentage functions

• A basic function calculator is not a scientific

calculator.

– these calculators have additional functions that encroach

• n the concepts and skills inherent in the content

standards for grades 3 - 5

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New Accommodations Chart

• IEP, IAP, and EL-TPC

teams should review table to determine what accommodations are available online versus paper.

• Conditional

accommodations are indicated by “C” in accommodations table.

New Accommodations Chart

• IEP, IAP, and EL-TPC teams

must note the differences between legacy programs and the Georgia Milestones Assessment System.

• The logistics of providing

accommodations during assessments must be planned well in advance of the opening of a district’s local testing window.

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Accommodations: Summary of Changes

• Reading of reading passages is now a conditional

accommodation for the high school ELA courses

• Students assigned read-aloud accommodations must

participate in the online administration using the screen-reader to standardize the accommodation

• Mode of administration (online/paper-pencil) should

be considered – some accommodations are not applicable for a particular mode

– for example, marking answers in the test book for online administration

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Points to Remember

• Only state-approved accommodations may be

considered

• Federal regulations specify that students

participating with unapproved accommodations may not be considered participants for accountability purposes

• Use of accommodations must be accurately

coded