 |
July
28, 2006 |
 |
|
| Featured
sponsor: |
 |
To avoid an “apples and oranges” situation when it comes to public school evaluation and improvement, the No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Act requires states to submit assessment plans to ensure consistency of data across states. The Department of Education recently reported that all 50 states, DC, and Puerto Rico have now been told whether their standards and assessment systems are acceptable — 14 states received approval or “approval expected,” while most of the rest must submit plans for changes or additions within 25 days of receiving the report.
In a June 20 letter to the Michigan Department of Education, the U.S. Department of Education reported that Michigan’s approval, along with that of 24 other states, is still pending, but with no financial penalty imposed (7 additional states with approval pending will have funds withheld). Michigan’s letter says in part:
“Michigan's system has one fundamental component that warrants the designation of Approval Pending. Specifically, we cannot approve two of Michigan's alternate assessments based on alternate achievement standards for students with the most significant cognitive disabilities. Michigan developed multiple assessments based on alternate achievement standards but, at present, only the MI-Access Functional Independence assessment meets the requirements for this type of assessment. The MI-Access Participation and the Supported Independence assessments are not linked to grade-level content standards and do not yield separate valid scores in reading and mathematics… Michigan must either change these alternate assessments to meet the statutory and regulatory requirements or cease using them to determine AYP. Because Michigan included the two non-approved alternate assessments in its AYP determinations for the 2005-06 school year, Michigan did not administer an approved assessment system in 2005-06 as required under NCLB, thereby resulting in its Approval Pending status.”
In order to gain “approved” status, the MDE has been required to submit a plan and detailed timeline for how it will meet the remaining requirements to come into full compliance by the end of the 2006-07 school year.
Source: Connect for Kids; Education Week, 7.12.06
1001 Centennial Way, Ste 300
Lansing, MI 48917
www.gomasa.org | Contact us