[Mesppsdir] FW: Welcome to the 2024-2025 School year - MSAA Important Information

[Ferguson, Sarah (DOE)]

From: Byras, Leora
Sent: Tuesday, August 27, 2024 10:39 AM
To: mesppsdir at maillist.informe.org<mailto:mesppsdir at maillist.informe.org>
Subject: Welcome to the 2024-2025 School year - MSAA Important Information

Good morning, folks!  I am sharing the email below re: the Multi State Alternate Assessment (MSAA), from Mechelle Ganglfinger on the Maine DOE assessment team.  Please reach out with any questions.  Thank you all for your work with Maine's most vulnerable youth!

Respectfully-
Leora

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Greetings Maine Special Education Directors,

I hope you all have had a restful summer and are ready for the start of the 2024-2025 school year.  I am excited to be a new member of the DOE Assessment Team and look forward to working with the many wonderful Maine educators during the upcoming year.

Important Reminder: District, school and student reports for the Spring 2024 Multi-State Alternate Assessment (MSAA) in math/ELA/science are currently available for download within the MSAA System<http://msaaassessment.org/>.  The reports will remain available within the platform through September 6, 2024.  Please make sure all reports for your SAU are downloaded prior to the close of the report window.  Once the window closes on September 6, you will no longer have access to the reports.  Please remember, MSAA Test Coordinators will need their SY 23-24 MSAA login information to access and download these reports.  If you need support, please reach out to me. I am happy to assist as needed. Here is the link to the platform: MSAA System<http://msaaassessment.org/>

With the start of the new school year approaching, it is important to keep this year's MSAA administration dates in mind.  I have attached a timeline for the 2024-2025 school year for your reference.

The Guidance for IEP Teams on Participation Decisions for Maine's Alternate Assessments based on Alternate Academic Achievement Standards (AA-AAAS) Participation Guidance for IEP Teams<https://www.maine.gov/doe/sites/maine.gov.doe/files/2024-08/Special%20Services%20-%20Maine%20Participation%20Guidance%20-%208.1.2024.pdf> has been recently updated.  This document is intended to outline steps to guide Individualized Education Program (IEP) Teams to determine whether an alternate assessment is the most appropriate assessment for an individual student. These steps include:(a) reviewing student records and important information across multiple school years and settings (e.g., school, home, community), and (b) determining whether the student fits all criteria for participating in alternate assessments, as outlined in the document. Students deemed eligible will participate in an alternate assessment in all content areas. Please note that this resource document which is linked in the Special Education Procedural Manual has not been updated.  Please refer to this updated document:  Participation Guidance for IEP Teams<https://www.maine.gov/doe/sites/maine.gov.doe/files/2024-08/Special%20Services%20-%20Maine%20Participation%20Guidance%20-%208.1.2024.pdf>

Additional information related to Maine's alternate assessments can be found on the Maine DOE webpage:  1% and Maine's Alternate Assessments Based on Alternate Academic Achievement Standards (AA-AAAS)<https://www.maine.gov/doe/learning/specialed/assessment>.

Additionally, the Maine DOE Assessment Team would like to invite you to this year's upcoming virtual MSAA and ML trainings. Trainings will be posted on the Maine DOE Professional Learning Calendar, linked here: Event Calendar | Department of Education (maine.gov)<https://www.maine.gov/doe/calendar>.  I have also attached a document listing the trainings with individual registration links. Please forward the document to staff within your SAU who may wish to attend any of the webinars.

As always, please do not hesitate to reach out with any questions. The Team is here to help.


________________________________________

Mechelle Ganglfinger
Alternate & ELP Assessment Coordinator
Assessment Team - Office of Federal Programs
Maine Department of Education
23 State House Station
Augusta, Maine 04333-0023
Email: Mechelle.Ganglfinger at maine.gov<mailto:Mechelle.Ganglfinger at maine.gov>
Phone: 207-242-4244
Maine DOE<http://www.maine.gov/doe> | Facebook<https://www.facebook.com/MaineDepartmentofEducation1/> | Twitter<https://twitter.com/mdoenews> | Instagram<https://www.instagram.com/mainedepted/?hl=en> | Maine DOE Newsroom<https://mainedoenews.net/>



 ________________________________________

Leora Byras
Education Specialist III
Office of Special Services and Inclusive Education
Maine Department of Education
23 State House Station
Augusta, Maine 04333-0023
Email: leora.byras at maine.gov<mailto:leora.byras at maine.gov>
Phone: 207-624-6618
Maine DOE<http://www.maine.gov/doe> | Facebook<https://www.facebook.com/MaineDepartmentofEducation1/> | Twitter<https://twitter.com/mdoenews> | Instagram<https://www.instagram.com/mainedepted/?hl=en> | Maine DOE Newsroom<https://mainedoenews.net/>
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