Planned Research Related to Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers Accessibility Features and Accommodations

• In Event: Research and Development to Ensure Accessibility for the Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers Assessments

Abstract

This presentation will address PARCC’s ongoing program of research devoted to ensuring that the accessibility features built into the assessments and the available accommodations provide access to students, particularly students with disabilities (SWD) and English learners (EL), while maintaining the integrity of the test scores. The research plan includes,
• Investigating the provision and use of the accessibility features and accommodations
Are the students who need the accessibility features and accommodations using them?
• Investigating the Impact of the Accommodations
Are the accessibility features and accommodations removing barriers to demonstrating ability without changing the construct being measured?
• Quantifying and comparing group differences
Does the test (and do the test items) function similarly for SWD and EL as for regular education students?
• Comparing group differences for specific item types
Do specific item types function similarly for SWD and EL as for regular education students?
• Investigating comparisons of human and Artificial Intelligence (AI) scoring
How does AI scoring compare to human scoring for SWD and EL
• Investigating the “read-aloud” accommodation’s potential influence on the validity of PARCC scores as predictors of future success?
Are PARCC scores similarly predictive of future (i.e. college) performance when the read-aloud accommodation is used?
The presenter will describe specific studies and analyses planned to investigate the topics included in the research plan. The presentation will also describe how the studies indicated have evolved and how they will be used to inform a continuing research agenda as PARCC assessments become operational. Finally, this presentation will include a brief discussion of how research related to the performance of SWD and EL have been integrated into the overall investigations of test and item quality, validity, and program evaluation for the PARCC assessments.

Authors

• Arthur A. Thacker, Human Resources Research Organization

• Enis Dogan, PARCC