Issue 12:Are Alternate Assessments Adequate or Necessary?
- Making good decisions about assessment participation affects the validity of assessment results and students’ opportunities to learn.- Deciding that a student will participate in the general assessment rather than an alternate assessment might in fact be the determination of whether a school is designated as a focus or priority school.-An important role for leaders is to ensure that educators and other adults understand that the purpose of the assessment is to determine what students have learned and what needs more attention in instruction.-The more critical than the concern about having valid assessment results is the concern that if a student is assigned to an inappropriate assessment, it may in turn result in a decreased opportunity to learn for that student
Article 12:Yes
- teachers of students with significant are required to create and compile a portfolio of student work samples and evidence that correlate with grade level standards. - alternate assessment actually assesses the special education teacher’s ability to assemble a passing portfolio rather than the students’ actual progress toward grade level standards.-some parents perceive that an academic standards based alternate assessment takes away from their students’ overall educational needs especially those skills that are required for employment and daily living.-The impact of the alternate assessment will continue to be on a teachers time and resources that could be better spent on activities that promote self care, independent living and work readiness skills