NORTHFIELD BOARD OF EDUCATION FILE CODE: 6171.4
Northfield, New Jersey
Regulation
SPECIAL EDUCATION
PARTICIPATION IN STATEWIDE TESTING
The Individuals with Disabilities Act Amendments of 1997 (IDEA) and the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) requires students with disabilities be included in State and district assessment programs.
Procedures for Participation in Statewide Assessments
Students with disabilities shall participate in the Statewide assessment system according to the following:
A. Except as provided in B. below, students with disabilities shall participate in each content area of the general statewide assessment for their grade or age.
B. New Jersey Department of Education accommodations and modifications will be provided, when determined necessary by the IEP team, to students with disabilities who participate in the general statewide assessments.
C. Students with disabilities shall participate in the Alternate Proficiency Assessment (APA) if:
1. The IEP team determines the student is unable to participate in the general State assessment for his or her grade or age because the student’s disability is so severe that the student has not been instructed in any of the knowledge and skills tested; and
2. The student cannot complete any of the types of questions on the assessment in the content area(s), even with accommodations and modifications.
D. The IEP team shall make this determination for each content area tested and the student’s IEP must indicate the student will participate in the APA.
E. The district designates the Coordinator of Special Services as the Alternate Proficiency Assessment Test Coordinator to serve as the primary contact for assessment information, to assist district educators in the APA portfolio process, and to ensure district staff members receive appropriate in-service training in the APA process.
Adopted: October 20, 2008