The WDE684 Data Collection will be open from March 17 to April 1, 2016. This collection is submitted through the State Report Manager on the Wyoming Integrated Statewide Education (WISE) Data System. There will be three training sessions conducted via WebEx for WISE coordinators.

• March 8, 2 p.m. to 3 p.m.  2015-16 WDE684 Teacher/Course/Student Collection Training 1
• March 10, 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. 2015-16 WDE684 Teacher/Course/Student Collection Training 2
• March 15, 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. 2015-16 WDE684 Teacher/Course/Student Collection Training 3

Wyoming educators are invited to apply for consideration to participate in PAWS reviews for the Wyoming Department of Education (WDE), July 18 to July 21, 2016, in Sheridan, WY.  Educators from around the state will review test questions and field-test data. Teachers will also make suggestions that will guide the development of the state assessments. ETS will provide pre-paid hotel accommodations for those who need them. In addition, participants will be reimbursed for mileage and meals outside those provided during the meetings and receive a stipend. 

If you are administering WorkKeys online, there are a number of suggested training webinars available to assist Test Coordinators and Test Administrators with that transition.

ACT WorkKeys Test Administration Training for Online Testing Webinar (Duration: 1 hr.)

March 11 (1 pm), April 1 (10 am), or April 12 (1 pm)

This webinar is intended for new test coordinators and proctors administering the online version of ACT WorkKeys. 

Register here: WorkKeys Test Administration Training for Online Testing

ACT WorkKeys Groups and Batch Load Training for Online Testing Webinar (Duration: 1 hr.)

March 29 (1 pm), or  April 15 (2 pm)

This training will cover using "Groups" and/or "Batch Loading" as part of the ACT WorkKeys online test administration process. 

Register here: ACT WorkKeys Groups and Batch Load Training for Online Testing

The ACT Aspire testing window is quickly approaching. The WDE would like to offer the opportunity for testing coordinators, technology coordinators, and test proctors to ask questions about the Aspire assessment. A regular Q & A session will be scheduled weekly starting on Wednesday March 8 at 3:30 pm and every Wednesday thereafter until the end of the testing window.  March 23 is excluded as there will be an Test Administration training event at 3:00 pm that day. Please dial 307-439-4002 to access the Q & A sessions. 

On March 23 at 3 pm, ACT Aspire will be providing a refresher webinar for Aspire Test Administration. Please attend this session if you have any questions concerning ACT Aspire test administration.

It has recently come to our attention that there is some confusion in the field about whether the new Aspire assessments in grades 9 and 10 are optional and whether the data will be used for school accountability.

As you know, the ACT retired the Explore and Plan assessments, effective at the end of the 2014-15 school year.  In order to minimize design changes to the WAEA high school accountability model, statute from last year's legislative session was developed that essentially substituted Aspire for Explore and Plan beginning in the spring of 2016.  

Given statute, Aspire is a required assessment and it will be used in place of Explore and Plan for school accountability under WAEA.  All 9th and 10th grade students are expected to participate in Aspire (with or without accommodations); students with the most significant cognitive disabilities are expected to participate in the Wy-ALT instead.

Now that schools have access to the Aspire portal, it is time to do an Infrastructure Trial, verify student data, input student accommodations, and finally begin setting up test sessions and groups. Schools should also be checking the portal for transfer approvals. If you are unsure about the transfer process, please review the Transferring Students training module.

The Test Management System (actaspire.tms.pearson.com) contains many tutorials and further information about test administration, or the ACT page on the WDE website (edu.wyoming.gov/educators/state-assesment/act/) for other helpful tools including the following:

• Computer-Based Testing Step-By-Step
• Paper/Pencil Testing Step-By-Step

Assessment Literacy and Formative Assessment Resource Development Training

Presented by Jan Hoegh, this two-day session is a repeat of the “Assessment Literacy and Formative Assessment” training that was provided across the state of Wyoming during 2015. The information shared in these two days provides foundational knowledge for each of the upcoming Phase II sessions.

• March 29-30, 2016
• Casper: Parkway Plaza, 123 W. E Street

WORD OF THE WEEK

educational outcomes

Knowledge and skills students acquire as a result of their educational experiences; the intended results of schooling. Some educators use the term "outcomes" to mean goals, objectives, or standards. The term also implies greater emphasis on the results of education (i.e., what students actually know and are able to do).