[SE-Dir] Smarter Balanced Assessment Field Test: IEP Guidance

[SANDBERG Ruby]

TO:  All District and ESD Special Education Directors

The message below is being sent to you on behalf of:


Sarah Drinkwater, Ph.D.
Assistant Superintendent
Office of Learning/Student Services
______________________________________________
February 24, 2014


RE: Smarter Balanced Assessment Field Test: IEP Guidance


In preparation for the Smarter Balanced Field Test that will involve students with disabilities, ODE is offering the following information based upon guidance provided by the U.S. Department of Education:

Under 34 C.F.R. § 300.320(a)(6)(i), each student's IEP must include a statement of any individual accommodations that are necessary to measure the academic achievement and functional performance of the child on State and district-wide assessments.

The Oregon Department of Education has received approval from the US Department of Education to offer double-testing flexibility as part of the Smarter Balanced Field Test.  The Field Test, which will take place March 18 through June 6, 2014,  includes two tests, English language arts and Mathematics.  Field test participants were selected based on a volunteer pool of schools and districts that indicated interest in one or more grade levels taking one or both of the tests.  Double testing flexibility allows schools participating in the Smarter Balanced Field Test to determine whether or not to also test participating students on the current state test, the Oregon Assessment of Knowledge and Skills (OAKS), which is used for various school and district accountability purposes.  At this time, 243 schools across 98 districts are enrolled in the field test.

If you are one of the districts that volunteered to participate in the Smarter Balanced Field Test, then for students who have an IEP and who would otherwise take the OAKS, these students may participate in the Smarter Balanced Field Test.

However, the IEP team must ensure that the child's current IEP lists accommodations that are appropriate and provided on the Smarter Balanced Field Tests.  If the IEP lists accommodations that are not provided on the Smarter Balanced Field Test, then the IEP team can amend or change the IEP to correct the accommodations following the allowable methods for changing an IEP, or determine  that the student may take the OAKS using the accommodations provided for in the current IEP and not change the IEP.

If you are one of the districts that volunteered to participate in the Smarter Balanced Field Test, for students who would otherwise take the Extended Assessment these students should participate in the Extended Assessment as identified in their IEP.










Ruby Sandberg, Executive Assistant
Oregon Department of Education
Office of Learning l Student Services
503-947-5738 l FAX: 503-378-5156 l ruby.sandberg at state.or.us<mailto:ruby.sandberg at state.or.us>

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