The webinar, “PSSA-M: Assigning Students to the Test and Understanding Participation,” will be held from 9-11 a.m. on Thursday, Nov. 18, 2010. Your registration confirmation will contain directions for joining the webinar on November 18, and a complete listing of system requirements.  You will be connected using your computer’ss microphone and speakers (VoIP).

Presenters:  Bureau of Assessment and Accountability and Bureau of Special Education, Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE).

The PSSA-M tests in Math, Reading and Science are available as test options for the 2011 PSSA test administration. The PSSA-M is an alternate assessment based upon modified academic achievement standards.

In order for an IEP student to participate in the PSSA-M, certain eligibility criteria must be met. These criteria are available in “Guidelines for IEP Teams: Assigning Students with IEPs to State Tests (ASIST)”:  http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/community/special_education/7465/assessment/607491.

The Department strongly encourages the participation of those educators who make decisions regarding the assignment of students to the PSSA or PSSA-M test(s), as well as those administrators who are responsible for the ordering of appropriate test materials.

This webinar will provide important information about the PSSA-M Math, Reading and Science tests. Topics that will be addressed include: 1) The available subject and grade level modified tests; 2) The target population for participation, including eligibility criteria; 3) Modifications and test blue prints; and 4) IEP documentation.

Participants may register for this event on the PaTTAN web site at www.pattan.net. The PSSA-M eligibility guidelines can be downloaded from the Department’ss website using the following link: http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/community/special_education/7465/assessment/607491.