Alternate Assessments Based on
Modified Academic Achievement Standards
Fen Chou, Ph.D.
Louisiana Department of Education
GSEG Project Kick-off Meeting
January 16, 2008
1
What is LAA 2?
LEAP Alternate Assessment, Level 2,
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Designed for students with persistent academic
disabilities
Mandated by federal and state law: all students
must be assessed and must be included in the
accountability system
State board action required development of a
“2%” assessment
The first operational test given spring 2006
2
Which students take LAA 2?
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with persistent academic disabilities
served under IDEA
in grades 4–11
meet the participation criteria
Note: Participation criteria form on the LDE Web site
(www.louisianaschools.net)
What subjects are tested?
In spring 2008, students will be
tested
 Grades 4–10
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English Language Arts
Mathematics
Grades 4, 8, 11
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Science
Social Studies
How was LAA 2 developed?
Committees of Louisiana educators
• Identified the range of abilities/capabilities of LAA 2
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population
Defined appropriate grade-level expectations regarding
breadth and depth
Identified a range of appropriate sample items taken from
general assessment item banks
Reviewed proposed assessment design and made
recommendations regarding:
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Content depth, breadth, and complexity
Item types (MC and CR)
Test length and format
Test accommodations
5
LAA 2 Items
Selected from general assessment item
banks
 Reviewed by LDE staff: assessment
development and special populations
 Prior review of items by Content and
Bias Committees
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6
How is LAA 2 like
general assessments?
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LAA 2
• Is based on Louisiana content standards
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(but reduces the range and depth of GLEs)
Includes both multiple-choice and
constructed-response questions
Uses the same item pool
Requires the same procedures for test
administration and test security
Results reported by Achievement Levels (e.g.,
Basic)
How does LAA 2 differ from
general assessments?
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LAA 2 has
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fewer questions
less reading
less writing
a modified format
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fewer questions per page
more white space
larger font
Most Significant Format
Changes
English Language Arts
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Using Information Resources
•
General Assessments
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one resource packet with about 4 to 6
sources
5 MC items and 2 CR items
Questions follow all resource materials.
LAA 2
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one resource packet with about 4 to 6
sources
5 MC items and 1 CR items
Question is adjacent to the related resource.
Most Significant Format
Changes
English Language Arts
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Proofreading
• General Assessments
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short passage to edit
8 MC items
Student refers to underlined parts in a passage to
edit, followed by MC items corresponding to the
underlined portions.
• LAA 2
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8 MC items
Each item is a sentence (taken from a short
passage) with an underlined part to edit followed
by 4 answer options.
Alignment of Achievement Levels:
General Assessments and LAA 2
Questions?
 Fen Chou
Louisiana Dept. of Education
225-342-3415
Fen.Chou@la.gov