Question of the Week
Q: Do the school calendars in Infinite Campus (IC) need to be updated this week before the collection of the district test windows begins in SDRR?
A: School and District level users will see the spring summative testing window dates in the Student Data Review and Rosters (SDRR) application. When SDRR opens on March 15 at 9 a.m. ET, District Assessment Coordinators (DACs) will need to enter the date of the first day of K-PREP testing for elementary, middle and high schools in the district.
Please note that the first day of the spring summative testing window must fall within the last 14 days of the school year. That date range information is pulled from IC calendars. It is crucial that all IC school calendars are checked for accuracy early (prior to March 12 to allow for updates in IC), including preschools/alternative programs that may impact the district calendar. There will be only one time that IC will refresh any changes made to school calendars during the K-PREP District Test Window collection in SDRR.
There can only be one date for each level. School level users can view the test window dates provided by the DAC, but they cannot change the information. Only District level users can make changes to these dates. SDRR will close on March 31 for District Test Window collection for K-PREP.
If the district’s testing windows change for any reason, SDRR must be updated to reflect the correct dates. The Office of Assessment and Accountability (OAA) uses the testing window dates provided by DACs and student enrollment information in Infinite Campus (IC) to calculate and pre-load 100 days for students whenever possible. If the testing dates are incorrect, the pre-loaded 100 days may be incorrect, and school and district users will have to do more work to correct student 100 days during spring rosters, or one of the data review periods in the fall. Note: the 100 days are being collected as a precaution. KDE anticipates formal accountability to be waived from the U.S. Education Department.
ACT Rosters Opening in SDRR
ACT rosters will open in the Student Data Review and Rosters (SDRR) application on March 10 at 9 a.m. ET and will close on April 30 at noon. 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. To assist districts with rosters, please refer to the Help button in SDRR.
DAC Monthly Webcast
The Office of Assessment and Accountability (OAA), Division of Assessment and Accountability Support (DAAS) will host its live monthly DAC Webcast virtually March 11, from 11 a.m. – 12 noon ET.
The meeting will be hosted by Jennifer Stafford, Director, in the Division of Assessment and Accountability Support. She will be joined by others to discuss current assessment and accountability topics. Topics and direct links to materials will be forthcoming in a Special DAC Email prior to the webcast.
Please join Jennifer at 11 a.m. ET for the live broadcast. If you have a conflict with this meeting, the session will be recorded and posted on the KDE Media Portal and the KDE Meetings and Trainings page with all pertinent materials. Questions may be asked by sending an email to KDE DAC Information.
Future broadcasts are scheduled for the second Thursday of each month at 11 a.m. ET.
ACT Materials Pickups for Test Window 1
ACT has prescheduled materials pickups for both standard time and accommodations examinees. The standard time materials pickup is scheduled for March 10 which is the day after the standard time paper test date. Please note that standard time answer documents from the March 9 test date must be returned to ACT for scoring no later than March 16.
Please note: Late arriving answer documents will not be scored, so be mindful of the answer document return deadlines listed above.
ACT has also scheduled a materials pickup, specifically for accommodations materials, on March 22 which is the day after the close of the Test Window 1 Accommodations window. The answer document return deadline for the accommodations materials is March 26.
Please note: All accommodations materials should be packaged for return together, even if you have accommodations answer documents that are ready for return the day after the standard time paper test date.
The pickup carrier will attempt 3 separate pickups, if the materials are not ready on the prescheduled pickup date. If the school(s) need to reschedule a material pickup after those three attempts, please contact ACT to make arrangements for a materials pickup.
Additional detailed information about packaging and returning materials after the exam is administered can be found in the Transportation stage of the ACT hosted state testing website.
MyACT Non-Test Activity
Non-Test Activity:
ACT and OAA are allowing up to two days after the exam to complete this activity. Please note: The activity cannot be completed on the morning of the exam. ACT highly discourages the activity from being conducted on the exam day after the assessment is administered. The student is expected to test even if the MyACT activity is not completed.
All students, regardless of test mode, must complete the non-test activity at myact.org. Students will need their individualized non-test instructions and a copy of the Taking the ACT document to complete the non-test activity. It is crucial that students use the 9-digit student code, which is printed on the non-test instructions document, or available electronically in PearsonAccessnext (PAN), to connect their MyACT account with this spring's administration. Please note: If an examinee establishes a new MyACT account, it is vital that the examinee utilize the 9-digit student code and last name values exactly as they appear in PAN.
Additional resources to support the non-test activity can be found within the Preparation stage of the ACT hosted state testing website.
Testing staff should review the Non-Test Instructions for Test Coordinator document. At the same time, examinees would benefit from viewing the MyACT How to Use Your Student Code for State & District Testing video.
If students have questions or run into error messages during the account creation or update process, please encourage them to complete the 'Contact Us' web form found at MyACT or by calling ACT at (319) 337-1270.
Student Code Usage Status Report:
To ensure testing staff has insight into who has and has not completed the non-test activity, ACT has made a new Published Report available in PAN. The new Published Report, called "Student Code Usage Status," will identify specific students who have not yet claimed their student code. Additionally, it establishes a connection between their MyACT account and this spring's administration, as well as those who have not yet selected at least one score recipient.
As soon as examinees claim their student code and select at least one score recipient, they will no longer appear on the Student Code Usage Status Report. Please note that this report is updated daily. Therefore, it is important to be mindful of the date/time the latest report was published to determine if students have completed this activity.
If testing staff have questions or if there appear to be issues with the Student Code Usage Status report, please email statetesting@act.org and provide as much detail as possible so ACT can investigate further.
DAC/BAC Certification of Proper Test Administration Forms
At the close of the K-PREP spring summative assessment and Quality of School Climate and Safety (QSCS) survey, and the tentatively scheduled Social Studies Online Field Test, the Kentucky Department of Education (KDE) needs confirmation that proper testing has occurred. Building Assessment Coordinators (BACs) will complete the BAC Certification of Proper Test Administration form for K-PREP and QSCS survey, and the BAC Certification of Proper Test Administration form for the Social Studies Online Field Test (if applicable).
BAC forms are returned to the District Assessment Coordinator (DAC) and kept on file in the district. (Please do not remit the BAC forms to KDE). Certification forms are due two weeks after testing completion.
DACs will submit to KDE the completed DAC Certification of Proper Test Administration form for K-PREP and QSCS survey and the DAC Certification of Proper Test Administration form for the Social Studies Online Field Test, if administered, within two weeks of the completion of the district’s testing administrations.
EOC Exam Testing Window 2 Shipping Deadline Approaches
The return End-of-Course (EOC) Exam shipping deadline is Thursday, March 11. The DAC or designee should return the testing materials on or before the established return deadline. All secure testing booklets must be returned to KDE to the following address:
ATTN# Shara Savage
Kentucky Department of Education
300 Sower Blvd.
Frankfort, KY 40601
Districts/schools are responsible for paying the return postage. Districts/schools can choose their return shipping method, but the shipping provider must enable tracking and provide a tracking number.
The Office of Assessment and Accountability (OAA) will process answer documents now that the testing window 2 has closed. Please allow 4 weeks for processing.
DACs will receive:
- A summary report of all tested students and their scores by content area at the completion of scoring for each testing window.
- Individual student score reports with the name of the student and the scale score listed.
KDE will continue to use the established EOC cut scores.
Please contact Shara Savage with any questions or concerns.
OAA/ACT Office Hours - Reminder
The Office of Assessment and Accountability (OAA) and ACT are partnering to offer DACs and testing staff open office hours. DACs, BACs, and TCs will be able to ask questions and receive assistance during this time.
March/April Office Hours
Friday, March 12 @ 11 a.m. ET
Thursday, March 18 @ 1 p.m. ET
Friday, March 26 @ 11 a.m. ET
Thursday, April 1 @ 1 p.m. ET
Please contact Shara Savage with any questions.
Get Ready for WIDA Screener for Kindergarten
WIDA Screener for Kindergarten is almost here! See the news article WIDA Screener for Kindergarten: Get ready to use it, find out what’s available this spring on the WIDA website for all the details. Kentucky will use the new Kindergarten Screener starting next school year.
K Screen Online Ordering for the 2021-2022 School Year
Online ordering for K Screen has begun; Curriculum Associates is accepting orders for the 2021-2022 school year. The ordering window will be open until April 16.
To place district orders for the 2021-2022 school year, visit the Kentucky Brigance website. Under the section labeled "Ordering," click on "2021 Order Form." Download the order form, click to enable editing and save the file after replacing “Curriculum Associates” with the district name. For example, the file name would change from Curriculum Associates KY BRIGANCE Form 2021 to Franklin Co KY BRIGANCE Form 2021.
Once all information is entered into the three tabs, save the spreadsheet and email as an attachment to:
Curriculum Associates at FulfillmentOps@cainc.com. A confirmation email will be sent after the submission has been received.
*Please be sure to only send the file one time after completing all information in the spreadsheet. This will ensure the order is filled in an accurate and timely manner.
If further guidance is needed, watch this step-by-step instructional video.
FAQ Series: WIDA ELD Standards Framework, 2020 Edition
The WIDA ELD Standards Framework team has released an FAQ Series on the 2020 Edition. Based on questions from educators from across the world, this five-part series answers questions like What are the major shifts in the 2020 Edition? and How are the Key Language Uses (2020 Edition) different from the Can Do Descriptors, Key Uses Edition (2016)? Take a closer look at the 2020 Edition with these Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) documents on the WIDA website.
Updated Interpretive Guides for Score Reports
This year’s ACCESS for ELLs Interpretive Guide for Score Reports and Alternate ACCESS for ELLs Interpretive Guide for Score Reports have been posted to the Resource Library on the WIDA website. The Interpretive Guides can also be found, along with other resources to support scoring and reporting, on the ACCESS for ELLs Scores and Reports and the Alternate ACCESS for ELLs Scores and Reports pages on the WIDA website.
Call for WIDA Fellows Nominations
World-Class Instructional Design and Assessment (WIDA) announces a call for nominations for the third class of WIDA Fellows. In establishing these fellowships, WIDA formally acknowledges the invaluable role of exemplary teachers of bilingual and multilingual learners in advancing the field in collaboration with professional development and research partners. All nominees must be exemplary teachers of bilingual and/or multilingual learners.
To nominate an educator, complete the WIDA Fellows Nomination form by April 30. No self-nominations, please.
Alternate Assessment: SRD Administrator Level Access Available
The Student Registration Database (SRD) is now available for District Assessment Coordinators (DACs), Directors of Special Education (DoSE) and those in the district with DAC level access to review. Once access to the site has been established, please review and complete the following items:
- Activate accounts for teachers who plan to enter scores in the SRD. It opens March 22 for score entry (instructions for teacher activation shared in the (SRD Training for DACs PowerPoint on slides 5-6).
- Review school rosters to determine if rosters are accurate, or if students need to be added or removed before March 22. Any student not showing on the roster may be added by selecting student registration (see the SRD Training for DACs-slide 7), or to delete a student by selecting delete found to the right of the student name on the roster.
For additional questions regarding access to the SRD please contact Darrell Mattingly.
Alternate Assessment: CRD Administrator Level Access Available
The Career Ready Database (CRD) is now available for District Assessment Coordinators (DACs), Directors of Special Education (DoSE) or those in the district with DAC level access to review. The CRD is accessible with the same login credentials used to access the Online Training System (OTS) and the Student Registration Database (SRD). Any DAC not yet registered in the OTS who needs access to the CRD will first need to register for the CRD in the OTS.
In 2020-2021, only eligible students (grade 12 and any grade 14 students planning to exit in 2021) who are working toward career readiness and on track to complete the Career Work Experience Certification (CWEC) may be assessed in the Employability Skills Attainment Record (ESAR).
DACs may access the CRD to review and add students, review active users in their district, approve new users or deactivate users. DACs now have access to the CRD to review their data prior to the CRD opening March 22 for data entry. The last day to administer the ESAR will be May 28 and the last day to enter ESAR scores and CWEC status in CRD is June 4. Please refer to the Working with Exceptional Children in CTE web page for access to ESAR and CWEC resources, including administration guides.
Participation in the career readiness opportunity for students in the alternative high school diploma course of study is optional; however, this year the administration of ESAR is also optional. At this point, state accountability has not yet been waived, but ultimately may be waived. If a student is assessed in the ESAR and completes the CWEC, their score and completion status may be entered in CRD to potentially count toward future accountability prior to the student exit. Districts and schools may enter ESAR and CWEC data into CRD or retain data locally and recognize student achievement in completion of career readiness measures.
For questions about the ESAR or CWEC, please contact Kiley Whitaker or Sherri Craig. For technical assistance, please contact Darrell Mattingly.
2020-2021 Federal Perkins Accountability – Postsecondary Credentials
The Career and Technical (CTE) End-of-Program (EOP) Assessment associated with statewide articulated credit and Skilled Trades, Tech Ready Apprentices for Careers in Kentucky (TRACK) (Carpentry, Electrical) Assessment, a component of an industry certification, are two measures of postsecondary credentials for federal Perkins accountability in Kentucky.
At this time 2020-2021 federal Perkins accountability has not been waived and no final decision is anticipated prior to completion of testing administration.
CTE EOP Assessment and Skilled Trades TRACK Assessments Test Windows
The CTE EOP Assessment and Skilled Trades TRACK (Carpentry, Electrical) Assessment testing windows are March 22-April 30. These assessments will only be available in-person following Healthy at Work/Healthy at School, Kentucky Summative Assessment Administration Guidance 2020-2021 School Year and other COVID guidance available on KDE’s COVID-19 webpage. Also, these assessments must be proctored in-person pursuant to the 703 KAR 5:080, Administration Code for Kentucky’s Educational Assessment Program and 703 KAR 5:070, Inclusion of Special Populations in the State-Required Assessment and Accountability Programs. Test tickets will be available in E-SESS, the online testing system, by March 15 in preparation for testing. At this time, District Assessment Coordinators (DACs) and CTE EOP Assessment Coordinators at each school should verify access to E-SESS with their account information previously provided by Technological Fluency Institute, Inc. (TFI). More details are forthcoming to assessment coordinators.
For assistance with questions regarding the CTE EOP Assessment or Skilled Trades TRACK (Carpentry, Electrical) Assessment, contact Sherri Craig in the Office of Career and Technical Education (OCTE). For accountability related questions, contact Kiley Whitaker, OCTE.
Knott County School District is located in southeastern Kentucky, bordered by Breathitt, Floyd, Letcher, Magoffin, Perry, and Pike Counties. The district has an enrollment of approximately 2,200 students, attending seven schools: Beaver Creek Elementary (K-8), Carr Creek Elementary (K-8), Cordia School (K-12), Emmalena Elementary (K-8), Hindman Elementary (K-8), Jones Fork Elementary (K-8), and Knott County Central High School (9-12). Nearly 80% of the students are eligible for free- or reduced-price lunch which qualifies all students for free breakfast and lunch as part of the federal Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) program.
During this unprecedented school year, Knott County Schools has relied on already established systems in order to quickly adapt and meet the needs of faculty/staff, students and parents during the COVID-19 pandemic. The district relies on the Richard J. Stiggins’ principles that are identified in the Classroom Assessment for Student Learning (CASL) to ensure the success for all students.
At each of the Knott County Schools, staff implement Professional Learning Communities (PLCs) focusing on the teaching, learning and assessment practices that will have the greatest impact on student achievement. Wednesdays were established as “Virtual Day for PLCs” at the beginning of the school year. This has provided teachers with collaboration time at grade level content areas. The PLCs have provided opportunities for teaching in a remote/hybrid setting. Teachers focused on high-yield instructional strategies for three new curriculum-based resources--Amplify Science, EnVision Mathematics, and Wit & Wisdom Reading.
Through this pandemic, Knott County Schools have learned new ways to help support staff, students and communities. Virtual instruction was made possible via teachers utilizing Google Classroom and scheduling Google Meets, and one-to-one laptops for students. Meal preparation continued through home deliveries, and SAVE the Children provided food boxes to communities.
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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