14 Del. Admin. Code § 101-4.0 - Alternate Assessments

4.1 There are two types of Alternate Assessment that shall be available no later than the 2015-2016 school year in Delaware: Selected Response Alternate Assessment and Portfolio Alternate Assessment.

4.2 Annual written notice of option(s), in a format and timetable approved by the Department, shall be provided to parents of students with disabilities who may be eligible to participate in an alternate assessment and shall:

4.2.1 Describe the purpose of statewide alternate assessments;

4.2.2 Identify the available statewide assessment options including General and Alternate Assessments; and

4.2.3 Identify the process by which a parent may initiate consideration of a student for Portfolio Alternate Assessment.

4.3 Selected Response Alternate Assessment

4.3.1 Participation in the Selected Response Alternate Assessment is an annual decision made by the Individualized Education Program (IEP) team through consideration of the criteria outlined in theAlternate Assessment Participation Guidelines.

4.4 Portfolio Alternate Assessment

4.4.1 A parent who believes that his or her child would not, despite accommodations, produce valid results on the Selected Response Assessment may submit a written request to the LEA, in a uniform format as determined by the Department, no later than October 15th of the school year for which the Portfolio Alternate Assessment is sought.

4.4.1.1 For students who transfer into the LEA after October 15th, the process for participation in the Portfolio Alternate Assessment will be outlined in thePortfolio Alternate Assessment Participation Guidelines.

4.4.2 Upon receipt of the written request, the LEA shall convene an IEP meeting to consider the parent's request. The Department shall be informed of any student participating in the Portfolio Alternate Assessment by December 15th of the school year for which the Portfolio Alternate Assessment is sought.

4.4.3 Participation in the Portfolio Alternate Assessment is an annual decision made by the IEP team including the LEA representative (e.g. administrator/designee) through consideration of the criteria outlined in the Portfolio Alternate Assessment Participation Guidelines.

4.4.4 In no event shall an IEP team, school or district advocate for parents to exercise the right to request a Portfolio Alternate Assessment.

4.5 Procedure for Design and Evaluation of Portfolio Alternate Assessments

4.5.1 The Portfolio Alternate Assessment shall be a state developed assessment with the components of the design and evaluation determined by the Department, in consultation with stakeholder groups (e.g., Governor's Advisory Council for Exceptional Citizens) and its assessment provider.

4.5.2 The Portfolio Alternate Assessment shall assess students on Delaware's extended standards in English Language Arts (including communication), Mathematics, Science and Social Studies as well as additional domains such as life skills, self-determination, community-based instruction, or vocational training. The additional domains may be aligned with students' Individualized Education Program (IEP) goals, but are not limited to skills on the IEP.

4.5.3 Educators shall gather and document evidence of student achievement with regard to the content standards and additional domain areas, in accordance with the portfolio design and student progress criteria as determined by the Department, in consultation with stakeholder groups (e.g., Governor's Advisory Council for Exceptional Citizens) and its assessment provider.

4.5.4 Portfolios submitted by teachers on behalf of students shall be evaluated using a scoring rubric as determined by the Department, in consultation with stakeholder groups (e.g., Governor's Advisory Council for Exceptional Citizens) and its assessment provider. Only the portions of the portfolio aligned to the extended standards shall be included in the State, LEA and school accountability.

4.6 Alternate Assessment - Unusual Number Review

4.6.1 Combined Alternate Assessment Review

4.6.1.1 At the end of each test window the Department shall calculate the number of students receiving a Performance Level 3 and 4 in both the Selected Response Alternate Assessment and the Portfolio Alternate Assessment for each LEA.

4.6.1.2 If that number exceeds 1% of the total number of students participating in the General Assessment and Alternate Assessment combined within that LEA, the Department shall conduct a review.

4.6.2 Portfolio Alternate Assessment Review

4.6.2.1 At the end of each test window the Department shall calculate the number of students participating in the Portfolio Alternate Assessment for each LEA.

4.6.2.2 If that number exceeds 10% of the total number of students participating in both the Selected Response Alternate Assessment and Portfolio Alternate Assessment within that LEA, the Department shall conduct a review.

Notes

14 Del. Admin. Code § 101-4.0

18 DE Reg. 556 (1/1/2015) (Final)