Georgia Alternate AssessmentUnderstanding the Basics of the GAA

Part One

OverviewGAA Blueprint and Portfolio Components

Terminology for the GAADescriptions and Examples of Types of Evidence

Session 3Recording:

https://sas.elluminate.com/mr.jnlp?suid=M.0408281929F025DA2B3405914AC1BB&sid=2012003

Welcome to Session 3The Basics of the GAA (Part 1)

This session will begin at 1:00 p.m. The power point is located in the GAA Presentations Portlet at this location:

http://www.gadoe.org/Curriculum-Instruction-and-Assessment/Assessment/Pages/GAA-Presentations.aspx

Webinar Etiquette:

o Please use the Audio Setup Wizard in the Tools Menu to configure and test your audio settings before the presentation begins.

o To eliminate interference from background noise in your area, please leave the Talk Button on mute if you are not speaking.

o Due to the number of participants, we request that questions be submitted via Chat.o You will receive a prompt to download this PowerPoint. You can also go to Window, File

Transfer to download any files sent through this webinar.o Please log-in with your name and the name of your district beside it (e. g., Joni Smith–Henry

County).  If you have already logged-in, please place your name and district in the chat box.

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2013-2014 GAA• The 2013-2014 series of webinars (Sessions 1-8)

serve as introductory components for informing and training system staff in the planning, implementation, and submission of the GAA portfolios.

• Reading and understanding the GAA Examiner’s Manual 2013-2014 and the materials provided through the webinar trainings are necessary to understand the policies and procedures required for the administration of the GAA.

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Overview of the PresentationThis two-part presentation provides information and tools that will assist new examiners in the preparation of their portfolios.• Part One:

GAA Blueprint and Portfolio ComponentsTerminology for the GAADescriptions and Examples of Types of Evidence

• Part Two:Completing the FormsOrganizing the PortfolioSubmitting the Portfolio

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2013-2014 GAA

• Additional sessions will be available for more in-depth training on topics that will assist test administrators.

• All presentations will be posted on the GaDOE website at:

http://www.gadoe.org/Curriculum-Instruction-and-Assessment/Assessment/Pages/GAA-Presentations.aspx

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2013-2014 GAA• This slide presentation has been developed as a tool

for examiners new to the GAA, designated GAA trainers, and anyone who would like a review of the basics. It is an introduction to the terminology, requirements, and

procedures necessary to compile a student portfolio for the Georgia Alternate Assessment.

• This presentation is only one component of training. Reading and understanding the GAA Examiner’s Manual

2013-2014 is necessary to implement the portfolio process. Training in your system and additional presentations posted

on GAA Presentations portlet provides additional information to ensure a successful administration of the GAA.

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Presentation Portlet on GaDOE Website

http://www.gadoe.org/Curriculum-Instruction-and-Assessment/Assessment/Pages/GAA.aspx

Overview of the GAA

• The GAA is a portfolio of student work provided as evidence that a student is making progress toward grade-level academic standards, often at a prerequisite or entry level.

• Evidence provided must show student work that is aligned to specific grade-level standards, adapted to meet the student’s cognitive, communication, physical and/or sensory impairments.

• The Georgia Alternate Assessment meets ESEA and IDEA mandates.

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Overview of the GAA

• The portfolio system is flexible to allow for the diversity of the students participating in the GAA. Evidence for the portfolio is collected throughout the

assessment window (September 3–March 28). This type of assessment allows for the student’s best work

to be submitted as evidence of what the student knows and can do in reference to the content standards and elements/indicators being assessed for the portfolio.

• Students will be assessed in the same content areas as their peers on the grade-level content standards.

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GAA Blueprint and Portfolio Components

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2013-2014 GAA Blueprint• The Blueprint outlines the requirements of the 2013-

2014 GAA.• The Blueprint identifies the content standards that

are required and eligible for assessment on the GAA.• The Blueprint, by grade, can be found in Appendix D

of the GAA Examiner’s Manual 2013-2014.• The Blueprint for High School retesters who are to be

assessed on the ELA GPS can be found at:http://

www.gadoe.org/Curriculum-Instruction-and-Assessment/Assessment/Pages/GAA-Resources.aspx

Note: Do not use Blueprints from previous years!11

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2013-2014 BlueprintExample: Grade 5 Blueprint

• The state’s content standards are the goals for instruction, learning, and assessment in each of the content areas.

• Elements/indicators are the specific concepts and skills that make up the state’s content standards.

• The content standard and element/indicator descriptions, by grade, can be found in Appendix E of the GAA Examiner’s Manual 2013-2014.

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Content Standards and Elements/Indicators

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Appendix E–Standards

Standard

Domain

IndicatorsStandard description

Portfolio Components• Grades K*, 3-8

ELA – 2 entries Math – 2 entries Science – 1 entry (3-8 only) Social Studies – 1 entry (3-8 only)

*Please note: if local districts mandate an assessment for grades 1 and 2, an alternate assessment must be provided for students with significant cognitive disabilities.

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Portfolio Components

• Grade HS ELA – 2 entries Math – 2 entries Science – 2 entries Social Studies – 2 entries

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Portfolio Components

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State-mandated Content

Standards

Examiner’s Manual 2013-2014 page 10

Entry 1

Entry 2

Terminology for the GAA

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Terminology for the GAA• Entry• Entry Sheet• Assessment Task • Evidence• Collection Periods

Collection Period Label

• Alignment• Prerequisite Skills

• Primary Evidence Work Sample Permanent Product Audio/Video File Series of Captioned

Photos• Secondary Evidence

Observation Form Interview Form Data Sheet Additional piece of

Primary Evidence

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Entry and Entry Sheet

• Entry An entry for a content area consists of an Entry Sheet

followed by pieces of evidence that show the student’s skill related to the standard/element indicated on the Entry Sheet.

• Entry Sheet An Entry Sheet is a 2-page document that must be

completed and placed in front of the evidence for that entry.

It serves as a table of contents for the entry.

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Assessment Task• An assessment task is any standards-based activity

that is performed by the student. Evidence of the student’s performance on the task is

submitted in the portfolio for scoring.• Tasks must demonstrate a clear alignment/

connection to the content standard and element/indicator being assessed. Look at the nouns- what was the standard and

element/indicator designed to teach? It is to the intent of the element/indicator that the tasks

must align.If there are no elements/indicators, alignment goes

directly back to the standard.

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Entry Evidence

• Primary Evidence– Work Sample– Permanent Product– Series of Captioned

Photos (minimum of 2)– Media

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Evidence• Shows or describes the student’s performance on tasks

related to the selected standard/element.

• Secondary Evidence– Observation Form– Interview Form– Data Sheet– An additional piece of

Primary Evidence

Collection Periods

• For each entry, there are two collection periods. Collection Period 1 shows the student’s initial skill. Collection Period 2 shows the student’s progress.

• For each collection period, there must be two pieces of evidence: Primary Evidence and Secondary Evidence. Therefore, there are 4 pieces of evidence in each entry.

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Collection Periods

• Date on the Primary Evidence for Collection Period 2 must be a minimum of 14 days after the date on the Primary Evidence for Collection Period 1.

• Collection Period 1 evidence for an entry must be complete before Collection Period 2 evidence is begun.

• All 4 pieces of evidence must represent different, distinct, complete events.

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Collection Period Label

• Collection Period Labels are provided in the front pocket of the portfolio binder to help the teacher to label and organize the portfolio evidence.

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Entry(e.g., Reading

LiteraryStandard)

Collection Period 1Initial/Baseline

Collection Period 2Progress

Primary Evidence

Secondary Evidence

Primary Evidence

Secondary Evidence

Note: There must be 14 days between Primary Evidence in CP1 and Primary Evidence in CP2. There must be two distinct collection periods; CP1 must be completed before CP2 begins.

14 calendar days

The Anatomy of a GAA Entry

Primary and Secondary Types of Evidence

Descriptions and Examples

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Types of Evidence• Primary Evidence

Demonstrates knowledge/skills by showing the student’s engagement in tasks

“Primary” refers to the type of evidence; it does not mean that it has to be dated earlier than the Secondary Evidence in that collection period.

• Secondary Evidence Reports knowledge/skills by documenting, charting, or

interpreting the student’s performance Secondary Evidence refers to the type of evidence, not to

the date or order in which evidence was collected.

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Explanations and Samples of Types of Evidence

• Read the 2013-2014 GAA Examiner’s Manual (pages 15-31) to find: detailed descriptions of types of evidence, suggestions for choosing the most appropriate type of

evidence to demonstrate student skills, evidence requirements and instructions for effective

documentation, and the GAA Evidence Checklist (pages 53-56)

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Choosing the Appropriate Type of Primary Evidence

• The type of evidence submitted should be the best means through which to demonstrate the student’s knowledge and skills.

• It is important that the type of evidence used is the appropriate choice to clearly demonstrate the student’s response. It is vital that the criteria for the type of evidence has been

met and that all necessary information has been documented (pages 15-31 of the manual).

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Primary Evidence• Primary Evidence (shows what the student knows)

Work sample

Permanent product

Series of captioned photographs (2 or more)

Media–audio, video, CD, DVD (with script)

• Primary Evidence must SHOW the student’s responses during and at the completion of the assessment activity.

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Student Work SamplePrimary Evidence

• Work samples are items completed or created by the student. Writing samples Graphic organizers Worksheets (whether commercial or teacher made)

• Work samples must be annotated, either on the student work or on a separate annotation page, to provide the necessary information for scoring.

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Student Work SamplePrimary Evidence

Work SampleThis work sample was submitted as a piece of Primary Evidence and includes all information necessary for scoring. The teacher has provided the student’s name, the Collection Period Label, the date on which it was completed, the grade the student received, and an explanation of the level of prompting.

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Permanent ProductPrimary Evidence

• Permanent products are items created by the student (e.g., murals, drawings, or models).

• Many times, a permanent product may be too large or of a nature that prevents the teacher from sending in the actual work. In these cases, the teacher should photograph (not photocopy) the

student’s work, date it, and label it “permanent product.” A single photo is acceptable only for permanent products.

• Permanent products should have annotations in order to be accurately scored.

(2013-2014 GAA Examiner’s Manual, pages 20 & 21)

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Permanent Product

This permanent product was submitted as Secondary Evidence. The teacher has provided the student’s name and the date, affixed the appropriate collection period label, and has scored the student’s work.

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Series of Captioned PhotosPrimary Evidence

• A series of captioned photographs means at least two photographs must be submitted (three or more are recommended). The photos should clearly depict the student in the process of the task

as well as the completion of the task. Photos should be captioned to relate to the individual student who is

being assessed and should not describe a generic activity completed by the class/group.

The caption should include information regarding the activity in which the student is engaged, the student’s level of success, the setting and interactions, and the type and frequency of prompting, if any, that were provided to the student.

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A series of captioned photos was submitted as Secondary Evidence for this student. The photos clearly depict the student in the process of the task and shows her response at each phase. The captions describe each step of the task and annotate the student’s success. The teacher has provided information about the setting and interactions with the para as well as the level of prompting required by the student.

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Media–Audio/VideoAccompanied by a Script

Primary Evidence

• Audio, Video, CDs, and DVDs can be effective ways to demonstrate students’ skills when tasks involve multiple steps, “verbal” response, or interaction with others. It is important to provide a script so that, in the event there

are technical problems with viewing or listening to the media, the script can be used for scoring.

The media must be labeled with the student’s name in order to avoid confusion should the media become separated from the portfolio. If there are multiple students in the video, it must be made clear which student should be observed.

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A video was submitted as Primary Evidence for this student. The media was labeled with the student’s name, grade, and school. A script was also included that documented the evidence recorded, the student’s name, the date, and the Collection Period. It also provided a description of the task, the setting and interactions, an evaluation of the student’s level of success, and the level of prompting provided.

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Secondary Evidence

• Secondary Evidence (reports what the student knows)

Data sheet (Charts/Graphs)

Interview

Observation (Anecdotal Record)

An additional piece of Primary Evidence

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Data SheetSecondary Evidence

• The data sheet should include a clear description of the task, analysis of the student performance, and a key. It should also include information on the setting, interactions with peers (both with and without disabilities) and community members, and the type and frequency of prompting, if any, that was provided.

• A minimum of 3 distinct dates on which evidence was collected for each collection period is required for a data sheet.

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Data Sheet

This data sheet was submitted as Secondary Evidence for this student. It includes the student’s name, a description of the task, and the dates on which the tasks were completed. The collection period labels have been affixed so as to clearly differentiate between them. The teacher has provided a key for prompting and accuracy as well as “Additional Information” so that the student’s achievement/progress can be evaluated. 42

Interview Form Secondary Evidence

• Typically, this method of documentation is used when the performance occurs in a community or home setting in which the teacher who is assessing the student is not present (e.g., on a work site, at a restaurant, etc.).

• The parent, another educator, peer helper, employer, related service staff, or other individual who is in a position to describe the student’s performance is asked a structured set of questions to enable the teacher to document the student’s performance.

• Include specific information regarding student performance, setting, and interactions with peers (both with and without disabilities) and community members.

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Interview Form

All necessary information has been completed for this interview. The teacher described the task and clearly evaluated the student’s performance (this is of key importance). Further, the teacher informed as to the setting in which the task was completed, the interactions that took place, and the type and frequency of prompting necessary for the student to complete the task. 44

Observation Form Secondary Evidence

• The teacher or para-pro uses the observation form to record the student’s performance on a pre-planned or naturally occurring activity.

• Be sure to include specific information regarding student performance, setting, and interactions with peers (both with and without disabilities) and community members.

• Do not include an observation of an event for which Primary Evidence has already been submitted. [or restate in another way]

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Observation Form

All necessary information has been completed for this observation. The teacher described the task and clearly evaluated the student’s performance. Further, the teacher informed as to the setting in which the task was completed, the interactions that took place, and the type and frequency of prompting necessary for the student to complete the task.

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Contact Information

Questions About Test Administration

Call: GaDOE Assessment Administration Division Toll free (800) 634-4106

Contact: Deborah Houston, Assessment Specialist (404) 657-0251

Email: dhouston@doe.k12.ga.us

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Contact Information

For information about access to the state-mandated content standards for students

with significant cognitive disabilities

Contact: Kayse HarshawDivision for Special Education

ServicesCall: (404) 463-5281 E-Mail: Sharshaw@doe.k12.ga.us

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Contact InformationQuestions About Materials, Distribution, or Collection

Call: Questar’s GAA Customer Service Toll free (866) 997-0698

Email:Questar’s GAA Customer Service GA@QuestarAI.com

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Georgia Alternate AssessmentUnderstanding the Basics of the GAA

Part Two

AlignmentDocumentation

Completing the FormsOrganizing and Submitting the Portfolio

Session 4 (2:30 PM)https://sas.elluminate.com/m.jnlp?sid=2012003&password=M.7DF3CCCF14FCB57827FFFA2277A95A

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