ERIC Number: EJ693723
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2004-Jan-1
Pages: 13
Abstractor: Author
Reference Count: 0
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0022-4669
The Alignment of Alternate Assessment Content with Academic and Functional Curricula
Browder, D; Flowers, C; Ahlgrim-Delzell, L; Karvonen, M; Spooner, F; Algozzine, R
Journal of Special Education, v37 n4 p211-223 Jan 2004
The 1997 amendments to the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act required states to provide access to the general curriculum and alternate assessments for students with disabilities who were unable to participate in statewide assessments. For this study, we examined the curricular focus of alternate assessments using performance indicators in math, language arts, and functional skills from 31 states. Experts in math education, language arts, and severe disabilities, along with a group of stakeholders (i.e., teachers and administrators), examined the performance indicators relative to their alignment to national standards and curricula. Experts and stakeholders identified states that had alternate assessment performance indicators that were clearly aligned to math or language arts and those that did not. A subgroup also considered the functionality of the indicators. Through a series of discussions, experts and stakeholders identified features of the performance indicators that exemplified alignment with general or functional curricula, including specificity of content, wording, required response, and gradeor age-level appropriateness. The results suggest that alternate assessments have a strong focus on academic skills but also reflect an additive curricular approach linking academic and functional skills.
Descriptors: Disabilities, National Standards, Language Arts, Attitudes toward Disabilities, Alternative Assessment
PRO-ED, Inc., 8700 Shoal Creek Boulevard, Austin, Texas 78757-6897. Tel: 800-897-3202 (Toll Free).
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Evaluative
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers: Individuals with Disabilities Education; performance indicators; Individuals with Disabilities Education Act; Performance Indicators

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