Note from FDOE

The wheels of professional education grind on:


MEMORANDUM

TO: District Superintendents

FROM: Bambi J. Lockman

DATE: November 9, 2007

SUBJECT: Florida Alternate Assessment

As you are aware, we have just completed the field test for the new Florida Alternate Assessment for students with significant cognitive disabilities. We thank you for your participation and the valuable feedback you and your staff have provided. This field test was conducted with 4500 randomly selected students from across the state. Results will be used to evaluate individual items and determine if they will continue to be a part of the assessment. Your teachers are completing an online survey to identify the strengths and weaknesses of the assessment administration process. We have also had the opportunity to observe administration of the assessment and to talk with teachers about ways in which the assessment could be improved.

On our conference call this week, you questioned why we could not continue to use the FAAR with modifications to the participatory level. There are two reasons why we have pursued a statewide assessment:
• The FAAR was aligned to the Sunshine State Standards for Special Diploma. The revisions to the Sunshine State Standards have incorporated access points for students with significant cognitive disabilities. The new assessment is aligned with the access points.
• Our stakeholders have encouraged the use of a valid and reliable common assessment statewide.

The two major concerns we have heard from around the state are the amount of time required to prepare materials for the assessment and the length of time to administer the assessment. Based on these concerns:
• We are working with our development contractor, Measured Progress, and our administration contractor, Piedra Data Services, to reformat the auxiliary materials so that preparation time is significantly reduced and administration is less cumbersome.

District Superintendents
November 9, 2007
Page Two


• During the latter part of this month, guidance and recommendations will be sought from the Technical Advisory Committee and the Alternate Assessment Advisory Committee on the number of items needed for the operational test and the impact on reliability and validity if the number of items are reduced.

We will also be seeking guidance from these committees regarding:
• The feasibility and impact of extending the administration window in the event that making any recommended changes delays test administration
• Standard setting for performance levels
• How the alternate assessment should be used in the calculation of AYP

Once guidance from these advisory committees has been considered, we will be making final decisions and proceeding with revisions. New teacher administration manuals and training will be provided if needed.

Thank you for your support in this effort and be assured we will continue to keep you informed of our progress. If you have questions regarding this information, please contact me at (850) 245.0475 or via e-mail at Bambi.Lockman@fldoe.org or Karen Denbroeder at (850) 245.0475 or via e-mail at Karen.Denbroeder@fldoe.org.

BJL/kd

cc: Exceptional Student Education Directors
State Advisory Committee for the Education of Exceptional Students