All of the states in this study have recently been involved in school accountability system reform. Since 2011, the states have taken advantage of a federal program to give them flexibility around certain requirements of the "No Child Left Behind Act" of 2001 (NCLB), the most recent reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary…

A study of 206 Kentucky special education teachers examined the amount of time required on alternative assessment. Results found teachers spend many hours outside of class time completing one portfolio. Instructional variables, such as the extent to which portfolio items are embedded into instruction, are strongly related to student scores.…

This article analyzes how Kentucky and Maryland have addressed basic issues in developing alternate assessment for students with disabilities who cannot be included within regular state and local district education assessment and accountability measures. Issues include why they chose the formats, standards, and implementation systems they did and…

This article provides a template to assist policymakers in developing and refining reliable large-scale alternate assessments for students with significant disabilities unable to participate in general state and district assessments. It also discusses Kentucky's 10-year experience with its alternate assessment and experiences of other states…

Under the 1997 Individuals with Disabilities Education Act Amendments, all states must now include students with disabilities in statewide and districtwide educational assessments. So far, Kentucky is the only state with a comprehensive alternative portfolio-assessment program for students unable to participate in "regular" testing…

A statewide survey of Kentucky teachers of students with moderate and severe disabilities participating in an alternate assessment and accountability system found that teachers recognized specific benefits (such as students learning to follow individualized schedules) but also expressed frustration with time required to complete student assessment…

This report discusses the outcomes of a study that examined the use of accommodations in state assessment by students with disabilities and explored several related factors. A survey of states indicated 12 states (Florida, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Maryland, Nevada, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Dakota, and West…

This document describes the holdings of the Test Center of the Northwest Regional Educational Laboratory as of April 1994 in the area of assessment alternatives in social studies. The bibliography lists 45 entries about such subjects as portfolio assessment, diploma examinations, performance criteria, performance assessment models, integrating…

Conflicting policy decisions, scaling difficulties, teacher resistance, and mediocre results are slowing adoption of authentic student-evaluation measures. With more conservative state leadership, California and Arizona rejected performance assessment, and other states have followed. Despite various setbacks, new assessments are becoming the norm.…

A study investigated the extent to which alternate assessment scores for 41 12th-graders in Kentucky's Alternate Portfolio Program for students with significant disabilities correlated with a measure of post-school outcomes approximately one year after completing school. No significant relationship was found between these two measures. (Contains…

This report discusses the 1997 amendments to the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act that require states to develop alternate assessments for students with disabilities who cannot participate in large-scale assessment programs. The report also profiles five state alternate assessment practices that have been developed or are emerging and…

As part of a Kentucky effort to improve public education and to increase taxpayer confidence in expanded educational funding, a citizen committee examined and made recommendations on approaches to school accountability and assessment, particularly student testing in the Kentucky Instructional Results Information System (KIRIS). The recommendations…

This article sketches the historical context for the development of alternate assessment for students with disabilities, describes alternate assessment, and identifies some of the potential benefits of including students with significant disabilities in large-scale assessment. The correlation between alternate assessment scores and the…

Discussion of performance-based assessment in elementary and secondary schools in Kentucky focuses on the use of hypermedia as an effective alternative for assessing student learning. Curriculum activities are described for science, language arts, foreign language, mathematics, social studies, and physical education. (Contains seven references.)…

This report discusses the many issues that need to be considered as states and districts begin to design and implement alternate assessments, which are used for students with severe cognitive delays or multiple disabilities or students who require such significant accommodations that the validity of the test would be compromised. The report…