Teleconference 14: March 12, 2007

11:30 am Pacific, 12:30 pm Mountain, 1:30 pm Central, 2:30 pm Eastern.
2 hours duration / Note: this is longer than usual

Best Practice and Policy Considerations in Science Teaching and Testing for Students with Significant Cognitive Disabilities

Many states are developing science alternate assessments for implementation in 2007-08. Our research and policy presenters will discuss key issues to consider about the science content to be taught and assessed as you work on development or pilots this year. They will pose questions states should ask and answer based on what we are learning about how students with significant cognitive disabilities build and demonstrate competence in the science domain. The call will include three segments.

1. First, National Alternate Assessment Center (NAAC) researchers Ginevra Courtade and Claudia Flowers will address what we know about how students with significant cognitive disabilities develop competence in science. This information will be based on a science instruction research project for students with significant cognitive disabilities. Posted examples of student work in the science domain, and discussion of what we know about science instruction for typical students will help in the consideration of the evidence needed for grade-level/span linkage/alignment.

2. Second, Brian Gong from the Center for Assessment (NCIEA) will frame the key decisions states have to make on linkage to grade level/span science content for instruction and for assessment, and how they can document, defend, and study implications of their decisions over time. These key decisions are important because we are still learning what students with most significant cognitive disabilities can do when taught well.

3. Third, two states (Delaware and New York) will serve as discussants for these presentations, as a frame and introduction to an expanded discussion section involving all participants.

E-mail Rachel Quenemoen at quene003@umn.edu with your questions, comments, and ideas for future telephone conferences, before or after our March 12 call.

In order to get the most out of our March 12 telephone conference, please review these materials online, or if you prefer, download them to your computer, or print them out. Thank you.

Note: Some of the files below require Acrobat Reader. If you don't have this software, go to the Acrobat Reader Web site for a free download.

I. Materials for Teleconference 14

a. Planning Science Instruction and Assessment for Students with Significant Cognitive Disabilities, Ginevra Courtade and Claudia Flowers

b.  Designing Content Targets for Alternate Assessments in Science: Reducing depth, breadth, and/or complexity, Brian Gong (PowerPoint)

II. Additional Resources

Samples of student work – NAAC. Please go to this link to view or download the two files for samples of standards-based science instruction. These very large files include video clips demonstrating instructional activities in science. These samples were collected during the summer of 2003 for specific use in the Colorado Enhanced Assessment Grant, and thus are not showing a typical classroom learning environment with other students. (http://www.naacpartners.org/NCEOTeleconference.aspx)

Panelists for the March 12, 2007 Teleconference

Presenters
Ginevra Courtade, Research Associate, University of North Carolina Charlotte
Claudia Flowers, Associate Professor for Educational Research, University of North Carolina Charlotte
Brian Gong, Executive Director of the Center for Assessment, Dover, NH
Dr. Flowers and Dr. Gong are members of NCEO’s external Research to Practice Panel.

State Discussants

Delaware: Brian Touchette, Education Associate, Exceptional Children/Early Childhood Education Workgroup; Robin Taylor, Associate Secretary, Assessment and Accountability; Martha Toomey, State Director, Exceptional Children/Early Childhood Education Workgroup

New York: Candace Shyer, Bureau Chief of Test Development, Office of State Assessment, NYSED; Vicki Ferrara, Assistant, Office of State Assessment, NYSED; Cynthia Wilson, Associate, Office of Vocational and Educational Services for Individuals with Disabilities, NYSED

Co-hosts
Jacqui Kearns, National Alternate Assessment Center, University of Kentucky

Rachel Quenemoen, National Center on Educational Outcomes, University of Minnesota

Federal Partners
OSEP: David Egnor, Scott Trimble, and Cynthia Bryant

OESE: Sue Rigney

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