DCAS Accommodations for English Language Learners

2010-2011 Training Webinar

August 2010Helen Dennis & Margie Loveland

This is Just a recording. Do not try to type in the chat

box. It is just a recording!After viewing this recording, if you have questions . . .

. . . Watch the DCAS accommodations training Elluminate recording (recorded on 8/18/10 at 3:30 pm)

. . . please attend the 9/1/10 ELL/DCAS Elluminate Session at 1:30 pm-2:30 pm

OR

You may contact DOE:hdennis@doe.k12.de.us or 302-735-4090

mloveland@doe.k12.de.us or 302-735-4210 (until 8/31/10)apeoples@doe.k12.de.us or 302-735-4140

Agenda

DOE Supports (documents) Discontinued Accommodations Accommodations carried over to new numbers New Accommodations Specific accommodation considerations

Support from DOE Guidelines for Inclusion Standard and Non-Standard Accommodations Memo

(June 2010) Accommodations Roll-up memo – English Language

Learners (July 30, 2010) Webinars

ELL Informational Recording (you are watching it right now)

DCAS Accommodations database training recording (recorded 8/18/10 at 3:30 pm)

Q & A session (LIVE) scheduled for September 1, 2010 1:30 pm – 2:30 pm

Discontinued Accommodations 602: Paraphrasing test questions in English 702: Student responds to the test by writing/typing

responses in Spanish 706: Paraphrasing test questions for student in native

language 707: Translating reading passages on the reading test

into native language 713: Student dictates responses to test administrator

in Spanish 801: Testing over multiple sessions: this is now

permitted for all students, so this accommodation is not needed.

Accommodations Recoded to New Numbers 711: recoded to 600: Reading, re-reading, in SPANISH the

test questions, including multiple-choice options. Mathematics, Science, and Social Studies ONLY. Student may be re-assigned to 711 in DCAS-A database if it is determined that human reader is more appropriate.

603: recoded to 600: Reading, re-reading, in ENGLISH the test questions, including multiple-choice options. All content areas. Student may be re-assigned to 603 in DCAS-A database if it is determined that human reader is more appropriate.

704 recoded to 703: All students who require a Spanish translation of the DCAS (mathematics, science, and social studies only) will take the Spanish-English side-by-side test. There is no DCAS presented in Spanish only.

New Accommodations for ELLsText-to-Speech: A feature that allows the online test to read itself aloud to the

student (headphones required if in room with other students) In ENGLISH:

accommodation #600: “read aloud the questions” in all content areas. accommodation #606: “read aloud the passages” on the reading test only. Reading speed and voice selection must take place in the Microsoft control

panel prior to starting the DCAS secure browser. In SPANISH:

accommodation #600: “read aloud the questions” in mathematics, science, and social studies only.

Reading speed and voice selection must take place in the Microsoft control panel prior to starting the DCAS secure browser.

New Accommodations for ELLs, cont’d

A human reader may also be used if it is determined to be necessary.Accommodation 603: read the questions

aloud. Accommodation 609: read the passages aloud. Individual administration is required for human

reader

Side-by-Side Spanish and English

Not new, but will be presented somewhat differently from the previous statewide test.

Displayed vertically (stacked), rather than horizontally (side-by-side)

is available for Mathematics, Science, and Social Studies and provides each test item in English and Spanish on a single screen (#703).

Help screens and error messages will be appear in Spanish only, --make sure to provide a printed copy of the help screen in English to each student.

New Accommodations for ELLs, Cont’d

Paper and Pencil Version Accommodation #610 provides for a separate paper and

pencil version of the DCAS. The test is fixed-form (not adaptive) and multiple-choice

only. It is offered for a two-week window once during each of

the testing windows. English only. It is anticipated that very few students will require this

accommodation. Tests will be shipped to AIR after testing is complete and

scores will be made available in the score reporting system.

Standard and Non-Standard Accommodations

Previously known as

Parameters on Use Examples

Standard Accom Aggregable No restrictions Word-to-word dictionary, reading the test questions

Non-Standard Accom

Non-aggregable

There are restrictions on who is eligible for this accommodation

Reading aloud the reading passages

Accountability 2010-2011New Policy

Students who use Non-Standard accommodations Will count as non-participants in AYP

calculations of participationWill be excluded from AYP calculations of

proficiency (% meets the standard)AYP Consequences Examples

Standard Accom •Counts for participation•Counts for proficiency

Word-to-word dictionary, reading aloud the test questions

Non-Standard Accom

•Counts as non-participant•Excluded from proficiency

Reading aloud the reading passages

Accountability 2010-2011 Cont’d

ELA Proficiency ELA Participation Math Proficiency Math Participation

All Excluded Non-Participant Included Participant

Afr. Amer

Amer. Indian

Asian/Pac Isl.

White

Hispanic Excluded Non-Participant Included Participant

ELL Excluded Non-Participant Included Participant

Spec Ed

Low Income Excluded Non-Participant Included Participant

Example: Hispanic, low income, ELL student who has the reading passages read to him/her

DCAS Accommodation Management

Accommodations and the Online Test Delivery System

NO LOCKDOWN of DCAS-Accommodations databaseThere will be no lockdown period for DCAS-A database.

Make sure student is identified in DELSIS as ELL FIRST Please enter accommodations at least 72 hours before the

student’s scheduled testing time. If you enter accommodations less than 72 hours before

the students scheduled testing time, the updated accommodations will not appear on the

TA’s screen and any accommodations that must be delivered by the

delivery system will not be available to the student DOE will send accommodations data electronically to the

testing contractor daily.

Accommodations Screen in Test Delivery System

The test administrator will have access to a read-only screen that shows which students have accommodations, and which accommodations each student is to receive.

Test administrators will NOT be able to modify the test accommodations displayed in the test delivery system screen.

It is a good idea to also have a print-out from the DCAS Accommodations database at testing time.

Two Categories of Accommodations

There are two categories of accommodations: Accommodations that must be delivered by the

online system. For example: text-to-speech and Spanish-English side by side.

Accommodations that are provided by the school. For example: translator, enhanced lighting, or preferential seating.

What if the online test delivery system does not deliver the accommodations

that were expected? If the online system does not deliver an expected accommodation in

the first category, “accoms that must be delivered by online system,” i.e. text-to-speech, student’s test will have to be rescheduled. student’s record in the DCAS Accommodations database must be

updated/verified 2-3 days must pass before the test delivery system will be updated

and able to deliver the updated accommodations. If the incorrect or missing accommodation falls into the second

category, “accommodations that are provided by the school,” then staff may proceed with the test, providing the correct

accommodations. As soon as possible, the DCAS Accommodations database must be

updated to reflect the test accommodations actually delivered

Criteria for Receiving an ELL Exemption (Reading Test or High School English II

Field Test)An ELL student is considered to be in the first year of

enrollment in U.S. schools under the following condition:The student is new to the United States, AND is in the first year of enrollment in U.S. schools

AND as of the date of the student’s scheduled test

the student has been enrolled in U.S. schools for less than one year.

Examples Jose enrolled in US Schools on 4/1/2010.

Date Jose’s class is scheduled to take DCAS Reading

Has Jose been in US Schools for one year?

Does Jose have to take the DCAS Reading in this window?

DCAS Reading Window 1 10/11/2010 No No

DCAS Reading Window 2 1/12/2011 No No

DCAS Reading Window 3 4/29/2011 Yes Yes

Date Dah Lie’s class is scheduled to take DCAS Reading

Has Dah Lie been in US Schools for one year?

Does Dah Lie have to take the DCAS Reading in this window?

DCAS Reading Window 1 10/20/2010 Yes Yes

DCAS Reading Window 2 1/12/2011 Yes Yes

DCAS Reading Window 3 4/29/2011 Yes Yes

Dah Lie enrolled in US Schools on 9/20/2009.

High School End of Course Field Test

Grade 11 and 12 students enrolled in the following courses will need to have accommodations entered in DCAS-A:English IIBiologyU.S. HistoryAlgebra IIntegrated Math I

Unique Accommodations

Continue to use the Online System for Incidents and Exemptions and Unique Accommodations to submit Unique Accommodation requests

Must be submitted to DOE online no later than 30 days prior to the date on which the student is scheduled to be tested.

Other Questions

Will DCAS Practice Tests and Training Tests be Available in Spanish?Yes

Will the accommodations be available on the practice and training test? Yes