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Updated 7/12/07 -pb

PAAP Resources

Achievement Level Descriptors

Maine content area Achievement Level Descriptors (ALD) outline the expectations for students participating in State level assessments. There are general descriptors and more specific descriptors focused on particular grade levels. For State alternate assessments, the ALDs are written for four grade spans: 3-4, 5-6, 7-8, and high school.

As part of the Personalized Alternate Assessment (PAAP) standard setting process, Maine Alternate Assessment Achievement Level Descriptors (ALDs) were developed for reading and mathematics. Draft versions of the documents were shared with teachers at the January PAAP trainings and then included with PAAP return materials in April, 2007. Standard setting occurred on June 11 and 12. On those two days, teachers used the descriptors to determine the expectations for each reported achievement category:

  • Attempting Work Related to the Standards,
  • Emerging Toward the Standards,
  • Meeting the Standards, and
  • Exceeding the Standards.

They also provided feedback on the draft documents.

The final versions of the PAAP Achievement Level Descriptors are now available for the use of Maine parents, teachers, and other educators. We hope they will be useful as teams determine whether a student will participate in State assessments through standard administration, administration with accommodations, or alternate assessment. If a student is performing at levels higher than those described for his/her grade level, alternate assessment is not appropriate.

The ALDs should also provide an overview of the types of skills that will be measured through the PAAP.  This can be a first step in planning integrated instruction and assessment for students.

Maine Alternate Assessment Achievement Level Descriptors for Mathematics (PDF)

Maine Alternate Assessment Achievement Level Descriptors for Reading (PDF)

 

 

The New England Compact: Reaching Students in the Gaps

In February 2005, four New England states ( Rhode Island, New Hampshire, Vermont, and Maine) received a U.S. Department of Education grant to explore gaps in large-scale assessment systems that prevent some students from demonstrating their proficiency. The results of this work, Reaching Students In the Gaps, addresses the following questions:

  • Who are the students in the gaps?

  • Of all the students who are not proficient, how can states identify those who are in the assessment gaps?

  • What are the attributes of students in the gaps, and how do these students perform?

  • What issues in the assessments themselves contribute to the gaps?

  • Are there specific aspects of multiple-choice items used in state assessments that contribute to the assessment gaps?

The studies used multiple methods to explore these research questions, each providing a particular angle from which to consider the issues of assessment gaps, students in those gaps, and assessment alternatives to lessen the gaps.

Visit the New England Compact's website for more information.

 

Other PAAP Resources

 

Do you have a PAAP student who changed school districts during the school year?

PAAP Q & A (.pdf)

1% of total test population slide (.pdf)

9% Federal Guidelines slide (.pdf)

 

 

Note: Many of the documents provided on this page are in PDF format. In order to access these materials, you will need the Adobe Reader program installed on your computer (we strongly recommend that you use either versions 7.0 or 8.1). Your District Technology Coordinator should be able to help you if you have any questions about using Adobe Reader. For further information, or to download Adobe Reader for free, click on the Adobe Reader icon below.

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