MEA INFORMATION

• State and School Results
• MEA Administration Information
• Workshops & Materials
• MEA Online
• Personalized Alternate Assessment Portfolios
• Released Items
• Technical Manuals

MeCAS System Links:

• MeCAS Home
• Maine High School Assessment (MHSA; SAT and Math-A)
• Personalized Alternate Assessment Portfolio (PAAP)
• National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP)

• Educational Assessment Links:

• Comprehensive Assessment System Advisory Committees
• No Child Left Behind (NCLB)
• Supporting Resources

  • • CONTACTs:

    MAINE EDUCATIONAL ASSESSMENT (MEA)

    • Susan Smith
      MEA Coordinator
      207-624-6775

    • ALTERNATE ASSESSMENT / PAAP

    • Kim Schroeter
      Alternate Assessment Coordinator
      207-624-6774

    • • Access for ELLs

      • Nancy Mullins
        ACCESS for ELLs® Coordinator
        207-624-6788

Maximizing Accommodations for Students with Unique Learning Needs

As districts throughout Maine embark on the work of designing Comprehensive Assessment Systems that measure progress for all students and ensure accountability within the educational system, it is imperative that getting good information from students be the highest priority.  One way of getting information on student progress is through their participation in the Maine Education Assessment (MEA).   In order to maximize the number of students who participate in this assessment it is necessary to recognize that there are a variety of students in our schools whose learning, processing and/or response strengths are not addressed through the traditional response structure.

Many of these students benefit from accommodations on locally developed assessments that should also be utilized when the student participates in the MEA.   A list of procedures and options for accommodation is currently provided to districts in the Policies and Procedures for Accommodations document that accompanies the Maine Educational Assessment.  This document sets the stage for determining appropriate accommodations that maintain the validity and reliability of the assessment.  This is not an all-inclusive list but a guide to inform locally determined accommodation decisions.

As teams discuss accommodations for students, it is critical that each decision is made based on student strengths and needs and that all accommodations provided to a student during classroom instruction be considered for the assessment process as well.  A team can decide to provide a student with an accommodation that is not part of the Policies and Procedures for Accommodations document, as long as the content validity will not be compromised.  If they make this choice, they should contact the MEA office at the Department of Education for approval prior to using the procedure with the student.

For a very small number of students, participation in the MEA with or without accommodations may not be appropriate.  The only appropriate justification for a student not to participate in the MEA is that a team has decided that the accommodations needed by the student would undermine the content validity of one or more sections of the assessment.  Only then can a student be provided with an alternate assessment option.

In order to meet the requirements for least restrictive environment and to ensure full participation of all students in standards-based reform, appropriate assessments for all students must be provided within the assessment system. These assessments may require personalized accommodations to ensure fair student access.  Through individual and team creativity, the use of these accommodations should be maximized prior to any decision to employ the alternate assessment option.