[SE-Dir] OSL&P: Modified Diploma and Essential Skills

Wed Jan 20 15:17:00 PST 2010

TO:  All District and ESD Special Education Directors

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

Nancy Latini, PhD
Assistant Superintendent
Student Learning & Partnerships
______________________________________________
January 20, 2010

MEMORANDUM NO. XXX-2009-10 - Modified Diploma and the Essential Skills

Re: Essential Skill requirements for students seeking a modified diploma.

This went to all  superintendents and I wanted to be sure you also had a copy.

Nancy Latini, PhD
Assistant Superintendent
Oregon Department of Education
Student Learning & Partnerships
503-947-5702
nancy.latini at state.or.us

At their December meeting, the State Board of Education adopted OAR 581-022-0615: Assessment of the Essential Skills.  This permanently adopts the revisions to the OAR made this last summer and reflects the revised phase-in timeline for the Essential Skills<http://www.ode.state.or.us/search/page/?id=1670>.  This rule revision also elaborates on the Essential Skills requirements for students meeting the eligibility requirements for a modified diploma.

The revisions to OAR 581-022-0615 clarify that, while students seeking a modified diploma must meet the Essential Skills requirements, school districts and public charter schools may modify certain assessment options adopted by the State Board for these students as described below.

For students on IEPS or 504 Plans:
School districts and public charter schools may administer modified work samples or OAKS assessments consistent with the requirements of the student's IEP or 504 Plan. When modifying an OAKS assessment, the school district or public charter school must also ensure that the modifications are in compliance with section 4(d) of OAR 581-022-0610: Administration of State Tests. Modified OAKS assessments will remain invalid for purposes of school and district accountability.

For students who are not on an IEP or a 504 Plan:
School districts and public charter schools may only administer modifications to work samples that are consistent with the modifications the student has received during instruction. Students must have received those same modifications during instruction in the content area to be assessed and in the year in which the work sample is administered. These modifications must be approved in advance by the student's school team responsible for monitoring the student's progress. Students who are not on an IEP or a 504 Plan may not receive a modified OAKS assessment.

Modifications, as described in OAR 581-022-0610, are changes to the achievement level, construct, or measured outcome of an assessment. This means that IEP or school teams responsible for approving modifications for a student's assessment may adjust the administration of the assessment and / or the assessment's achievement standard.

In December, the State Board also adopted revisions to OAR 581-022-1134: Modified Diploma, which brings the OAR in line with HB 2507. The final version of the modified diploma states that on or after July 1, 2009, a district school board or public charter school governing board may only award a modified diploma to a student who meets the eligibility criteria as specified in OAR 581-022-1134(2). Furthermore, all students first enrolled in the 9th grade after July 2007 must meet all the state's criteria for a modified diploma (14)(a); and, for students first enrolled in the 9th grade prior to July 2007 (primarily juniors and seniors), the student's team may decide to award a modified diploma based on the school district's units of credit or the state's units of credits(14)(b)

A school district or public charter school may award a modified diploma to a student only upon the consent of the parent or guardian of the student.  A district or school must receive the consent in writing during the school year in which the modified diploma is awarded.  All of the implications associated with modifying assessments and curricula for the purpose of obtaining a modified diploma should be made clear to parents and decision-makers.

You can find the OARS above, along with all other December State Board materials, at: http://www.ode.state.or.us/search/page/?=2857.

Doug Kosty                                                                              Nancy Latini
Assistant Superintendent                                                                      Assistant Superintendent
Office of Assessment and Information Services                      Office of Student Learning and Partnership
Oregon Department of Education                                                        Oregon Department of Education

Modified Diploma and the Essential Skills - FAQ

Q: What are the graduation requirements for students receiving a modified diploma?
A: Students are required to earn 24 units of credit and complete the Personalized Learning Requirements (as described in OAR 581-022-1134), and demonstrate proficiency in the required Essential Skills (as described in OAR 581-022-0615).

Q: What are the required Essential Skills?
A:  The Essential Skills will be phased in over the coming years.  Students first enrolled in the 9th grade in 2008 will need to demonstrate the Essential Skill of Reading.  Students first enrolled in the 9th grade in 2009 will need to demonstrate the Essential Skills of Reading and Writing.  Students first enrolled in the 9th grade in 2010 or later will need to demonstrate the Essential Skills of Reading, Writing, and Apply Mathematics.  This timeline and all associated requirements apply to students receiving a modified diploma.

Q: Are modifications allowed in demonstration of the Essential Skills?
A: Yes.  See below for modification options.

For students on IEPS or 504 Plans:
School districts and public charter schools may administer modified work samples or OAKS assessments consistent with the requirements of the student's IEP or 504 Plan. When modifying an OAKS assessment, the school district or public charter school must also ensure that the modifications are in compliance with section 4(d) of OAR 581-022-0610: Administration of State Tests. Modified OAKS assessments will remain invalid for purposes of school and district accountability.

For students who are not on an IEP or a 504 Plan:
School districts and public charter schools may only administer modifications to work samples that are consistent with the modifications the student has received during instruction.  Students must have received those same modifications during instruction in the content area to be assessed and in the year in which the work sample is administered. These modifications must be approved in advance by the student's school team responsible for monitoring the student's progress. Students who are not on an IEP or a 504 Plan may not receive a modified OAKS assessment.

Q: May modified OAKS assessments be used for accountability purposes?
A: No. Although modified OAKS assessments may be used to fulfill the Essential Skills requirement by students seeking a modified diploma, these modified assessments are still considered invalid for school and district accountability purposes (i.e., participation and performance).  All of the implications associated with modifying assessments and curricula for the purpose of obtaining a modified diploma should be made clear to parents and decision-makers.

Q: For modified assessments, can districts adjust the cut score needed to pass OAKS or the level of rigor needed for a successful work sample?
A:  Yes.  Modifications, as described in OAR 581-022-0610, are changes to the achievement level, construct, or measured outcome of an assessment. This means that IEP or school teams responsible for approving modifications for a student's assessment may adjust the administration of the assessment and or the assessment's achievement standard.  For example, an IEP team could decide that successful demonstration would be a 220 on the OAKS Reading instead of the regular "meets" cut score of a 236, or require a student to get a minimum score of 9 on each work sample as opposed to the minimum of 12 for a regular work sample.

If you have any difficulty opening the attached documents, please contact Laura Allran at laura.allran at state.or.us<mailto:heidi.schulze at state.or.us> or 503-947-5674.

Messages to and from this e-mail address may be made available to the public under Oregon law.

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Modified Diploma and the Essential Skills FAQ.doc
Modified Diploma and the Essential Skills.doc
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