NECAP Accommodations – Time Sensitive Survey – Response Requested

INFORMATIONAL LETTER: 86
POLICY CODE: ILB

TO: Superintendents of Schools and Grade 2- Grade 8 School Principals
FROM: Susan A. Gendron, Commissioner of Education
DATE: April 6, 2009
RE: NECAP Accommodations – Time Sensitive Survey – Response Requested

Maine educators who will be involved in testing students, Grades 3-8, with accommodations in the New England Common Assessment Program (NECAP) have an opportunity to give input to a NECAP accommodation review that is occurring now. The deadline for the online survey is April 17, 2009.

Input gathered from educators in all four NECAP states - Vermont, Rhode Island, New Hampshire and Maine, will be considered for inclusion in an updated accommodations policy document available in the Fall. It is very important to hear from Maine educators.

Review of NECAP Accommodations – Time Sensitive Request

Maine has joined the states of Vermont, Rhode Island, and New Hampshire in the New England Common Assessment Program (NECAP) in reading, mathematics, and writing. The first NECAP test administration will begin on October 1, 2009.

Fall 2009 will also mark five years since the initial administration of the NECAP pilot tests in the Fall of 2004. As part of the ongoing development of the program, the NECAP states conduct periodic reviews of all aspects of the assessment program. This Spring and Summer, all the NECAP states are conducting a review of the NECAP Accommodations, Guidelines, and Procedures: Administrator Training Guide and the “Table of Standard Test Accommodation” included on page 5 of the Guide. This material is located at http://www.maine.gov/education/lsalt/necap/materials.html

Since Maine is now part of NECAP, and Maine educators have not previously used the NECAP accommodations materials, this will be an opportunity to share our input for consideration. There are some differences between allowable NECAP and Maine accommodation policies, so we would very much appreciate Maine educator feedback. Following this review, an updated version of the NECAP Guidelines and“Table of Standard Test Accommodations” will be available prior to the October testing.

Please note that Maine educators will continue to use the 2008-09 Policies and Procedures for Accommodations and Alternate Assessment for IEP meetings this Spring. A crosswalk linking NECAP accommodation codes with the new NECAP codes will be provided following the NECAP review. All 2008-09 approved MEA accommodations will be allowable for the Fall 2009 NECAP.

Data on use of accommodations on the NECAP tests, current research on the use of accommodations, and feedback from educators will all be considered. Therefore, to inform the review, please read the existing NECAP accommodations materials at the site listed above, then log onto http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=xwczV6YLogCosDEfS2bf5ow3d_3d and answer the six open-ended questions regarding NECAP accommodations by April 17, 2009.

Thank you for your help.