Committee backs adoption of redesigned Praxis special educator subject assessment

The Education Policy Committee voted to recommend that the full State Board adopt a redesigned Praxis special educator subject assessment, MSDE staff told the committee.

Ms. Meadows, presenting for MSDE, said the redesigned assessment realigns the exam to the 2020 Council for Exceptional Children standards and includes stronger attention to culturally responsive collaboration, human development, and instructional scenarios for students with mild-to-moderate disabilities. "We are making a recommendation that the passing score be set as recommended by the multi-state standard setting panel," Meadows said.

Meadows said Praxis plans to retire the previous version of the assessment in August next year; if the board does not adopt the redesigned assessment there could be a gap in the content assessment requirement for special educators.

Board members asked questions about portability. Dr. May McCarthy asked whether the multi-state nature of the assessment improves portability and reciprocity for out-of-state program completers. Meadows said recent regulatory changes under Maryland's blueprint require out-of-state program completers to take a test of teaching ability rather than a content assessment, which affects transferability and lessens concerns about immediate reciprocity.

Mr. Paul asked whether peer states have set different cut scores; Meadows said she could request state-level cut-score reports from ETS but noted some states (for example Massachusetts) use other systems such as MTELs.

The committee voted to recommend adoption of the assessment to the full State Board for action.