Title

PEPNet
Advancing educational opportunities for people who are deaf or hard of hearing
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Our Mission:
To improve transition services and educational access for individuals who are Deaf or hard of hearing including those with co-occurring disabilities.

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We Partner with:
postsecondary secondary vocational rehabilitation adult basic education vocational education community based organizations employers parents students

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Test Equity: The Challenges and Issues

This presentation will:

1. Explore PEPNet National Needs Assessment findings 2. Identify test equity issues discussed at PEPNet Test Equity Summit 3. Outline Summits recommendations

4. Provide newly developed PEPNet resources.

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PEPNet National Needs Assessment

Responses from 2231 stakeholders

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PEPNet National Needs Assessment

Top areas identified for technical assistance and training:

Assessment Transition Technology

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PEPNet 2007 National Needs Assessment

Training needs identified in the area of assessment:

psychoeducational testing and assessment

testing of academic skills determining what reasonable accommodations can and should be made during testing or assessment

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PEPNet 2007 National Needs Assessment

psychoeducational testing and assessment testing of academic skills determining what reasonable accommodations can and should be made during testing or assessment

Do your experiences mirror the findings of the PEPNet National Needs Assessment?
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Test Equity for Deaf and Hard of Hearing: A Summit

August 2008, Broomfield, Colorado

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Test Equity for Deaf and Hard of Hearing: A Summit Facilitated by

- Ten leading experts

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Participants included:
specialists on deafness and educational testing; individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing, and hearing; test and test accommodation developers; language and communication researchers; academicians; K-12 educators and administrators; health professionals; clinicians with extensive experience in psychoeducational evaluation.

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The Test Equity Summit

Explored the
problems, challenges, and issues

that academic and psychoeducational tests pose for individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing.

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Issues and Problems Identified

1. Individuals who grow up Deaf or Hard of Hearing have different experiences with English 2. No standards for developing, administering or taking tests 3. Accommodations: interpreting and extra time 4. Transition to postsecondary 5. Psychoeducational testing, assessment and evolution 6. Design and wording of tests

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What Postsecondary Institutions can do

The design and wording of tests- a closer look
1. The United States fought with Germany. 2. The United States fought with Germany against France.

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What Postsecondary Institutions can do

The design and wording of tests- a closer look
True /False Stanley & French would likely argue that using lottery proceeds for improved public transportation could help reduce the major problem(s) they identify in lotteries.

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What Postsecondary Institutions can do

The design and wording of tests- a closer look

Scientists: a. are skeptical b. never question face value c. ignore conflicting information d. admire authority

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Test Equity Summit Webpage

www.pepnet.org: Resources tab.

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Website Videos Addressing:

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Website Videos Addressing:

Testing Consideration: Language and Literacy Issues

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Website Videos Addressing:

Accommodations: An Overview

Accommodations: Interpreting Tests: Effects on Validity

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Website Videos Addressing:

Testing Consideration: Preparing Students to Take Tests

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Website Videos Addressing:

Testing Consideration: Alternative Measures

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Test Equity Summit Publications

PEPNet Test Equity Considerations:

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What Postsecondary Institutions Can Do

TEST DEVELOPMENT:

Apply principles of universal design Test language should be clear and direct. Ensure that tests measure the knowledge they are intended to test. Help students develop test-taking skills. Consult teachers of the deaf or other specialists in deafness when designing academic tests.
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What Postsecondary Institutions can do

ACCOMMODATIONS:

One size does not fit all Consider test content and purpose in determining whether and how tests are to be interpreted. Use qualified sign language interpreters. For interpreted test: Involve instructor and interpreter in the process
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Test Equity Summit Publications

Best practices for postsecondary testing issues The beginning of an evolution

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Contact us

To contact us, email us at pepnetwest@pepnet.org

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