Presented by TEA’s Student Assessment Division

TETN #14280October 16, 2012

These slides have been prepared and approved by the Student Assessment Division of the Texas Education Agency (TEA).

If any slide is amended or revised for use in local or regional trainings, please remove this slide as well as the TEA footer at the bottom of each slide.

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It is the intent of TEA’s Student Assessment Division that all resources created to clarify testing and accommodation policies be accessible to educators at the ESC, district, and campus levels, including classroom teachers.

After this presentation and the associated resources are posted, please inform district and campus administrators and educators.

This may help answer some of the questions educators have about statewide testing.

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These slides are intended to provide a general overview of the changes to accommodation policies compared to last year.

These slides will not describe each accommodation policy in detail.

Relevant campus and district staff will need to read all of the policies and related resources on the Accommodations for Students with Disabilities webpage. These documents contain all the details.

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Slides 7-9 Accommodations for Students with Disabilities Webpage

Slides 10-14

Linguistic Accommodations for ELLS Participating in the STAAR Program

Slides 15-22

Accommodation Policies With Changes

Slides 16-19

Extra Time (Same Day) and Extra Day

Slides 20-22

Accommodation Updates (Supplemental Aids & Individual/Small Group Administration)

Slides 23-24

General instructions for Administering Statewide Assessments to Students Who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing

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Slides 25-31

General Instructions for Administering Braille and Large-Print Statewide Assessments

Slides 26-29

Specific Braille Instructions

Slides 30-31

Transcribing

Slides 32-48

Accommodation Request Process for Type 3 Accommodations

Slides 49-63

Online Accommodation Request Form (ARF) Training2012-2013

Slide 64-68 Updates & Contact InformationSlide 65 STAAR Modified Standard Setting

Slides 66-67

Contact Information

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The majority of the accommodation documents have been posted. All of the individual accommodation policy

documents in the Accommodations Triangle are dated “Fall 2012.” These are effective during the 2012-2013 school year.

Font and Point Sizes Matrices have not changed and will not be reposted with the current year’s date. They remain on the Accommodations for Students

with Disabilities webpage under “Related Resources” with the posting date of November 2011.

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Left to update and postOnline Accommodation Request Form Training Document

Supplemental Aids for STAAR, STAAR Spanish, STAAR Modified, and STAAR L: What's Allowed and What's Not?

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Linguistic accommodations guide available at http://www.tea.state.tx.us/student.assessment/accommodations

No changes to linguistic accommodations policies this year

Policies address accommodation needs related to the unique second language learning processes of ELLs

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Remember: An ELL with a disability may be eligible for both linguistic accommodations and accommodations that address a disability or other special need

For ELLs receiving special education services or Section 504 services, the LPAC and applicable ARD or Section 504 committee work in conjunction to make test accommodation decisions

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Please note: Beginning in spring 2013, STAAR L will be administered as an online testing program in grades 3–8 and EOC Clarification in English and reading aloud will be

provided in online interface No test administrator-provided accommodations Students will need headphones if testing in a group STAAR L paper test booklets will be approved by TEA in

rare circumstances. Detailed information about the STAAR L paper request process will be posted on Coordinator Manual Resources page at http://www.tea.state.tx.us/student.assessment/manuals/dccm

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For additional information on assessments for ELLs, including the role of the LPAC in making assessment and accommodation decisions, visit the ELL Assessments Resources page at http://www.tea.state.tx.us/student.assessment/ell

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This accommodation is still a local decision (e.g., ARD committee, Section 504 committee, campus committee)

Student Eligibility Criteria Revision of previous year’s criteria

▪ The student requires frequent or lengthy breaks (more frequent or longer than those allowed for all students) because he or she has a behavioral or emotional disabling condition that affects attention and/or focus. ▪ Criteria revised to clarify that a student who receives special

education services under the eligibility of emotional disturbance could receive this accommodation, as well as any student (e.g., special education, Section 504, general education) with a behavioral or emotional condition that affects attention and/or focus

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▪ The student requires frequent or lengthy breaks (more frequent or longer than those allowed for all students) because he or she has a physical disability or medical condition that requires a significant amount of time for treatment and/or recovery.▪ Student Scenario added to clarify this revised criteria by

describing how it differs from medical breaks in the STAAR Time Limits Policies and Procedures document

▪ The student is receiving special education services and has evidence of reading difficulties documented in the IEP.▪ Student Scenario added to clarify this revised criteria

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Student Eligibility Criteria Addition of a new criteria

▪ The student is identified with an autism spectrum disorder and requires the entire school day to complete testing in order to maintain as much of his or her typical structure and routine as possible.▪ Student Scenario added to clarify this new criteria

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• This accommodation still requires the submission of an Accommodation Request Form (ARF).

• Student Eligibility Criteria Revision of previous year’s criteria

▪ The student has a severe behavioral or emotional disabling condition, the manifestation of which makes him or her unable to continue working for a prolonged period of time or during certain times of the day.

Addition of a new criteria ▪ The student is identified with an autism spectrum

disorder, the characteristics of which are so severe that he or she is unable to continue working for a prolonged period of time or during certain times of the day.

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This policy contained an error. The document was corrected and reposted. The corrected version contains only 10 Special

Instructions/Considerations. The incorrect version contained #11, which was deleted:

“For supplemental aids in a digital format, contact TEA’s Accommodations Task Force. An Accommodation Request Form in the Other category may be required.”▪ TEA is researching various types of assistive technology;

however, more information is needed before digital supplemental aids are routinely allowed on statewide assessments.

▪ If you have a student who is physically unable to access paper-based supplemental aids and uses digital ones, contact TEA’s Accommodations Task Force.

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This policy contained an error. The document was corrected and reposted. The corrected version now includes

STAAR L in the list of assessments. ▪ Because STAAR L will be administered online

beginning in 2013, an individual or small group administration is no longer part of the standard test administration procedures. For this reason, STAAR L should be included in the list of assessments for this accommodation.

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Make sure you have the corrected versions of the Supplemental Aid and Individual/Small Group Administration documents if you print

out accommodation policy documents.

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This document is posted under “Related Resources” on the Accommodations for Students with Disabilities webpage.

Minor changes only, not related to content

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After the braille shipment arrives, but prior to the day of testing, the test administrator should read the SBIs to determine which materials or procedures a student may need for testing. General Information

▪ This section gives the test administrator information about the braille test booklet and how it compares to the print test booklet

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Specific Instructions▪ This section provides information for the test administrator

about how a particular braille test differs from the print version, including information about test questions that have been altered, replaced, or omitted to ensure that the test is accessible to a student who reads braille.

▪ This section also provides related administration instructions.

▪ This section also informs test administrators of any manipulatives (e.g., a braille ruler or three-dimensional geometric figure) that a student will need in order to complete the test.

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Test Administrator Directions▪ This section includes general and specific

information about the braille test that should be read to the students (e.g., whether special symbols or standard braille codes are used on the test).

▪ Any information that is on the Transcriber’s Notes page in the braille test booklet is also provided in this section.

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Districts should plan appropriately to ensure that test administrators have received training prior to testing. Only test administrators who have been trained in the procedures and special instructions for testing students with visual impairments should administer the tests.

Campus testing coordinators are responsible for issuing the test materials to the appropriate test administrators. It is important that test administrators be given their test administration materials, including the SBIs, in time to prepare for testing.

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Student responses for all braille and large-print tests must be transferred to the student’s answer document. If this is not done, the student’s test cannot be scored.

Refer to the accommodation policies that address Basic Transcribing and/or Complex Transcribing (for STAAR and TELPAS) or Other Methods of Response/Transcribing (for TAKS).

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Many of the issues concerning braille assessments would have been solved beforehand if the test administrator

would have read the SBIs prior to testing.

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Policies and procedures for all accommodations for students with disabilities can be found in the Accommodation Triangle at http://www.tea.state.tx.us/student.assessment/accommodations/staar-telpas

Only Type 3 accommodations require the submission of an Accommodation Request Form (ARF) for students who meet eligibility criteria. Complex Transcribing Photocopying Test Materials Extra Day Mathematics Scribe Other

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The appropriate team of people at the campus level must consult the Accommodation Triangle to determine if the student meets the specific eligibility criteria for a particular Type 3 accommodation.

The district testing coordinator (DTC) is responsible for providing information about accommodations to campus testing coordinators and/or campus personnel.

The DTC is the primary contact person for schools when questions arise.

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If a student meets all specific eligibility criteria for a Type 3 accommodation, the appropriate person at the campus or district level should complete the online ARF The appropriate person is determined by

district policy. The online form is located at http://www.txetests.com/acc.

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ARFs must be received by TEA at least one week prior to the beginning of a testing week.

Late requests will not be processed unless circumstances involving the student change after the deadline newly enrolled student medical emergency updated ARD committee decision

The 2012-2013 Online Accommodation Request Submission Deadlines can be found in a PDF document under the Accommodations Triangle.

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When completing the form, the following guidelines should be followed: NEVER include confidential student information

(e.g., student’s first and last name, Social Security number, pages from an IEP, or medical documents).

A separate request form should be completed for each student needing an accommodation. Blanket requests for entire classrooms will NOT be accepted.

The specific information on the following slides MUST be provided as the rationale on the ARF.

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Describe the impairment in vision or physically disabling condition that creates a need for a Complex Transcribing accommodation. Be specific about the characteristics of the condition, symptoms, and level of severity the student experiences. The description should be specific and individualized. Include specific reasons why the student is not able to write his or her own compositions or use Basic Transcribing (e.g., word processor, speech-to-text software) to complete the written composition.

Attach a sample of the student’s handwriting if legibility is the issue.

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Describe the impairment in vision or physically disabling condition that creates a need for a Mathematics Scribe accommodation. Be specific about the characteristics of the condition, symptoms, and level of severity the student experiences. The description should be specific and individualized. Include specific reasons why the student is not able to write his or her own computations, use other accommodations, or use Optional Test Administration Procedures and Materials to address the disability.

Attach a sample of the student’s handwritten computations if legibility is the issue.

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Describe the disability that creates a need for test materials to be presented in a printed format other than a test booklet. Be specific about the characteristics of the condition, symptoms, and level of severity the student experiences. The description should be specific and individualized. Include the font size to which the materials need to be enlarged in the classroom or the method of delivery that the student uses.

What Type 1 or Type 2 accommodations have been tried and what is the student’s level of success with these? Why are they not effective?

What Optional Test Administration Procedures and Materials have been tried and what is the student’s level of success with these? Why are they not effective?

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Describe the disability that prevents the student from completing the test within four hours. Be specific about the characteristics of the condition, symptoms, and level of severity the student experiences. Phrases like “severe fatigue” and “shuts down” are not sufficient. The description should be specific and individualized.

Explain how the provision of an Extra Day accommodation has proven effective.

Does the student require frequent breaks? How long are the student’s breaks? How often are the student’s breaks? How much work does the student accomplish during periods of productivity?

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Does the student have an alternate school schedule or location (e.g., attends school only two hours a day, is hospitalized, is homebound, has academic work in the A.M. and social skills in the P.M.)?

What Type 1 or Type 2 accommodations have been tried and what is the student’s level of success with these? Why are they not effective?

What Optional Test Administration Procedures and Materials have been tried and what is the student’s level of success with these? Why are they not effective?

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Each screen of the online system contains basic instructions and questions to help the submitter complete the form. After clicking SEND, a receipt of submission

page with a request identification number will appear.

Print a copy of the request for your records. The receipt of submission is NOT an approval

for the student to use the accommodation on the statewide assessment.

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After submission, the request is forwarded to the DTC for review. The DTC must “sign” the ARF by replying

to the email generated by the online form.▪ The DTC should reply with “Please process” or

“Do not process.”▪ The reply indicates that the DTC has reviewed

the request and has determined whether the request is necessary and if it is appropriate.

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After TEA’s Accommodations Task Force has received the “signed” ARF, the information will be reviewed and the request will be approved or denied. In some cases, a TEA representative may

contact the district for more information. Decision notification will be

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Approved requests will include special guidelines so that the use of the accommodation is carried out in a standardized manner.

During the review process, do not resubmit the request unless asked to do so by a member of TEA’s Accommodations Task Force.

If the TEA decision has not been received prior to testing or if questions arise, the DTC may contact TEA’s Accommodations Task Force.

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It is the responsibility of the DTC to ensure that all accommodation decisions and associated information are relayed to appropriate school personnel. The TEA decision email should be read in its

entirety since it may contain special guidelines for an approved accommodation.

All approved accommodation requests will expire on December 31st of the year the request was approved. Accommodation requests will need to be submitted each calendar year if the student continues to need that accommodation.

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http://www.txetests.com/acc

It is important to read each step in its entirety before filling in any information or moving to another step.

o There are several steps to submitting an accommodation request through the online system.

o The Online ARF is best viewed with a screen resolution of 1024 x 768.

The DTC should be contacted if questions arise before, during, or after this process.

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In order to complete the request form, the district staff member (e.g., teacher, counselor, DTC) who is filling out the online request must have student-specific information readily available DURING the process. It will be helpful to have, if applicable, each student’s:

o Individual Accommodation Plan (IAP), Individualized Education Program (IEP), or other applicable documentation

o previous state and classroom testing results,

o list of accommodations the student uses in the classroom,

o notes from other teachers, counselors, or the student’s parents regarding accommodation use

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Training SiteFor district staff who have never used the online ARF or who need to practice using this system, a training site is available.Click the Training Site link to begin. It is important to remember that this is only a training site and no ARF will be sent.

Click the Live Site link in order to return to the online system and send a request.

Click the Internet Explorer 8 link for information about the compatibility of the operating system.

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Accommodation Request Form: General InformationSelect the campus the student attends.

If you are the DTC, select YES.

If you are any other district employee other than the DTC, select NO.

Select the assessment program the student participates in, TAKS or STAAR/TELPAS.

Select Go to Next Step.

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Accommodation Request Form: Contact InformationAll of the contact information for the district and campus you have chosen will be displayed.•If you selected YES on the previous screen (you are the DTC), information for the “Submitter” will be pre-populated.•If you selected NO on the previous page (you are not the DTC), you must enter your information in the spaces provided.

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Chris Smith

555 281 1234smithc@anywhere.isd.net

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Accommodation Request Form: Accommodation(s)•Make a selection from each of the drop down menus. The options in each menu may change based on selections you made in other menus. •You may choose multiple accommodations by holding down the control key (“apple” key on Macs) as you click.• If you make a mistake, or would like to start over, click on the Clear Boxes button and begin your selections again. • If the accommodation that you need to request is not in the list, the DTC and/or TEA will need to be contacted for further guidance.

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Accommodation Request Form: Accommodation(s)After you have made selections from each menu, this information will appear in the space labeled “administration-subject_1”. You may not edit this text. If you need to change what you have chosen, click on a different selection. If you want to delete the entire selection, click the button to the right that says Delete me.

The Add Administration button will allow the user to add an additional test for the same student.

This information shows the user the currently entered administration.

The Delete me button will allow the user to delete an incorrectly entered administration or duplicate entry.

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Accommodation Request Form: Student Eligibility CriteriaFor each accommodation requested, you must check all applicable boxes to ensure that the student meets the eligibility criteria.

The student must meet all of these eligibility criteria. In addition, the student must

meet at least one of these eligibility criteria.

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Accommodation Request Form: RationaleEach Type 3 accommodation will ask for specific information that must be included in the rationale section of the ARF. This information replaces the objective evidence used in the past.

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Accommodation Request Form: Administrative Information You may enter a “Local Tracking number.” This number is for local use only and allows districts to keep track of accommodation requests within the district. TEA does not use the local tracking number. You will receive a confirmation page with a separate Request ID.

Accommodation Request Form: Supporting Documentation & SendYou may submit supporting documentation regarding the student and/or the accommodation(s) requested. Confidential student information, such as pages from an IEP or medical documents should never be included. There is a 3 file maximum and you should limit each file to 4 MB or less. If more than one attachment is necessary, click the Add Attachment button.Review the form carefully to ensure you have entered all relevant information. Press the SEND button. This will take you to the confirmation page.

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Accommodation Request Form: Confirmation ReceiptThis confirmation page contains a summary of all the information you entered. At this time, a “Request ID” is assigned by TEA. You will need this Request ID if you have to contact the DTC or TEA about the request. Please note that this confirmation page is NOT an approval of the request. It is recommended that you click to Print this confirmation page for your records. If you need to enter another request, click on Make another request.

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Accommodation request approvals expire December 31st of the current year.

Accommodation requests that were approved for December testing will expire and will need to be resubmitted for spring assessments.

Requests that contain confidential student information will be deleted by TEA and not processed.

The DTC is the primary contact person for schools when questions arise.

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Teacher committees for EOC assessments met in August and recommended standards.

Teacher committees for grades 3-8 will meet in October and November to recommend standards.

The Commissioner of Education will review and approve all STAAR Modified standards.

By January 2013, standards for all STAAR Modified assessments will be posted on the TEA website and students will receive Confidential Student Reports (CSR) noting their performance on the spring 2012 assessments.

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Check the webpages for latest postings before calling or e-mailing.

E-mail: Test.Accommodations@tea.state.tx.us

Assessment.StudentsWithDisabilities@tea.state.tx.us

Phone number: 512.463.9536

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