Question of the Week
Q: When will districts see participation rate data for the Quality of School Climate and Safety (QSCS) survey?
A: In late February and early March, students in grades 3-8, 10 and 11 completed the Quality of School Climate and Safety (QSCS) survey. The survey was developed to meet the requirement of the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) that states adopt an indicator of school performance that does not involve state test scores or graduation rates into the state’s education accountability system. ESSA also requires 95% of students in every school participate in statewide assessments.
The Office of Assessment and Accountability (OAA) received preliminary data on the survey. Most schools met the 95% participation rate required by ESSA. However, there were 56 schools that did not meet the requirement.
The QSCS survey participation rate data is now available to District Assessment Coordinators (DACs) to review. An Excel spreadsheet with QSCS survey participation rate data can be accessed. It contains two sheets. The first sheet includes participation rate data for all schools and district. Details consist of the number and percentage of students who attempted, didn’t attempt, and non-participation. Schools that did not meet the 95% participation rate are highlighted. The second sheet contains information on each student and QSCS survey status.
DACs in every district can download the file and view their schools’ participation rates. DACs can find the QSCS survey participation data in the Secure Web Application under Student Data Detail. The QSCS survey participation data excel file is named SD20_XXX_Survey_District Name_Spring_roster.ZIP. If you are unable to access the KDE secure application site, check with your WAAPOC and/or the KDE Help Desk. The KDE Help Desk can be reached at (502) 564-2002.
OAA asks that DACs with schools that have student participation rates lower than 95% to complete an investigation. DACs should find out why the school fell below the required participation rate. OAA wants to understand why schools fell below 95% in order to adjust for future trainings and communications. Once DACs have the inquiry complete, please email KDE DAC Information reasons why the school(s) fell below the 95% participation rate. Please complete the investigation by May 15.
Once this initial step is complete, summary QSCS survey data will be provided to DACs. For any questions, please contact dacinfo@education.ky.gov.
K Screen Brigance OMS Staff File Now Available
In order to build the Online Management System (OMS) staff file for the 2020-2021 school year, the existing staff file must be edited. The District Assessment Coordinator (DAC) must access the spreadsheet from the KDE secure web applications site and choose Student Data Detail (Excel and PDF). The staff file is included in one zip “SD21_districtnumber_K_Sreeen_Users_DistrictName_20200420.xlsx”.
The district’s spreadsheet will be pre-populated with the information originally submitted for the 2019-2020 school year. The spreadsheet provides a list of staff with specific roles that Curriculum Associates will use to build the Brigance OMS each year. In addition, the spreadsheet has been updated to include staff communication preferences, explained on the information tab of the spreadsheet. Please review and make any corrections or additions as needed. Please email the updated staff file by June 15 to KDE Assessment.
If you are unable to access the KDE secure application site, check with your WAAPOC and/or the KDE Help Desk. The KDE Help Desk can be reached at (502) 564-2002.
ACT Fall Tentative Testing Options
The ACT is used for many purposes including college admissions and scholarship opportunities. To ensure students who missed their opportunity to take a state administration of the ACT this spring due to school closures as a result of COVID-19, KDE is offering a fall testing option. Please note that this fall administration option is available for current juniors who did not participate in the Spring 2020 testing windows. It is not an opportunity for students to retest.
As data from the initial test date this spring is finalized, KDE and ACT will continue working to identify students who did not test. We will reach out to District Assessment Coordinators to assist with the identification.
As additional information and training opportunities are solidified, ACT and KDE will communicate important details.
For districts and schools that were not able to test on March 10. The tentative initial and makeup dates are,
Initial Testing Window
The ACT Standard Time Initial Test Date – Sept. 22
The ACT Accommodations Testing Window-Sept. 22, 23, 24, 25 and 28, 29, 30, Oct. 1 and 2
Makeup Testing Window
The ACT Standard Time Test Date – Oct. 6
The ACT Accommodations Testing Window – Oct. 6, 7, 8, 9 and 12
There will be no online testing option.
For Schools that Tested on March 10
If schools were able to administer the statewide ACT, March 10 was the school’s initial ACT test date. Only one additional date is needed for make-up testing. The school’s initial test date was March 10 and the make-up date is tentatively Sept. 22.
If schools were unable to test on March 10, please contact Shara Savage.
Early Graduates
End-of-Course (EOC) examination requirements for current, active juniors, identified in Infinite Campus by the Intent for Early Graduation (IEG) flags, have been waived. If these students have met ACT benchmarks, they are eligible to complete the Early Graduation pathway. The waiver, however, only addresses juniors. The Kentucky Department of Education (KDE) understands that schools may have sophomores (and maybe even freshmen) who planned to graduate early this year.
If there are extenuating circumstances that a school would like to discuss for a student in grade 9 or 10 who met ACT benchmarks, has an active IEG flag and wants/needs to graduate this year, please contact Damien Sweeney, Program Coordinator for Comprehensive School Counseling and Shara Savage, Program Consultant for the Office of Assessment and Accountability. Please do this no later than May 1.
Alternate K-PREP Window 1 Materials to be Destroyed
All school and district level Attainment Tasks, including any Visual Impairment (VI) and science materials, should be returned to the District Assessment Coordinator (DAC), Building Assessment Coordinator (BAC), Director of Special Education (DOSE) or district level personnel in charge of distributing and collecting the Alternate K-PREP Attainment Task materials. Once the tasks are in the possession of the district staff member in charge of the materials, they should be destroyed, or arrangements made to destroy later while secured at the district level. This should also include any copies of the tasks made and shared with teachers. Many school level materials were destroyed at the conclusion of Window 1 back in December/January, however, at this time, it is being requested that any remaining school and all district materials (including the science flash drives) be destroyed.
For any questions, please contact Kevin O’Hair.
KAAC Nominations for BAC AND DAC of the Year
The Kentucky Association for Assessment Coordinators (KAAC) is now accepting nominations for the annual Building Assessment Coordinator (BAC) and District Assessment Coordinator (DAC) of the year awards. To submit a nomination, please complete the appropriate nomination form at the link below by the close of business on July 17. Winners will be recognized at the annual conference in October.
Building Assessment Coordinator (BAC) of the Year Nomination
District Assessment Coordinator (DAC) of the Year Nomination
2019-2020 CTE EOP Assessment Results and Certificates
The Career and Technical Education End-of-Program (CTE EOP) Assessment results and certificates have been released for students that tested prior to the March 13 testing window closure. Schools have access through the Technological Fluency Institute, Inc. (TFI) online assessment system E-SESS.
CTE EOP Assessment Coordinators have access to CTE EOP Assessment results and certificates in E-SESS and are responsible for distribution of the certificates to students. District Assessment Coordinators (DAC) also have results and certificates in E-SESS.
2019-2020 CTE EOP Assessment State Report is available on KDE website at 2020 CTE EOP Assessment State Report.
Beginning in 2019-2020, CTE EOP Assessment scores are imported into the State Edition of Campus and will appear on KDE’s official eTranscripts. Refer to the DAC Monday Email - 3/30/2020 for more details.
For questions regarding CTE EOP Assessment, please contact Sherri Craig by phone (502) 564-4286, ext. 4226 or e-mail.
ACCESS For ELLs Score Reports and Resources
ACCESS for ELLs® reports will be online in WIDA AMS on Friday, April 24. Printed reports will be sent later to districts. Below are the ACCESS for ELLs score interpretation resources for districts to use.
Please contact WIDA or (866) 276-7735 for ACCESS for ELLs Score Interpretation Resource questions.
WIDA Secure Portal Scheduled Maintenance
The WIDA Secure Portal will undergo required maintenance starting at 5 p.m. CT on Friday, April 24 through Sunday, April 26. During this time, school personnel will be unable to access content in the Secure Portal, including the WIDA eLearning Center. WIDA apologize for any inconvenience this may cause. The WIDA Secure Portal will be available first thing Monday morning, April 27. If school personnel have any questions, please contact the WIDA Client Services Center or phone (866) 276-7735.
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DAC Spotlight
Tharon Hurley
Laurel County Schools
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Laurel County Schools, located in southern Kentucky, is among the largest districts in the Commonwealth serving nearly 10,000 Pre-K through grade 12 students.
The vision of Laurel County Schools is that all students are continually successful and become responsible life-long learners, and since 2012, that vision and the district motto of “Doing Great Things for Kids” has driven everyone in the district of 19 schools, including the eLearning Academy, a fully online homeschool program serving self-directed students who are committed to a nontraditional, online educational environment.
Laurel County has become a district of success with three National Blue Ribbon Schools, two America’s Best High Schools recognitions by U.S. News and World Report, a National ESEA Distinguished School, a recipient of the KDE Innovation and Excellence in Educational Leadership Award, and most recently a school recognized as an Alternative Program of Distinction. Laurel County is also the home of two Kentucky Hall of Fame Teacher inductees, a 2020 Elementary Teacher of the Year, and 22 National Board Certified Teachers.
The capstone of recent construction is the Laurel County Schools Center for Innovation, now in its fifth year of operation. The center provides multiple career pathway programs, state-of-the-art instructional technology and equipment as well as articulation and dual-credit agreements with four-year and technical colleges. The center has the flexibility to meet changing instructional needs for years to come.
Intentional collaboration with parents and community organizations has produced strong participation and support from all stakeholders. An intentional public relations effort is a conduit for good news through local media, the district website, and the production of a district newspaper, along with a new Laurel County Schools smartphone app. Student fine art displays and performances, a science fair, inventor fair, preschool celebration and school-centered mathematics and reading nights highlight and support learning at all levels.
Involving parents and the community in the process with a highly skilled instructional staff under leadership with a focus on student success has brought positive improvement to Laurel County with a promise of more to come.
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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