Welcome
In this issue, we highlight several new products available from NCEO including the updated guide to universally designed assessments, an analysis of how states include students with disabilities in test security policies, and the findings of a survey on how states monitor alternate assessment participation decisions. There is also an article about two resources that address the role of related service providers in making accessibility and accommodations decisions.
This issue includes a summary of all the sessions in which NCEO is participating during the National Conference on Student Assessment (NCSA). Finally, there is an article on the forum that follows NCSA on assistive technology interoperability with online assessment platforms, and other technology and services. It includes information on how to register for this event.
– Sheryl Lazarus, NCEO Director
An Updated State Guide to Universally Designed Assessments
NCEO recently published An Updated State Guide to Universally Designed Assessments. The Guide is an update of a 2006 NCEO publication. That guide provided an early set of recommendations for developing universally designed assessments. Much has changed since then, including new technologies that can provide accessibility options for students within the test itself. The update addresses the changes, while keeping the philosophies that guide universal design.
Balancing Test Security and Accessibility
Test security is a vital component of ensuring exam score validity. Another vital component of score validity is the provision of accessibility features and accommodations for students who need them. States have test security policies and procedures that are designed to ensure fairness, validity, and confidentiality, and to prevent cheating. However, there is a need to consider the ways in which test security measures may affect accessibility for some students with disabilities.
New Report on State Approaches to Monitoring Alternate Assessment Participation Decisions
Individualized Education Program (IEP) teams determine how students with disabilities will participate in statewide assessments. Most will take the general assessment, with or without accessibility features and accommodations. A small number of students with the most significant cognitive disabilities will take an alternate assessment based on alternate academic achievement standards (AA-AAAS) because they are unable to take the general assessment even with allowable accommodations.
Two Resources on the Role of Related Service Providers in Making Accessibility and Accommodations Decisions
Related service providers (e.g., speech-language pathologists, audiologists, psychologists, and physical and occupational therapists) play an important role in making accessibility and accommodations decisions. The expertise of related services providers enhances student access, active participation, and progress in learning the grade-level general education curriculum. Two new NCEO resources address topics related to related service providers.
NCEO at the National Conference on Student Assessment (NCSA)
The Council of Chief State School Officers’ (CCSSO) annual National Conference on Student Assessment (NCSA) provides an opportunity for assessment practitioners to learn and reflect upon current and emerging trends in education and educational assessments. This year’s NCSA theme will be Fueling Acceleration: How Meaningful Assessment Systems Can Drive Student Learning. NCSA will take place in Atlanta, Georgia on June 27-29, and NCEO staff members will participate in several sessions.
Forum on Assistive Technology Interoperability with Online Assessment Platforms and Other Technology Products and Services: Making it All Work!
Educators and students continue to face challenges when students use their personal assistive technology supports to participate in online assessments. On June 29, 2022, from 3:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. (EDT), NCEO and the Council of Chief State School Officers’ (CCSSO) Assessment, Standards, and Education of Students with Disabilities (ASES) collaborative will jointly hold a forum on issues surrounding the use of personal student assistive technology and online assessment participation. This in-person forum will be held immediately following the National Conference on Student Assessment (NCSA) in Atlanta, Georgia.