Final
STAFF SUMMARY OF MEETING

COMMITTEE ON JOINT EDUCATION

Date:04/12/2006
ATTENDANCE
Time:07:42 AM to 08:38 AM
Bacon
Benefield
Place:HCR 0107
Evans
Jones
This Meeting was called to order by
King
Senator Windels
Larson
Massey
This Report was prepared by
McKinley
Jennifer Thomsen
Paccione
Penry
Pommer
Rose
Solano
Spence
Todd
Tupa
White
Williams
Merrifield
Windels
X = Present, E = Excused, A = Absent, * = Present after roll call
Bills Addressed: Action Taken:
Colorado Student Assessment Program Alternate-

07:43 AM

Terri Rogers-Connolly, interim director of Exceptional Student Services at the Colorado Department of Education (CDE), introduced herself and described the students who participate in the Colorado Student Assessment Program - Alternative (CSAP-A). She provided a handout (Attachment A). Ms. Rogers-Connolly described additions to the Individuals with Disabilities Act (IDEA) in the reauthorization of the act in 2004 and described some provisions of the federal No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB). She said the CSAP-A is linked to content standards, which is unusual among the states. She noted that 2001 was the first year of administration of the CSAP-A. She described the indicators on the CSAP-A, which are linked to benchmarks. In addition, she described the administration of the CSAP-A.

07:47 AM

Ms. Rogers-Connolly explained how the CSAP-A differs from the CSAP, noting that the CSAP-A is taken with the child's teacher. She said adaptations are encouraged and used in administration of the CSAP-A. She described how performance is measured on the CSAP-A, saying there are five performance categories including: inconclusive; exploring; emerging; developing; and novice. She responded to a question from Senator Windels by describing the children who are eligible to take the CSAP-A. She said children must have a significant cognitive disability to be eligible and the student must be working toward alternate achievement standards under NCLB. She said approximately 4,200 students in grades three through ten take the CSAP-A and that, in addition, there is an alternate ACT for 11th grade students. She provided clarification about the alternate ACT in response to a question from Senator Williams.



07:52 AM

Ms. Rogers-Connolly described adaptations and modifications used in administration of the CSAP-A. She noted a focus on curriculum in working with CSAP-A eligible students. Ms. Rogers-Connolly described the "levels of independence" used by teachers to demonstrate how much support a student needs to be successful on each indicator. She described a scaffolding example, explaining that prompts teachers use and how the levels of independence are assessed. She said it can be very difficult to measure what these students know and can do, and that the CSAP-A allows that. She commented on the reliability and validity of the CSAP-A and said it is an example for other states. Ms. Rogers-Connolly described a DVD she would show to the committee.

07:56 AM

The committee watched a DVD showing a child who participated in the CSAP-A in third and sixth grades. The DVD included interviews with the child's mother and her teachers and showed the child participating in the CSAP-A.

08:03 AM

Ms. Rogers-Connolly said CSAP-A performance is reported in much the same manner as CSAP performance. She described the reporting and referred the committee to a sample state summary report in the handout. Representative Larson commented that Ms. Rogers-Connolly was a great help to him with an issue in his district. Senator Williams commented on the report of the House Bill 05-1246 study committee, which assessed "Students in the Gap."

08:07 AM

Ms. Rogers-Connolly, in response to a question from Representative Merrifield, explained what is meant by "students in the gap." She said they are students who do not do well on either the CSAP or the CSAP-A. Senator Williams said that her intent with House Bill 05-1246 was to study students who do not qualify to participate in the CSAP-A who are currently taking the CSAP, but not doing well.


08:09 AM

Ms. Rogers-Connolly said the study committee focused on off-grade-level testing, noting that the federal government has indicated that off-level testing is not appropriate for these students. Senator Williams provided further information in this area. Ms. Rogers-Connolly remarked further on off-level testing. She said the study committee looked at a great deal of data, finding that there is a small group of students who were not making year-to-year progress who were taking the CSAP.

08:12 AM

In response to a question from Representative Merrifield, Ms. Rogers-Connolly explained why the study committee focused on children in the bottom one-third of the "Unsatisfactory" CSAP score category. She described the number of students who fall into this category. Representative Merrifield asked follow-up questions about students pulling down the scores of schools. Mr. Rogers-Connolly responded, noting that it is not just the individualized educational plan (IEP) children who are pulling down the scores of schools. Dialog continued between Ms. Rogers-Connolly and Representative Merrifield about the scores assigned schools based on CSAP scores.

08:16 AM

Senator Williams provided further clarification to the discussion, noting there are approximately 250 children in 13 schools affecting the scores of the schools. Ms. Rogers-Connolly reiterated that there are other children, not children with IEPs, scoring unsatisfactory. Senator Williams clarified further. Ms. Rogers-Connolly described study committee recommendations including expanding eligibility for the CSAP-A and increasing use of standardized accommodations. Representative Merrifield asked why schools are not using the accommodations. Ms. Rogers-Connolly responded to Representative Merrifield's question, as well as a question about the accommodations from Senator Windels. She described a number of accommodations that may be used, including nonstandard accommodations. Senator Williams provided further clarification, commenting on the discussion of the study committee around accommodations.

08:23 AM

Representative Merrifield commented on discussions he had with special education teachers about accommodations. Ms. Rogers-Connolly said that there may be confusion among teachers about the difference between accommodations and modifications. Senator Williams provided further clarification about the recommendations of the study committee regarding accommodations and modifications. Ms. Rogers-Connolly said students sometimes do not receive the intervention they need, and when given direct, intensive instruction, are able to make progress. She remarked on the need to familiarize teachers with allowed accommodations.

08:28 AM

Senator Williams commented again on the use of accommodations, noting that a lack of staff sometimes affects the ability of schools to provide accommodations. Ms. Rogers-Connolly noted that students using accommodations are removed from the classroom to protect the students' privacy. In response to a question from Representative Merrifield, Ms. Rogers-Connolly described the makeup of the study committee and how those members were appointed.


08:31 AM

Representative Todd commented on the number of students in the bottom one-third of CSAP scores and on the fact that many of those students are not IEP students. She spoke about mobility and English language acquisition, and the issues faced by teachers in helping all children reach proficiency. Ms. Rogers-Connolly responded, noting that the CSAP is one measurement and that other measures of progress are important. Senator Windels commented on the move to longitudinal growth. Ms. Rogers-Connolly responded and continued discussion with Senator Windels. Senator Bacon commented on the multiple assessments used by teachers in the classroom and remarked on the absolute of testing and the bureaucracy created. He commented on the distrust of professionals in an era of "testing mania."

08:37 AM

Ms. Rogers-Connolly responded, noting that the assessment can help teachers learn what students can do and that it allows students to demonstrate what they can do. Senator Bacon responded.

Senator Windels thanked Ms. Rogers-Connolly and Senator Williams.

08:38 AM

The committee adjourned.