Question of the Week
Q: Is there any clarification on allowing students to work past the allowed K-PREP testing time?
A: In the Pearson Training for Operational Testing PowerPoint, slide 4 states that “TestNav will not shut off on students once time is up. KDE guidance has been that if students are working diligently, allow them to work beyond the stated time limits.” During the Q&A session on Wednesday, Feb. 24, multiple questions arose on allowing students who showed progress on KPREP content assessments to continue to test. The training is correct as presented.
The District Assessment Coordinator (DAC) may allow students who are showing continued progress, to work on the online assessment or the QSCS survey, past the recommended time. Record this occurrence as needed in the district.
The following test times allowed for each K-PREP content test are:
Reading – 60 minutes
Mathematics – 60 minutes
Science – 60 minutes
On-Demand Writing – 90 minutes
The Quality of School Climate and Safety (QSCS) survey, administered prior to the first content test in the same sitting, is a 20-minute session.
When developing the school’s test schedule, an appropriate amount of time for students to continue past the recommended time must be developed into the overall test schedule. Note: this is in addition to students receiving Extended Time as an accommodation. The addition of extended time must also be built into the test schedule.
Scorable Practice Tests Available in the Kentucky Portal (Mathematics Now Included)
Mathematics accommodated practice tests are now available. Scorable practice tests and scoring materials for students receiving accommodations are ready for schools and districts. Like the practice test items released in October 2020 for general education students, these scorable practice tests provide accommodated students and test administrators instant feedback on student responses. Test administrators may use the scorable practice tests in various ways. The scorable practice tests can provide an indication of the student’s understanding of the content. They also provide students the opportunity to practice, use, and navigate the TestNav system. The accommodated versions of these tests include the new Text-To-Speech functionality that replaces the Lexiflow text reader used in previous years.
The practice tests and TestNav tutorial are located in the Kentucky Portal. A password is not necessary to access the practice tests. All practice tests, answer keys and rubrics will be available in PearsonAccessnext. Practice tests contain items consisting of multiple-choice, multiple-select and technology-enhanced items which are instantly scored. Short answer and extended response items are captured, and the student responses may be printed. The teacher or test administrator can score the written responses using the appropriate rubric. While the multiple-choice/multiple-select portion is instantly scored, the written responses must be captured for printing and scoring.
EILA Credit Available for 2021 February DAC Trainings
District Assessment Coordinators (DACs), Building Assessment Coordinators (BACs) and district employees who have watched the 2021 February DAC training videos can apply for EILA credit. To receive EILA credit, participants must complete the survey and can receive up to six EILA credit hours for watching all videos. Please allow at least two weeks after completing the survey to receive the EILA certificate via email. District employees can access the survey on Survey Monkey.
Preparation for Spring 2021 K-PREP
PearsonAccessnext (PAN) will open for administrative work in preparation for the 2021 Spring K-PREP on March 16. Given that there was no testing in spring 2020 and no field test in the fall, many of the PAN accounts have become disabled. In preparation, please log on to PAN determine if the account remains active. If the following verbiage is received: “User has not yet been created in this website or authorization has been removed and therefore does not have appropriate authorization privileges. If you feel you have received this message in error, please contact a representative to assist you to gain the appropriate access.” Rest assured, the account has just become disabled due to inactivity.
DACs may contact Pearson Customer Service, (888) 437-1430 to enable the account. BACs, please contact the DAC.
Alternate K-PREP Special Guidance Presentation
The Division of Assessment and Accountability Support (DAAS) has created some additional resources for schools and districts to have access to when preparing for the upcoming Spring 2021 Alternate K-PREP Attainment Task administration to be conducted March 22-May 28. The resources provided will be a Special Guidance PowerPoint and a Special Guidance video with specific information containing decisions to postpone the test, Alternate Assessment Targets, tested students, Quality of School Climate and Safety survey for Kentucky Alternate Assessment Students, additional guidance for the spring 2021 administration, Alternate K-PREP materials received, the TAR administration, spring 2021 important dates and Alternate K-PREP Office Hours. The Special Guidance handout contains guidance around the 2021 Spring Alternate K-PREP administration only.
Alternate K-PREP Office Hours Scheduled
The Office of Assessment and Accountability (OAA) is happy to announce 6 office hour sessions which will address questions specific to the upcoming Spring 2021 Alternate K-PREP administration. These office hours are scheduled to occur the weeks of March 8 and March 15. District Assessment Coordinators (DACs), Directors of Special Education (DoSE) Building Assessment Coordinators (BACs), and teachers/test administrators as well as others who will assist with the administration will be able to ask questions and receive assistance during this time. The dates, times, and links to the Teams meeting are below.
Monday March 8 - 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. ET
Wednesday March 10 - 9:30 a.m. -10:30 a.m. ET
Thursday March 11 - 9:30 a.m. -10:30 a.m. ET
Monday March 15 - 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. ET
Wednesday March 17 - 9:30 a.m. -10:30 a.m. ET
Thursday March 18 - 11:30 a.m. -12:30 p.m. ET
Please note that the questions asked during the office hour sessions should be specific to the upcoming Alternate K-PREP test administration. For questions, please contact Kevin O’Hair, or by phone at (502) 564-4394.
ACCESS for ELLs/Alternate ACCESS for ELLs Rosters Open in SDRR
ACCESS for ELLs/Alternate ACCESS for ELLs rosters are open in the Student Data Review and Rosters (SDRR) application and will close on April 13 at 5 p.m. It is important to note that students will not be pre-loaded in SDRR. Districts will only need to add students if requesting approval for non-participation; it is not necessary to add students who are taking the assessments. There is an ACCESS for ELLs/Alternate ACCESS for ELLs PowerPoint on the ACCESS for ELLs page to assist districts with rosters, as well as the Help button in SDRR.
March ACCESS for ELLs Q&A Webinars
Please join World-Class Instructional Design and Assessment (WIDA) and Data Recognition Corporation (DRC) to learn about the following ACCESS for ELLs topics:
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Post-Testing: Data Validation Tuesday, March 9, 1 p.m.-2 p.m. CT
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Post-Testing: Interpreting Score Reports Tuesday, March 16, 1 p.m.-2 p.m. CT
More information and login details can be found on the WIDA Q&A Webinar Schedule in the Secure Portal Download Library.
Can’t make it? WIDA Q&A Webinars are recorded and posted to the Secure Portal Download Library within a week of the presentation.
ACT Training Room Supervisors, Proctors and Accommodations Providers –Reminder
All ACT testing staff, both new and experienced, must attend a training session conducted by the Test Coordinator before test day.
Near the end of the ACT Test Administration Manuals (standard time and accommodations) is a section titled "Training Session Outline and Topics for Discussion." Subjects include Security of Test Materials, Room Preparation, Pretest Activities, Test Day and After the Test.
During a training session, the Test Coordinator is expected to discuss the topics described in each section with testing staff. The Test Accommodations Coordinator must also attend and share any relevant topics with accommodations staff in a separate training session.
In addition to ACT's training expectations, all testing staff must be trained in the Administration Code for Kentucky's Educational Assessment Program and, for those providing accommodations, Inclusion of Special Populations in the State-Required Assessment and Accountability Programs.
Upcoming Virtual Q&A Session
A February DAC Training Virtual Question and Answer (Q&A) Session will be held on Wednesday, March 3. This Q&A session supports administration of Spring 2021 Assessments as presented in the February DAC training videos.
Staff from the Division of Assessment and Accountability Support (DAAS), other Kentucky Department of Education (KDE) offices and Pearson representatives will be online to assist with questions. The following resources will assist with accessing and preparing for the upcoming session.
The event will be an ongoing, full day with set times for each topic session; however, DACs and BACs are welcome to join in on as few or as many Q&A sessions as desired.
The Q&A Session can be accessed with the following link:
Wednesday, March 3 Q&A Session
8:30 a.m.-9:30 a.m. ET: Alternate K-PREP
9:30 a.m.-10:30 a.m. ET: Accommodations
10:30 a.m.-11:30 a.m. ET: SDRR
11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. ET: K-PREP
12:30 p.m.-1:30 p.m. ET: PearsonAccessnext
1:30 p.m.-2:30 p.m. ET: TestNav
The Q&A session will be recorded and posted to the OAA Meetings and Trainings page.
Before attending the Q&A Session, DACs and BACs can be prepared by completing the following steps in the Checklist. Following the steps in this helpful resource may help DACs/BACs get the most benefit from the Q&A Session.
Checklist for Q&A Sessions
Public Hearing and Public Comment Period on Kentucky’s Accountability System
Kentucky’s Accountability System, 703 KAR 5:270, was filed with LRC on February 12, 2021. A public hearing on the proposed administrative regulation shall be held on April 22, 2021, at 10:00 a.m. in the State Board Room, 5th Floor, 300 Sower Blvd, Frankfort, Kentucky. Individuals interested in being heard at this meeting shall notify this agency in writing five (5) working days prior to the hearing, of their intent to attend. If no notification of intent to attend the hearing is received by that date, the hearing may be canceled. This hearing is open to the public. Any person who wishes to be heard will be given an opportunity to comment on the proposed administrative regulation. A transcript of the public hearing will not be made unless a written request for a transcript is made. If you do not wish to be heard at the public hearing, you may submit written comments on the proposed administrative regulation. Written comments shall be accepted through April 30, 2021.
CONTACT PERSON: Todd G. Allen, General Counsel, Kentucky Department of Education, 300 Sower Boulevard, 5th Floor, Frankfort, Kentucky, 40601, phone (502) 564-4474, fax (502) 564-9321; email regcomments@education.ky.gov.
Rockcastle County Schools has a proud tradition of excellence in education and a genuine desire to help the students and families in the community. Serving an enrollment of 2,836 students in preschool through grade 12, teachers, administrators and staff in each school, and throughout the district, provide consistent and caring support to all students to guarantee every opportunity for their success. The first priority is to ensure the safety of students and staff. Next, they work to meet the mental, physical and social needs of each student, combined with the delivery of a world-class instructional program in beautiful, state-of-the-art facilities.
Rockcastle County has three elementary schools, one middle and one high school, one Area Technology Center and one Academy for Academic Achievement. Every school in the district is staffed with highly qualified teachers who strive to provide individualized instruction for their students by determining individual learning needs and developing strategies to address those needs so that each student has an opportunity to learn.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Rockcastle County Schools, like many others, has faced unprecedented challenges. They purchased Chromebooks with CARES funding to ensure every student had access to technology, which helped teachers continue their instruction through Google classroom. The district team has worked extremely hard during the 2020-2021 school year to meet the instructional needs of students, as well as their physical and social/emotional needs. They have established approximately 40 community feeding sites throughout the county, where families can pick up meals on those days that all students are learning virtually. Each school has also developed a system, whereby small groups of students have come into the buildings for individualized instruction from their teachers throughout the week.
The first day of in-person learning was on Sept. 9, with K-8 attending 4 days per week and the high school operating on a hybrid A/B schedule. They also had students who elected to learn from home through an online platform, which allowed schools to accommodate for social distancing. During the first semester, they operated between periods of Non-Traditional Instruction (NTI) and in-person instruction, as the COVID incidence rate grew. As they progress through the second semester, the main priority is to try and close instructional gaps with students and prevent, or try to lessen, any “learning loss” that has occurred during this tumultuous year. The plan is to use any new funding to begin a strong After School “tutoring” program two afternoons per week during April and May, staffed by teachers with an afternoon meal provided. During the summer, they intend to continue instruction, as soon as the school year ends, with an intensive, three-week program to focus on credit recovery for high school students, as well as targeted instruction and enrichment for all K-12 students. Elementary schools plan to begin an “early” learning program in July and August, prior to school starting, to help younger students prepare for the beginning of school and conduct diagnostic assessments to determine instructional and intervention needs.
In addition, Rockcastle County High School has developed a virtual ACT prep program, titled “ACT Now” which began Jan. 15 and runs through the first week in March. Each Friday, any student can participate in a two-hour ACT workshop through Google meet, one session in the a.m. and one in the p.m. Each session focuses on one section of the ACT. These sessions have been well-attended by students of all grade levels. The hope is that it will give juniors the confidence and skill they need to “Rock the ACT” on March 9.
Like all KY public school districts, Rockcastle County Schools is trying to be good stewards of funding and utilize all resources available to ensure students and families receive the assistance and help they need. The mission is to Educate, Feed and Support every student, every day.
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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