Access Points for the Sunshine State Standards

Summary:

What are Access Points?

As part of the revision to the Sunshine State Standards, access points were developed for students with the most significant cognitive disabilities (i.e., students who are eligible for alternate assessment). Access points are embedded in the revised Sunshine State Standards and capture the core intent of the standards at reduced levels of complexity. The three levels include Participatory, Supported, and Independent.

Why were Access Points Developed?

IDEA 2004 emphasizes the importance of access to the general curriculum for all students with disabilities. Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) focuses on high expectations for all students. Access points were developed in order to align Florida's curriculum for students with significant cognitive disabilities with the state's academic content and provide a direct link to grade-level standards. Access points were written to reflect the highest learning standards possible for students with the most significant cognitive disabilities.

Who will Use Access Points?

Only students with the most significant cognitive disabilities (generally considered to be about one percent of the total student population) are eligible for instruction in access points. Students who meet the criteria for alternate assessment are instructed and assessed on the access points. Other ESE students are working on regular benchmarks with accommodations as necessary.

Which Subjects Have Access Points?

Revised Sunshine State Standards with Access Points include:

• Reading and Language Arts
• Mathematics
• Science
• Social Studies
• Health Education
• Physical Education

Click on the Alternate Curriculum link to see examples of access points for certain subjects. You can download a copy of the access points from the Florida Standards Web site: http://www.floridastandards.org

For training information about access points for students with significant cognitive disabilities, go to the Training page to view a summary of the Pathways for Progress workshops. The Pathways for Progress workshops are designed to facilitate an understanding of the development and purpose of access points and suggestions and strategies for planning instruction.

Modifications | Alternate Curriculum | Partial Requirements | Impact