Phase out plan, timeline for elimination of the OK Modified Alternate Assessment Program (OMAAP)

To: Superintendents, District Test Coordinators, and Special Education Directors

From: Maridyth McBee, Assistant State Superintendent of Assessment and Accountability; Rene Axtell, Assistant State Superintendent of Special Education Services

Date: February 28, 2013

RE: Phase out plan and timeline for the elimination of the Oklahoma Modified Alternate Assessment Program (OMAAP), Grades 3-8 and End-of-Instruction (EOI) 

The Oklahoma State Department of Education (OSDE) has been in a state of transition to the Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers (PARCC) since the adoption of the Common Core State Standards (CCSS) in the Spring of 2010. The purpose of this memo is to outline the specific changes regarding the assessment options for students with disabilities discussed by the previous memo dated February 5^th, 2013 (link below). These changes will have an impact upon students with disabilities, Individualized Education Programs (IEPs), assessment, and student results.

1. Beginning with the 2013-2014 school year, the OMAAP will not be an assessment option for first time test takers.

• Students with disabilities who were previously eligible for alternate assessments based on modified academic achievement standards will be included in the high-quality assessment based on grade-level academic achievement standards beginning with the 2013-2014 school year.

2. Students who were previously administered the OMAAP EOIs during 2012-13 or earlier and were unsuccessful will have the opportunity to retake an OMAAP in the same subject area in order to apply a modified proficiency score.

• This option will remain in place through the 2015-2016 school year for every student who participated in the OMAAP for the first time prior to the start of the 2013-2014 school year. This timeframe will provide students the opportunity to retake the OMAAP in the same subject area in order to apply a modified proficiency score. 

What do these changes mean for Oklahoma students with disabilities and assessments during SY 2013-14?

•  All students who are first time test takers within a subject area must either participate in the Oklahoma Core Curriculum Test (OCCT) or the OAAP assessment.
• Core Instruction should focus on the new Oklahoma C3 Standards.
• Placement decisions should focus on the least restrictive environment that affords a student access to the Oklahoma C3 Standards and core content curriculum.
• Instructional and Assessment Accommodations should focus on providing appropriate access that does not decrease learning expectations.

TIMELINE*

*The number of students needing to utilize the OMAAP for a modified proficiency score will decrease substantially over these school years. The focus of IEP and LIEP teams should be on selecting appropriate accommodations in order for students to be successful in the regular assessment. 

• OMAAP.doc