PAAP Updates
2009-2010 Changes to Maine’s Personalized Alternate Assessment Portfolio (PAAP)
Maine has joined with three other New England states in producing a common yearly assessment for the general education population – the New England Common Assessment Program (NECAP) in reading, mathematics and writing. We will continue with the current MEA program in science and the MHSA program. What does this mean for the alternate assessment program?
• The 2008-09 PAAP Rubrics is now called the Alternate Assessment Grade Level Expectations (AGLEs) for Maine’s Personalized Alternate Assessment Portfolio. These AGLEs are developmentally backed down from Maine’s Accountability Standards Chapter 131 in reading, mathematics and science and should be incorporated as part of a student’s curriculum.
• NECAP assesses learning from the prior school year (teaching year) at the beginning of the next school year (testing year). Since reading and math NECAP assessments occur in general education during the fall of grades 3-8, the reading and math PAAP assessments will be administered during the teaching grades 2-7. NECAP writing is assessed during the fall in grades 5 and 8; therefore, the PAAP for writing will be assessed during the teaching grades 4, 7 and 3rd year high school.
• MEA science for both the general and alternate assessment will continue in its present format and be assessed during the spring of the teaching year in grades 5, 8 and 3rd year high school.
• The Maine High School Assessment (PSAT, SAT and science) will continue in its present format. This will require the PAAP to be given to students requiring an alternate assessment in grade 10 and 11.
PAAP Administration by Grade and Content Area(s)
Grade 2: Reading and Math
Grade 3: Reading and Math
Grade 4: Reading, Writing and Math
Grade 5: Reading, Math and Science
Grade 6: Reading and Math
Grade 7: Reading, Writing and Math
Grade 8: Science
2nd Year High School: Reading and Math
3rd Year High School: Reading, Math, Writing, Science
• The new PAAP administration window is December 1-April 30, with a UPS mandatory PAAP pickup date of May 3, 2010. The administration window remains a 5-month window, although it occurs later in the year to mirror the NECAP, MEA and MHSA programs.
• The task bank will remain closed until December 1 to allow for the development of additional tasks aligned to the AGLEs. A new task bank password will be mailed to principals in late November.
• Task tryouts or field testing of tasks has begun. It’s not too late to sign-up to participate in the task tryout program and help out with this very important step in the assessment process. For more information, click here.
This information is also available in a PDF document that can be downloaded for further distribution. Click here to access this material.
Please do not hesitate to contact us with any questions you may have:
Sue Fossett, PAAP Coordinator: susan.fossett@maine.gov / 207-624-6774
Peter Bernard, PAAP Assistant: peter.bernard@maine.gov / 207-624-6678
The PAAP Task Bank is Currently Closed
As we prepare for significant changes to the PAAP process for the 2009-2010 school year, we have temporarily closed the PAAP Task Bank, removing all tasks applicable to 2008-2009.
We are in the process of developing new tasks, aligned to the 2009-2010 PAAP Standards. Once these materials are finalized and field tested they will be posted in the Task Bank – look for new PAAP tasks in December, 2009.
Partial PAAPs
The United States Department of Education has approved Maine’s request to allow a return to the use of “partial PAAPS”, which was rejected during the federal Peer Review process. This change will allow decisions regarding the appropriate avenue for student participation in 2009-2010 state assessments to be made by content area. For example, a student may participate in the PAAP for Reading and in NECAP with accommodations for Mathematics.
The PAAP ListServe
The PAAP ListServe has been established to help provide improved communications related to the Personalized Alternate Assessment Portfolio, accommodations, instruction for students with significant cognitive disabilities, and other associated issues.
Through this online service, we will be able to disseminate information in a timely manner to all subscribers. Information might include, but will not necessarily be limited to, links to pertinent websites, supplementary training materials, responses to questions of general interest that are submitted by subscribers, and changes in Federal law or rules that impact alternate assessment.
Subscribe today!
The Maine Alternate Assessment Achievement Level Descriptors
The final versions of the PAAP Achievement Level Descriptors are now available for the use of Maine parents, teachers, and other educators. Maine content area Achievement Level Descriptors (ALD) outline the expectations for students participating in State level assessments. There are general descriptors as well as more specific descriptors focused on particular grade levels.
The Achievement Level Descriptors can be found on the Resources page of this website.
Username and Password Required for PAAP Task Bank
The PAAP Task Bank is now only accessible by entering a secure Username and Password. Due to the exclusive nature of materials contained in the Task Bank, and in an effort to provide a higher level of confidentiality to individuals taking the PAAP, we believe limiting access to such sensitive information is prudent.
Every school district in Maine is being provided with one unique Username and Password. This information is being sent to Special Education directors via USPS, with instructions to share it with the Special Education staff in their districts.
To access the PAAP Task Bank, select Task Bank on the navigation bar on the left side of this web page. A dialogue box will appear, asking for your Username and Password. Once that information has been correctly entered, click on OK, and you will be directed to the Task Bank.
PAAP Workshop Cancellation Policies
Storm Cancellations: Generally we will only cancel a workshop if the school district in which the workshop is held closes due to the weather (for example: for a workshop held in Portland, we will be watching to see if Portland Schools close). In rare instances, depending on the way a storm plays out, the decision to cancel a workshop might be made the afternoon before the scheduled session.
In the event of a cancellation, we make every effort to notify all contact people by e-mail or by telephone. In addition, a notice would be posted on the website, and notification of a new date would be circulated as soon as possible.
Registration Cancellations: MDOE must be notified of all registration cancellations at least seven day before the scheduled workshop. School districts will be charged a $25.00 fee for each no-show.
Updated 11/20/09 -pb
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