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<div>TO: All District and ESD Special Education Directors</div>
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<div>The message below is being sent to you on behalf of:</div>
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<div>Nancy Latini, Ph.D.</div>
<div>Assistant Superintendent</div>
<div>Office of Student Learning & Partnerships</div>
<div>______________________________________________ </div>
<div>April 17, 2012</div>
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<div><b>RE: Extended Assessment Questions</b></div>
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<div>The purpose of this message is to reiterate current policy and procedures for the valid administration of Oregon’s Extended Assessment in light of recent reports of the following <i>improprieties</i>: </div>
<div><b>Impropriety 1)</b> Decisions to test an entire classroom with the Extended Assessment: While an entire classroom of students may take the same assessment due to the similarity of their needs, these decisions should always be made on a student by student,
case by case basis, by each student’s IEP team and that decision documented on the IEP.</div>
<div><b>Impropriety 2)</b> Decisions to test a group of students in an environment that does not meet the requirements for a secure test environment as described in the Test Administration Manual for the Extended Assessment. This is in violation of testing
security, student confidentiality, and presents several other test validity issues.</div>
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<div>Decisions to administer the Extended Assessment to a student should include input from individuals, including the parent, knowledgeable in Extended Assessments and about the student’s performance levels. The decisions for assessments must be documented
on the student’s IEP. The administration of the Extended Assessment is governed by the same security guidance that governs the general assessment. Administration violations, particularly those that violate a student’s IEP or that alter the intent or purpose
of the assessment must be reported as testing improprieties and may lead to the invalidation of the score.</div>
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<div>Extended Assessments are individually administered assessments designed specifically for students with the most significant cognitive disabilities. Requirements for the appropriate administration of this assessment are described in the Test Administration
Manual (<a href="http://www.ode.state.or.us/go/tam"><u>http://www.ode.state.or.us/go/tam</u></a>) and the Extended Assessment manual <a href="http://www.ode.state.or.us/teachlearn/testing/admin/alt/ea/exassessadminman2011-12.pdf"><u>http://www.ode.state.or.us/teachlearn/testing/admin/alt/ea/exassessadminman2011-12.pdf</u></a>.
Citations relative to the Extended Assessment administration are below along with the pages on which to locate those citations.</div>
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<div>For further clarification please contact Brad Lenhardt at 503-947-5755 or <a href="mailto:brad.lenhardt@state.or.us"><u>brad.lenhardt@state.or.us</u></a><font face="Tahoma, sans-serif" size="2" color="#1F497D"> </font></div>
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<li><b>P. 52: </b><font face="Tahoma, sans-serif" size="6" color="#000000"><b>P</b></font><font face="Tahoma, sans-serif" size="5" color="#000000"><b>ART </b></font><font face="Tahoma, sans-serif" size="6" color="#000000"><b>VIII – S</b></font><font face="Tahoma, sans-serif" size="5" color="#000000"><b>TUDENTS
WITH </b></font><font face="Tahoma, sans-serif" size="6" color="#000000"><b>D</b></font><font face="Tahoma, sans-serif" size="5" color="#000000"><b>ISABILITIES</b></font></li></font>
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<div style="padding-left: 108pt; "><font face="Garamond, serif" size="2"><b>Both the Individuals with Disabilities Act of 2004 (IDEA) and OAR 581-022-0612 Exception of</b></font></div>
<div style="padding-left: 108pt; "><font face="Garamond, serif" size="2"><b>Students with Disabilities from State Assessment Testing require that individuals with disabilities be</b></font></div>
<div style="padding-left: 108pt; "><font face="Garamond, serif" size="2"><b>given equal opportunity to participate in and benefit from any program or activity customarily</b></font></div>
<div style="padding-left: 108pt; "><font face="Garamond, serif" size="2"><b>granted to all individuals with appropriate adaptations. Therefore, all students with disabilities are</b></font></div>
<div style="padding-left: 108pt; "><font face="Garamond, serif" size="2"><b>eligible to participate in the Oregon Statewide Assessments.</b></font></div>
<div style="padding-left: 108pt; "><font face="Garamond, serif" size="2"><b>The student’s Individualized Education Program (IEP) team, which includes the student’s parents or</b></font></div>
<div style="padding-left: 108pt; "><font face="Garamond, serif" size="2"><b>guardian, makes the decision regarding the most appropriate method for a student with disabilities</b></font></div>
<div style="padding-left: 108pt; "><font face="Garamond, serif" size="2"><b>to participate in testing. Each student must be considered individually and not merely on the basis of</b></font></div>
<div style="padding-left: 108pt; "><font face="Garamond, serif" size="2"><b>the student’s disability category. If a student’s IEP specifies that a student should take an Extended</b></font></div>
<div style="padding-left: 108pt; "><font face="Garamond, serif" size="2"><b>Assessment, then the district must provide the student with that Extended Assessment. When</b></font></div>
<div style="padding-left: 108pt; "><font face="Garamond, serif" size="2"><b>assessing a student with a disability, the district must also ensure that the assessment fully complies</b></font></div>
<div style="padding-left: 108pt; "><font face="Garamond, serif" size="2"><b>with all IDEA requirements as specified in the IEP Guidelines.</b></font></div>
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<li><b>P. 54: </b><font face="Tahoma, sans-serif" size="3" color="#000000"><b>Extended Assessment</b></font></li></font>
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<div style="padding-left: 108pt; "><font face="Garamond, serif" size="2"><b>The Extended Assessments are Oregon’s alternate assessments. The Extended Assessments are</b></font></div>
<div style="padding-left: 108pt; "><font face="Garamond, serif" size="2"><b>individually administered performance assessments for students with the most significant cognitive</b></font></div>
<div style="padding-left: 108pt; "><font face="Garamond, serif" size="2"><b>disabilities as determined by the student’s IEP team.</b></font></div>
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<li><b>P. 124</b><font face="Garamond, serif" size="3" color="#000000"><b>: </b></font><font face="Tahoma, sans-serif" size="3" color="#000000"><b>Extended Assessment</b></font></li></font>
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<div style="padding-left: 108pt; "><font face="Garamond, serif" size="2"><b>The Extended Assessments are Oregon’s alternate assessments. The Extended Assessments are</b></font></div>
<div style="padding-left: 108pt; "><font face="Garamond, serif" size="2"><b>individually administered performance assessments for students with the most significant cognitive</b></font></div>
<div style="padding-left: 108pt; "><font face="Garamond, serif" size="2"><b>disabilities as determined by the student’s IEP team.</b></font></div>
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<div><font face="Calibri, sans-serif" size="2"><i>Ruby Sandberg, Executive Assistant </i></font></div>
<div><font face="Calibri, sans-serif" size="2"><i>Office of Student Learning & Partnerships</i></font></div>
<div><font face="Calibri, sans-serif" size="2"><i>Oregon Department of Education</i></font></div>
<div><font face="Calibri, sans-serif" size="2"><i>503-947-5738 FAX: 503-378-5156</i></font></div>
<div><font face="Calibri, sans-serif" size="2"><i>ruby.sandberg@state.or.us</i></font></div>
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