Question of the Week
Q: When will the recorded February DAC meetings be released?
A: For those unable to attend an in-person February DAC Meeting, each section has been recorded by staff in the Division of Assessment and Accountability Support (DAAS). The trainings include Test Security, Accommodations and Alternate K-PREP, SDRR, K-PREP and High School, The separate videos can be accessed from the KDE DAC Training Series link.
PowerPoints used during the February DAC Meetings can be accessed on the Meetings and Trainings page. For questions around any of the sections, please contact DAAS by email or phone (502) 564-4394.
March DAC Webcast Time Change (2 p.m. ET)
The Office of Assessment and Accountability (OAA) will host its live monthly District Assessment Coordinator (DAC) webcast Thursday, March 12 from 2 p.m. – 3 p.m. ET. There is a scheduling conflict with our regular scheduled time. The webcast will be hosted by Jennifer Stafford, Director in the Division of Assessment and Accountability Support (DAAS). Information on K Screen, proposed legislation, and other assessment and accountability topics will be shared. The March DAC Webcast PowerPoint will be available on March 12. Please join Jennifer at 2 p.m. ET for the live broadcast from the KDE Studio in Frankfort. Questions may be asked by sending an email to KDE DAC Information.
Kentucky Alternate Assessment Quality of School Climate and Safety Survey
The Quality of School Climate and Safety (QSCS) Survey was released in January publicly to show the type of questions students would see when the survey and field test were completed during the Feb. 24-March 6 Field Test window. For students on the alternate assessment, they too are required to complete the survey during the Window 2 assessment which occurs April 13-May 29. The QSCS survey for alternate assessment students is based on the same questions, just a smaller number. Instead of the original 30 items selected, there will be 10 items on the QSCS survey for alternate assessment students. Click here to view the survey items for Kentucky Alternate Assessment.
The survey for alternate assessment will be specific to grades 3-5 and grades 6-12. Students on the alternate assessment will test at grade 12 for the social studies field test. Therefore, they will also be required to complete the survey. For any questions about the survey please contact Kevin O’Hair by email or by phone at (502) 564-4394.
ACT National Scores in Infinite Campus (IC)
The Kentucky Department of Education (KDE) strives to publish student results data in IC as it becomes available. In this spirit, 2019-2020 ACT national scores have been imported into the State Edition of IC. KDE will publish these scores to all districts beginning on Thursday, March 12. Please email Raymond Carter with any questions on this matter.
ACT Initial Testing Window Opens/Makeup Materials Deadline
The initial ACT testing window opens Tuesday, March 10. For students who are unable to test on the initial test day, place an order for makeup materials. The window to order standard time materials for the makeup test date is March 10-13. Given this condensed ordering window please be sure to submit the order prior to the March 13 deadline.
ACT Deadline to Conduct Non-Test Information Session for Paper Examinees
Test Coordinators must conduct non-test information sessions for the initial paper test by March 9 (today). If students taking the initial paper test have not completed their non-test items by the close of business, reschedule those students for makeup testing. Paper examinees are not permitted to complete the non-test items on or after test day. Students testing online must complete the non-test items at actstudent.org up to four days after the end of the testing window.
ACT Return Shipping Deadline
When initial testing concludes return test booklets, used answer documents and test administration forms to ACT. FedEx is scheduled to pick up all testing material on March 11. The receipt deadline at ACT is March 17.
Note: Late-arriving answer documents will not be scored.
The accommodated test materials are scheduled to be picked up on March 23. If all accommodated testing is completed prior to the end of the scheduled window, call ACT customer care to schedule a pickup of the testing materials.
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DAC Spotlight
Phyllis Curry
Adair County Schools
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Adair County Schools is a rural school district located between beautiful Lake Cumberland and Green River Lake in southcentral Kentucky. The district has an enrollment of 2,700 students in a county that is home to just over 19,000 residents. The county seat of Adair County is Columbia.
The district is comprised of four schools on one campus--Adair County High (9-12), Adair County School Middle (6-8), Adair County Elementary (3-5), and Adair County Primary Center (PK-2). There is a state-funded juvenile detention center, Adair Learning Academy, where Adair County teachers and staff serve students from all over the state.
The Adair County Marching Band has won an unprecedented 23 state marching titles and the academic teams at the elementary, middle and high school levels all excel in district, regional, state and even international competitions ever year. An athletic trainer was recently added to work with all sports programs, as well as the marching band. Plans are for the trainer to become an adjunct and teach classes in a health science pathway next year.
There have been a lot of changes in the district in the past ten years as the district has been reconfigured twice, reducing the number of schools from seven to four. The campus has undergone a complete transformation with the building of a new bus complex, two new schools and the demolition of two other schools.
With all schools located on one campus, elementary and middle school students have opportunities for acceleration by being able to move across grade levels and schools for their instruction, based on individual levels of readiness. Buses transport students as they move from school to school.
Academically, high school students have many more opportunities to take dual-credit courses both on and off campus and to have an individual plan tailored to his/her needs. Seniors may apply to be a part of Chief Nation, which is a means of Completing High School in an Early Format (C.H.I.E.F).
Also housed within Adair County High is the Indian Academy, a virtual school within a school, where students can take advantage of online curriculum for credit recovery or enroll in academic programs suited to their individual needs. The high school graduation rate is a source of pride for the district and the entire community as the rate has risen significantly and has been above the state average for several years.
Through a strong partnership with the Lake Cumberland Area Technology Center in Russell County, Adair County students also have access to a variety of technical programs and career pathways. A satellite campus of LCATC is located at ACHS with welding and nursing classes taught onsite.
Two years ago, the district was fortunate to receive funding from the Striving Readers Grant, a competitive grant from the Kentucky Department of Education. The grant has enabled all schools to be highly focused on literacy strategies and improving students’ abilities to read on grade level. A multisensory approach to reading is the focus for elementary students, with critical writing incorporated at the middle and high school levels.
Disclaimer: Any views or opinions presented in the article are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of the Kentucky Department of Education (KDE).
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