Erie 2 BOCES Special Education Teachers Appointed to New York State Advisory Panel

BUFFALO, N.Y. - Feb. 26, 2015 - PRLog -- Two Erie 2-Chautauqua-Cattaraugus BOCES Special Education teachers have been appointed to serve on the 2014-2015 New York State Alternate Assessment Educator Advisory Panel (NYSAA). Jennifer James and Kelly McNell, instructors in Erie 2 BOCES satellite classrooms located at East Aurora Middle School, will work with other teachers and administrators from across the state to review and refine current assessment standards for students with cognitive disabilities. They will focus on item development, test form review, range finding, and standard setting.

“This advisory panel is comprised of educators who make the best interests of our students a priority in teaching,” said Catalina Fortino, vice president for New York State United Teachers. “By sharing challenges and experiences, the members of the committee are ensuring that we properly determine students’ abilities, and in turn help them meet and exceed expectations we set for all learners.”

This advisory panel, the first of its kind in New York State, is made up of six classroom instructors and six members of administration. James and McNell were nominated to participate on the panel by the Tri-County BOCES Education Association and appointed by the New York State Education Department.

The New York State Alternate Assessment (NYSAA) is part of the New York State Testing Program and is based on a test design with requirements that reflect the updated assessment. The NYSAA is a datafolio-style assessment in which students with severe cognitive disabilities demonstrate their performance toward achieving the New York State P-12 Common Core Learning Standards in English language arts and mathematics. It also measures the New York State Learning Standards and Core Curriculum in science and social studies.

Student performance is recorded through direct observation and documentation and may include other information such as student work products, photographs, audio, and videotapes. Students must be assessed once a year beginning in the school year they become nine years old through the school year they become 14 (grade equivalents 3-8). The secondary level NYSAA is administered during the school year they become 17-18 years of age (high school).

“We are very pleased to have Jennifer and Kelly representing our region on the NYSAA Educator Advisory Panel,” said Jennifer Saboda, director of alternative and special education for Erie 2-Chautauqua-Cattaraugus BOCES. “This is an excellent opportunity for them to share their knowledge as content specialists that will create learning environments and assessments that benefit our students.”

The first meeting of the Educator Advisory Panel will meet February 27 to receive training and discuss the future NYSAA.

For more information, please visit: www.p12.nysed.gov.

For more information on educational services provided by Erie 2 BOCES, please visit: www.e2ccb.org.

About Erie 2-Chautauqua-Cattaraugus BOCES

The Erie 2-Chautauqua-Cattaraugus (E2CC) BOCES is one of 37 BOCES in New York State. The E2CC BOCES represents all the school districts in Chautauqua County, southern Erie County, and part of Cattaraugus County, a geographical area of 1,791 square miles. Services are offered in the following areas: Adult & Community Education, Special Education, Alternative Education, Career & Technical Education, Staff & Curriculum Development, Instructional Support Services, Technology Services, Management Services, and others. During the 2013-2014 school year, K-12 enrollment in E2CCB Career & Technical Education, Special Education, and Alternative Education programs was 2,014. For more information, visit www.e2ccb.org.