The Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) of 2015 is a landmark legislation that ensures students with disabilities are not left behind in the educational accountability system. This is a significant stride towards inclusivity, and the Oklahoma State Department of Education's Special Education Services division is dedicated to making sure that students with disabilities are fairly assessed alongside their peers.
For students with disabilities who have an Individualized Education Program (IEP), participation in state and district-wide assessments is mandatory. The IEP team plays a crucial role in determining how each student will engage in these assessments, whether it be with or without accommodations, or through an alternate assessment.
Enter the Oklahoma Alternate Assessment Program (OAAP). This program is a part of the Oklahoma School Testing Program (OSTP) and is specifically designed for students with the most significant cognitive disabilities. The OAAP mirrors the general assessment system in terms of grade levels and subjects assessed, utilizing the Dynamic Learning Maps (DLM) Alternate Assessment System to gauge the academic content knowledge of these students.
What sets the OAAP apart is that it measures academic achievement against alternate achievement standards. These standards differ in complexity from the general state assessments, providing a more tailored and appropriate measure of success for students with significant cognitive disabilities.
To participate in the OAAP, students must:
- Require alternate achievement standards in all content areas
- Have an IEP with rigorous, measurable goals that include short-term benchmarks/objectives
- Meet the criteria outlined in The Criteria Checklist for Assessing Students with Disabilities on Alternate Assessments
- Be determined appropriate for alternate assessment by the IEP team
It's important to note that the ESSA mandates no more than 1% of all tested students may participate in an alternate assessment. Therefore, IEP teams must thoroughly discuss the accommodations needed for students to participate in the general assessment before considering eligibility for the alternate assessment.
The OAAP ensures that every student's unique needs are met, and their academic achievements are recognized in a manner that is both fair and challenging. This commitment to inclusivity and fairness in education is a testament to the Oklahoma State Department of Education's dedication to all students.
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