CTB/McGraw-Hill Awarded Alabama Alternate Assessment Program
Program Ensures Accommodations for Special Needs Students in State Educational Assessments
PRNewswire
MONTEREY, Calif.
Jan 25, 2007
CTB/McGraw-Hill, the nation's leader in PreK-12 and adult education assessment solutions, today announced a contract award from the Alabama State Department of Education for the Alabama Alternate Assessment (AAA) program. This comprehensive program is designed for special needs students - children with cognitive disabilities that prevent them from participating in general classroom assessments. The program represents a significant step forward in serving these students because it provides a fair and unbiased opportunity to demonstrate their skills and knowledge in Reading and Mathematics, with the addition of Science in 2008.
The AAA removes barriers to participation in state assessments and ensures the inclusion of special needs students in Alabama's accountability system, as well as addresses the requirements of both the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). Approximately 5,500 Alabama students in Grades K-8, 10, and 11 will participate in this year's AAA program. CTB/McGraw-Hill's one-year contract for the AAA begins with the 2006/2007 school year, and contains two additional one-year options to renew.
"This program demonstrates CTB/McGraw-Hill's and the State of Alabama's mutual dedication to the achievement of all students, and we're very proud to partner with the State on this educational milestone," said Ellen Haley, president, CTB/McGraw-Hill. "Many of us at CTB/McGraw-Hill are former educators, and we're committed to creating accessible programs for learning to support the goals of all students as well as teachers."
The AAA program is the result of a collaborative effort between CTB/McGraw-Hill and the Alabama State Department of Education to evaluate a student's mastery of the Alabama Extended Standards in Reading and Mathematics, developed for this student population in alignment with the Alabama Courses of Study and confirmed by peer review. Students create a portfolio of work in Reading and Mathematics, which is collected throughout the school year by teachers and assessed at year's end against the Alabama Extended Standards. This Body of Evidence method enables educators to make a comprehensive review of each student's performance and tailor instruction to maximize student achievement.
CTB/McGraw-Hill serves more than 18 million students annually in all 50 states, including the District of Columbia and the worldwide U.S. Department of Defense system. CTB/McGraw-Hill also offers a complete range of assessment and instruction products, including classroom-level test content, pre-made test modules, and instructional activities customized to align with specific state academic standards as well as NCLB requirements. For more information, visit www.ctb.com.
About CTB/McGraw-Hill
As the nation's leading publisher of standardized and standards-based achievement tests for pre-school, elementary, middle, high school, and adult education, CTB/McGraw-Hill LLC offers a broad range of assessments, software and services. CTB/McGraw-Hill LLC is part of the Assessment and Reporting group of McGraw-Hill Education, a leading global provider of instructional, assessment and reference solutions that empower professionals and students of all ages. Additional information is available at: http://www.mheducation.com/.
SOURCE: CTB/McGraw-Hill
CONTACT: Media Inquiries:
Kelley Carpenter
Director, Communications
(831) 393-7196
kelley_carpenter@mcgraw-hill.com