Due
to the 2015 ESSA requirements that placed a 1% cap on the alternate assessment
participation rates for states, TEA is in the process of submitting to
the USDE a limited waiver to allow Texas to exceed the 1% cap on the
number of students who participate in the alternate assessment for the
2018-2019 school year. Part of the waiver requires a state to create a plan for
providing support and training to school districts and charter schools
that focuses on ensuring ARD committees are making informed
assessment decisions for students receiving special education services.
Based on 2018 assessment data, 66% of Region 3 districts/charters are assessing over 1% of their assessed population on the alternate assessment. Although the ESSA requirement is at the state-level, not the district/charter school-level, TEA is required to provide oversight to districts/charters who are exceeding the 1% threshold. TEA will visit regions and meet with district school testing and special education coordinators to provide participants with training which will include a process for reviewing data specific to each LEA. Each district/charter school attending will receive training on five steps LEAs can take to ensure that ARD committees are making assessment decisions that result in the most appropriate assessment for each student. Parent resources will be discussed that support informing parents on assessment decisions regarding alternate assessments.