SMarter balanced Testing Q&A
Last year, DFSA fielded a number of questions from curious parents about the relationship between the new Smarter Balanced testing and children who receive special education services. We spoke with Christine Boston, Director of Pupil Personnel Services for Dover School District to get answers from some of the most frequently asked questions.
DFSA: My child has an IEP or 504 Plan in place. Do they still need to take the standardized assessment?
CB: Yes. All children in Dover Schools that are enrolled in grades 3,5,6,7,8, and 11 take the Smarter Balanced exams.
DFSA: Are the tests different for children who have IEPs/504 Plans?
CB: The assessment is the same for all students but accommodations are provided for those students who have IEPs or 504 Plans. As always, accommodations will vary depending on the child in question.
DFSA: What accommodations are available for my child during Smarter Balanced (SBAC) testing?
CB: SBAC offers a variety of accommodations based on student need, but one of the great things about the new exams is that the accommodations needed for past testing programs are now available to all students in the district. Supports are either embedded (contained within the computerized test) or non-embedded and exist outside of the system (break, scratch paper). Because these tools are universal – i.e. available to all students – we find that more students feel supported and able to take the exam alongside their peers. Additional designated supports and accommodations are available but require additional decisions made by IEP and 504 teams.
DFSA: What is DLM? How do I know if it applies to my child?
CB: DLM is the Dynamic Learning Map. This assessment offers students with significant cognitive disabilities a way to show what they can do and know. IEP teams would discuss the appropriateness of this assessment at IEP team meetings.
DFSA: How are the Smarter Balanced assessments adaptive for my child? or What does it mean that Smarter Balanced is a "computer adaptive test (CAT)"?
CB: Adaptive tests start with students receiving an initial question in the mid-range of difficulty for a specific grade level. The adaptive software selects subsequent questions in relation to student performance on the prior question. The test ends once the software determines that all specifications from the test blueprint have been met and there is sufficient information to provide accurate scores.
DFSA: How are essays scored for children with IEPs/504 Plans?
CB: The essays are scored by highly trained people using rubrics designed specifically for each essay. Essays of children with IEPs would be scored exactly the same way. Because the playing field has been leveled before the scoring occurs, the student’s accommodation does not affect how the essay is scored.
DFSA: Does the scoring of the test take into account my child's IEP Plan?
CB: The scoring system will not see the child’s IEP but the child would have the benefit of accommodations to remove access barriers to the assessment. The student will not receive reduced scores due to pre-approved accommodations determined necessary by the IEP.
DFSA: How does the Dover School District plan to use the results of these assessments to improve teaching and learning?
CB: The results of SBAC testing is used as data to guide district professional development and curriculum planning. Individual student data would only be used in conjunction with other points of student data to help a student access more intervention services.
DFSA: Can/Will the findings of the SBAC assessments be incorporated into my child's IEP or 504 Plan?
CB: Curriculum based measures and progress related to goals and benchmarks are used to determine progress in the IEP. As the SBAC is administered only once a year it will not be used to determine progress on a quarterly basis.
DFSA: Who do I contact at the Dover School District if I have specific questions about my child's testing experience/results?
CB: Questions regarding a specific student’s testing experience or results should be directed to their school. Overall questions regarding assessment should be directed to Paula Glynn, Director-Curriculum Instruction and Assessment.
DFSA: What web sites can I go to so I can learn more?
CB: The two most appropriate sites to visit are the following:
CB: For more information including how to help your child participate in assessments, please visit http://education.nh.gov/instruction/assessment/sbac/students-parents.htm
DFSA: How are teachers preparing students for the assessments?
CB: Preparation for assessments is ongoing and all the time through daily classroom activities, Additionally, students gain practice through activities on the computer that allow them to become familiar with question and activity formats.
For questions about your child and the Smarter Balanced Testing, please contact your child's case manager for special education specific questions and guidance counselors for 504 specific questions.
DFSA: My child has an IEP or 504 Plan in place. Do they still need to take the standardized assessment?
CB: Yes. All children in Dover Schools that are enrolled in grades 3,5,6,7,8, and 11 take the Smarter Balanced exams.
DFSA: Are the tests different for children who have IEPs/504 Plans?
CB: The assessment is the same for all students but accommodations are provided for those students who have IEPs or 504 Plans. As always, accommodations will vary depending on the child in question.
DFSA: What accommodations are available for my child during Smarter Balanced (SBAC) testing?
CB: SBAC offers a variety of accommodations based on student need, but one of the great things about the new exams is that the accommodations needed for past testing programs are now available to all students in the district. Supports are either embedded (contained within the computerized test) or non-embedded and exist outside of the system (break, scratch paper). Because these tools are universal – i.e. available to all students – we find that more students feel supported and able to take the exam alongside their peers. Additional designated supports and accommodations are available but require additional decisions made by IEP and 504 teams.
DFSA: What is DLM? How do I know if it applies to my child?
CB: DLM is the Dynamic Learning Map. This assessment offers students with significant cognitive disabilities a way to show what they can do and know. IEP teams would discuss the appropriateness of this assessment at IEP team meetings.
DFSA: How are the Smarter Balanced assessments adaptive for my child? or What does it mean that Smarter Balanced is a "computer adaptive test (CAT)"?
CB: Adaptive tests start with students receiving an initial question in the mid-range of difficulty for a specific grade level. The adaptive software selects subsequent questions in relation to student performance on the prior question. The test ends once the software determines that all specifications from the test blueprint have been met and there is sufficient information to provide accurate scores.
DFSA: How are essays scored for children with IEPs/504 Plans?
CB: The essays are scored by highly trained people using rubrics designed specifically for each essay. Essays of children with IEPs would be scored exactly the same way. Because the playing field has been leveled before the scoring occurs, the student’s accommodation does not affect how the essay is scored.
DFSA: Does the scoring of the test take into account my child's IEP Plan?
CB: The scoring system will not see the child’s IEP but the child would have the benefit of accommodations to remove access barriers to the assessment. The student will not receive reduced scores due to pre-approved accommodations determined necessary by the IEP.
DFSA: How does the Dover School District plan to use the results of these assessments to improve teaching and learning?
CB: The results of SBAC testing is used as data to guide district professional development and curriculum planning. Individual student data would only be used in conjunction with other points of student data to help a student access more intervention services.
DFSA: Can/Will the findings of the SBAC assessments be incorporated into my child's IEP or 504 Plan?
CB: Curriculum based measures and progress related to goals and benchmarks are used to determine progress in the IEP. As the SBAC is administered only once a year it will not be used to determine progress on a quarterly basis.
DFSA: Who do I contact at the Dover School District if I have specific questions about my child's testing experience/results?
CB: Questions regarding a specific student’s testing experience or results should be directed to their school. Overall questions regarding assessment should be directed to Paula Glynn, Director-Curriculum Instruction and Assessment.
DFSA: What web sites can I go to so I can learn more?
CB: The two most appropriate sites to visit are the following:
- Smarter Balanced http://nh.portal.airast.org/students-and-families/
- DLM http://dynamiclearningmaps.org/content/information-parents
CB: For more information including how to help your child participate in assessments, please visit http://education.nh.gov/instruction/assessment/sbac/students-parents.htm
DFSA: How are teachers preparing students for the assessments?
CB: Preparation for assessments is ongoing and all the time through daily classroom activities, Additionally, students gain practice through activities on the computer that allow them to become familiar with question and activity formats.
For questions about your child and the Smarter Balanced Testing, please contact your child's case manager for special education specific questions and guidance counselors for 504 specific questions.