Updates from ISBE - Assessment & Assistive Technology

In the last week, ISBE has put out LOTS of information related to assessment and has updated a few forms for us.  We've tried to cover it all here for you.

Assessment 

Illinois Assessment of Readiness (IAR) - General Information 

The administration of the IAR will be very similar to last year.  School staff can use the same training material and practice tools that were used last year.  For additional information, see the recorded webinar from January 18. The agency will be providing more information in the coming weeks.

IAR Student Accommodations 

School staff can begin to enter student accommodation indicators in SIS (or enter in to the school software package that feeds information into SIS).  New Meridian will provide the test content/forms for the next two years to ensure compatibility and continuity through the transition. The agency will continue to use 100% PARCC content and forms built to the standard of the PARCC assessments, so the accommodations that were available last year, will be available for the spring 2019 administration.

IEP Forms 

Assessment pages of the English and Spanish IEP forms (34-54O) have been updated to reflect recent assessment changes from PARCC to Illinois Assessments of Readiness (IAR) and the new PSAT and SAT Suite of Assessments.  Find the new form by clicking here.

Assistive Technology 

Parent/Guardian Notification of Conference form (34-57D) and the IEP Educational Accommodations and Supports page (34-54N) to reflect the passage of Senate Bill 0454, signed into law as Public Law 0993 on August 20, 2018. This amendment to the Children with Disabilities Article of the Illinois School Code requires written notification that informs parents/guardians that the IEP team is to consider assistive technology at all IEP meetings and provide a telephone number and an internet address for the Assistive Technology Program.  Find the new form by clicking here.

You can find a whole explanation for the updated forms by clicking here.