MONITORING AND REDUCING SCALT PARTICIPATION SUMMER 2016 Updated

MONITORING AND REDUCING SC-ALT PARTICIPATION -SUMMER 2016 Updated December 2019

OBJECTIVES Participants will become familiar with: In the summer and the beginning of the school year a workshop entitled, “SC-Alt Instructional and Assessment Resources” is available to all Special Education Teachers. ØInstructional Resources v. South Carolina Academic Standards and Performance Indicators v. Prioritized Standards v. Support Guides v. Performance Level Descriptors v. Tools to deliver specially designed instruction ØAssessment Resources v 4 K & 5 K Participation v. Alternate Methodology for GT Assessment v“Exemption” from District Assessments v. Alternate Assessment Eligibility Criteria v. Alternate ACCESS Criteria v. Career Readiness Assessment v. Greenville County Alternate Assessment Webpage

Mid-October a preliminary Power. School report is pulled for each school that includes all alt eligible students at that school. This information is shared with the Special Education Case Managers, Special Education Specialists and Alt-STC’s. Case Managers are encouraged to address any changes in the IEP prior to the precode deadline. After that initial communication, Specialists and STC’s are included in all future communications. NO SURPRISES! Gee, I didn’t know my student’s identified as participating in alternate assessments in Power. School!

A local alt webpage is available with updates and local information. The alt criteria is posted on the top of the webpage for easy IEP Team reference. GREENVILLE COUNTY ALTERNATE ASSESSMENT RESOURCES v. Guidance for IEP Teams on Determining Participation in the SC-Alt v. Testing Window Dates v. Important Training Dates v. Links to Instructional Resources ACADEMIC SUPPORT

The alt participation criteria is included in a hybrid webinar entitled, “Addressing Accommodations in the IEP”. All Special Education Case Managers are required to participate in the webinar. GUIDANCE FOR IEP TEAMS ON DETERMINING PARTICIPATION IN SC ALTERNATE ASSESSMENTS To participate in an Alternate Assessment on Alternate Achievement Standards (AAAAS) a student must meet all of the following criteria: demonstrate a significant cognitive disability and adaptive skill deficits, which result in performance that is substantially below grade-level achievement expectations even with the use of accommodations and modifications; access the state approved curriculum standards at less complex levels and with extensively modified instruction; possess current adaptive skills requiring extensive direct instruction and practice in multiple settings to accomplish the application and transfer of skills necessary for application in school, work, home, and community environments; be unable to apply or use academic skills across natural settings when instructed solely or primarily through classroom instruction; and the inability to achieve the state grade-level achievement expectations is not the result of excessive or extended absences or social, cultural, or economic differences.

All Special Education Teachers are trained on the importance of fully informing parents of the differences/effects of alternate assessment participation and documenting this information in the PWN. IEP DOCUMENTATION FOR ALTERNATE ASSESSMENT Mark exemption from general assessments

IEP DOCUMENTATION FOR THE ALTERNATE ASSESSMENTS Participation and necessary accommodations for each test must be accurately documented. All Special Education Case Managers see the alt participation criteria in multiple formats. In PWN

REVIEW OF ELIGIBILITY FOR SC-ALT PARTICIPATION CHECKLIST Special Education Case Managers are encouraged to use the “Review of Eligibility for SC-Alt Participation Checklist”.

Yearly collaboration with the Director of ESL and Lead ESL Teacher is imperative! Thanks guys! ALTERNATE ACCESS FOR ELLS You’re welcome!!!

An Alt ACCESS Power. School report w/ Test Administrator names is shared with the Lead ESOL Teacher after precode. This assists in the collaboration between ESOL and Special Education Teachers. ALT ACCESS FOR ELLS IEP DOCUMENTATION

POWERSCHOOL TASKS FOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS SC-Alt Course Codes that also trigger assessments Course code, diploma track and 9 GR information is presented to schedulers in the spring. Grade 9 th 9 GR 20 10 th 9 GR 19 11 th 9 GR 18 Course/Assessment English (for SC-Alt) 4853000 W Course/Assessment Algebra (for SC-Alt) 4854000 W Course/Assessment Biology (for SC-Alt) 4855000 W US History and Constitution (for SC-Alt) 4856000 W 9 GR to trigger Alternate Career Readiness Assessment in 3 rd Year

ONGOING COLLABORATION WITH THE TESTING DEPARTMENT Our pleasure! Daily communication with the testing department makes testing run more efficiently. Thank you team! • Collaboration • Attendance of all Testing Workshops • Connecting w/ STCs and Administrators

I often “Phone a Friend” in my department! Assistant Superintendent of Special Education shares Information with Principals and other administrators Elementary and Secondary Directors encourage specialists to follow eligibility criteria and use available resources Special Education Specialists wear many hats: directing Special Education Case Managers to resources, training and attending IEP meetings. They are included in all communications to Alt Test Administrators Director of Monitoring, Compliance & Accountability provides support and refers staff across the District to resources

QUESTIONS? ? ? ? DTC- Alt Survivor DTCALT Survivo

WEB RESOURCES AIR South Carolina Alternate Assessment Portal http: //sc-alt. portal. airast. org/ Greenville County Alternate Achievement Standards and Assessment https: //sites. google. com/a/greenvilleschools. us/ses/spclzdinstrc/altstds Life Skills Inventory Independent Living Skills Assessment Tool https: //transitionresponse. com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/Life-Skills-Assessment-Div. -Of -Children. pdf Pre-K and Kindergarten Readiness Assessments http: //ed. sc. gov/tests/elementary/pre-k-and-kindergarten-readiness-assessments/

WEB RESOURCES South Carolina Alternate Assessment http: //ed. sc. gov/tests/assessment-information/testing-swd/sc-alt/ WIDA Alternate ACCESS for ELLs https: //www. wida. us/assessment/alternateaccess. aspx