Date: 04/04/2007
Final
Assessing Special Education Students in the Gap
COMMITTEE ON JOINT EDUCATION
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07:41 AM
Mary Sires, Executive Director of Student Services, St. Vrain Valley Schools, introduced herself and Terri Rogers Connelly, Assistant Director, Exceptional Student Services at the Colorado Department of Education (CDE). The presenters provided a number of handouts as follows: a printout of their presentation slides (Attachment A); a memorandum from Dr. Randy Zila containing a 2005-06 report on student achievement in the St. Vrain Valley School District (Attachment B); a handout containing information about students with disabilities and the Colorado Student Assessment Program (CSAP) (Attachment C); a letter from the CDE pertaining to the assessment of students with disabilities and federal guidelines (Attachment D); and a chart illustrating the "gap" in 7th grade reading (Attachment E). Ms. Shires told the committee about the group assembled under House Bill 05-1246 and provided some background information on the group and what it studied. She also said another group continues to study the issue.
07:48 AM
Ms. Rogers Connelly responded to questions from the committee regarding modified achievement standards, which would potentially allow an additional two percent of students with disabilities to meet Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) through an alternate assessment system.
07:51 AM
Ms. Sires described the guiding principles for the study, which include: making data-driven decisions; keeping the focus on the recommendations specific to those students with disabilities defined in proposed federal guidelines; maintaining high expectations for students with disabilities to make progress related to state content standards; focusing on best practices and assessments for students who may fall within the two percent federal guidelines; respecting the parameters of what is permitted by state and federal law; being aware of consequences; and considering state and federal funding implications. Ms. Rogers Connelly provided data about students with disabilities in Colorado and students who score "unsatisfactory" on the CSAP. She said that approximately 40 percent of students scoring "unsatisfactory" were students with individual educational programs (IEPs). Sixty percent, she said, did not have a disability.
07:58 AM
Ms. Rogers Connelly continued her discussion of the data, describing which students are "in the gap." Ms. Rogers Connelly responded to committee questions about the number of students who move from an "unsatisfactory" to a "partially proficient" CSAP score.
08:03 AM
Ms. Sires spoke to the reasons that students in the gap might not make progress. She said the group identified a number of issues, including the mobility of students with IEPs, the lack of appropriate accommodations for some students in this group, and a lack of targeted instruction for some students. Ms. Sires, in response to a committee question, described some accommodations that may be provided to students who are being assessed. Ms. Rogers Connelly commented on the issue of accommodations for English language learners.
08:10 AM
Ms. Rogers Connelly responded to committee questions about educator training on accommodations. Committee discussion around accommodations continued, with discussion about accommodation versus modification. Representative Solano commented on accommodations in high school versus accommodations in the lower grades. Senator Bacon commented on the impact providing accommodations has on school resources.
08:17 AM
Ms. Shires responded to Senator Bacon's comments, saying there are issues that vary from district to district. She continued, describing the combined recommendations of the 1246 and two percent committees. The recommendations are listed in Attachment A.
08:23 AM
Ms. Shires spoke to the data contained in Attachment B, which provides a summary of student achievement in the St. Vrain Valley School District as it relates to district goals for the 2005-06 school year. She responded to committee questions about steps taken by the St. Vrain Valley School District that have helped achieve improved CSAP performance.
08:32 AM
Ms. Shires spoke to Attachment C, saying it is information provided to parents describing why all students should be assessed by the CSAP. Ms. Shires responded to further committee questions about the data contained in Attachment B.
08:37 AM
Ms. Rogers Connelly responded to a committee question about how small rural school districts are able to collaborate given the unique challenges those districts might face. Ms. Shires described a regional model in place to address some of these issues.
08:39 AM
The committee adjourned.