AA-AAS What’s Up, What’s Down and What’s Next in South Dakota

Linda Turner

Special Education Programs

SD Dept of Education

Alternate Assessment Design

• Rating Form with Supporting Evidence– Rater 1 (special ed teacher) collects and documents

supporting evidence to support rating• 5 in reading, one for each indicator• 5 in math, one for each strand

– Rater 1 and Rater 2 rate all skills on rating form using a rubric

• Ratings are independent • utilizing supporting evidence, observation, and professional

judgment

– Assessment then scored by vendor with a third rater rating items with supporting evidence for reliability

Positive Aspects

• Teacher choice

• Can be integrated with daily instruction

• Encourages standards-based IEPs

Considerations for Future Development

• Provide feedback to teachers – Effectiveness of administration– Areas of strengths and needs of student

• Define skills more clearly or develop more scripted items– Improve consistency between instruction and

measurement across the state

• Professional development on standards-based instruction

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Next Steps for South Dakota

• Take advantage of work that may be done in conjunction with Common Core– Learning progressions

• Instructional lessons

– Consortium for common alternate assessment • Provide easily accessible professional

development– Include pieces for general education and parents

• Work with higher education on teacher preparation

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