Let the U.S. DOE know youR THOUGHTS about ENDING LAA-2!

Proposed changes to Federal Rules will prevent students with disabilities in Louisiana from being able to be tested using the Louisiana Alternate Assessment - 2 (LAA-2).

Do you think the LAA-2 should no longer be an option?

The U.S. Department of Education extended the comment period to hear feedback on this proposed rule change. Comments must be received by the Department on or before November 26, 2013.

The easiest way to submit comments is through Federal eRulemaking Portal.

Go to http://www.regulations.gov/#!documentDetail;D=ED-2012-OESE-0018-0117
Click the box: "Comment Now!" in the top-right of the page.
Fill in your comments and scroll the menu of "Category" to define yourself (Individual and Parent/Relative are among the options). If you do not care to leave your name, enter Anonymous into each of the name fields.
Click "Submit."
On the next page, click the box that you agree with the statements and click "Submit."

Comments may also be sent via U.S. Mail to:

Monique Chism, Director,

Student Achievement and School Accountability Programs,

Office of Elementary and Secondary Education,

Attention: AA-MAAS NPRM

U.S. Department of Education

400 Maryland Avenue SW., Room 3W224

Washington, DC 20202-6132

Comments submitted by Fax or email will not be accepted.

Additional Information

How many students participate in LAA-2?

In 2010-2011 almost 10,000 students with disabilities participated in LAA-2. The table below has the numbers and percentages of students with IEPs participating in LAA-2 by grade level.

Math LAA-2 Participation 2010-2011

Grade	Number of students with disabilities taking LAA-2 (Math)	Percentage of students with disabilities taking LAA-2 (Math)
4^th	1,819	23.6 %
5^th	1,502	24.7 %
6^th	1,401	24.7%
7^th	1,561	27.6%
8^th	2,154	38.4 %
High School	1,521	38.1 %

ELA LAA-2 Participation 2010-2011

Grade	Number of students with disabilities taking LAA-2 (ELA)	Percentage of students with disabilities taking LAA-2 (ELA)
4^th	1,846	22.9 %
5^th	1,518	24.9 %
6^th	1,410	24.9%
7^th	1,561	27.6%
8^th	2,128	37.9 %
High School	1,379	35.8 %

http://tadnet.public.tadnet.org/pages/712

How do Students taking the LAA-2 perform?

LaTEACH was instrumental in having LAA-2 be accepted for criteria to promote students and to earn a high school diploma. Below are the data on students who participated in LAA-2 in Math and ELA that scored at proficiency or above in 2010-2011.

Math LAA-2 Performance 2010-2011

Grade	Number of students with disabilities proficient based on LAA-2 (Math)	Percentage of students with disabilities proficient based on LAA-2 (Math)
4^th	469	26.8 %
5^th	359	23.9 %
6^th	252	18.0 %
7^th	379	24.3%
8^th	280	13.0 %
High School	103	6.8 %

ELA LAA-2 Performance 2010-2011

Grade	Number of students with disabilities proficient based on LAA-2 (ELA)	Percentage of students with disabilities proficient based on LAA-2 (ELA)
4^th	362	19.6 %
5^th	441	29.1 %
6^th	307	21.8 %
7^th	473	30.3 %
8^th	571	26.8 %
High School	409	29.7 %

The LAA-2 is considered an alternate assessment based on modified academic achievement standards (AA-MAS). For a summary of how all states compare in their use of AA-MAS see: http://www.advocacyinstitute.org/ESEA/AA-MAS.state.status.pdf

If this proposed rule change is made final, Louisiana is among the states with ESEA Flexibility (waiver) that will be required to discontinue use of AA-MAS by 2014-2015.

Please let us know if you commented to the U.S. Department of Education and share your feelings about the possible change to end LAA-2 by emailing us by info@lateach.org.