Question of the Week
Q: Will the Online Testing Toolbox be updated for 2020-2021 testing?
A: Yes. The Office of Assessment and Accountability (OAA), along with guidance from Pearson, has updated the Online Testing Toolbox to help usher in this era of online testing. The Online Testing Toolbox covers topics in technology, general policy, accommodations and accommodated materials as they relate to online testing. OAA welcomes feedback on this document that can be used for future updates and development. Please send any feedback on this resource to Jason Howard.
Accommodation Bookmarks Published to K-PREP Website
In an effort to reduce testing allegations, the Office of Assessment and Accountability (OAA) has provided districts and schools with Bookmarks developed for test administrators testing students receiving accommodations. The bookmarks offer a quick reference sheet for the do’s and don’ts when providing testing accommodations. The Office of Assessment and Accountability (OAA) has published the accommodation bookmarks for use by schools and districts.
ACT: Materials Pickups for the Makeup Window
ACT has prescheduled materials pick-ups for both standard time and accommodations examinees. The standard time materials pick-up is scheduled for March 24, the day after the standard time paper test date for the Makeup Window (Test Window 2). Please note that standard time answer documents from the March 23 test date must be returned to ACT for scoring no later than March 30.
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 pick-up, specifically for accommodation materials, on April 2, the day after the close of the Makeup Accommodations Window (Test Window 2). The answer document return deadline for the accommodations materials is April 9.
Please note: All accommodations materials should be packaged for the return together, even if accommodations answer documents are ready for return the day after the standard time paper test date.
The pick-up carrier will attempt 3 separate pick-ups if materials are not ready on the prescheduled pick-up date. If the school(s) need to reschedule a material pick up after those three attempts, please contact ACT to make arrangements for a materials pick-up.
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.
ACT: Order Materials for the Emergency Window
The window to order standard time and non-college reportable accommodations materials for the Emergency Window (Test Window 3) opens on Tuesday, March 23, and closes on April 2. For examinees testing with ACT-authorized accommodations, contact ACT Accommodations and Supports @ 800-553-6244 ext. 1788. For assistance with ordering, please review Ordering Additional ACT Materials Training Tutorial. The deadline to order testing materials for the Emergency Window (Test Window 3) is Friday, April 2.
2021-2022 K Screen Implementation Guide
The 2021-2022 K Screen Implementation Guide was released for use for the 2021-2022 school year on March 19 during the Training of Trainers Refresh Webcast event. There was an addition of Appendix O to the guide which provides quick reference guides for data entry clerks and screen administrators. Districts can access the guide on the K Screen Website. For the district trainers that were not able to attend the live webcast, the video of the webcast is in the process of being posted on the KDE Media Portal. Information on viewing the webcast will be shared in the April 2021 K Screen Update. If there are any questions concerning the 2021-2022 Implementation Guide or K Screen trainings, please contact Ben Riley.
WIDA Customer Service Hours
Beginning Monday, March 29, the World-Class Instructional Design and Assessment (WIDA) Client Services Center will return to its regular spring/summer hours of operation:
Monday – Friday 8 a.m.-5 p.m. CT
As a reminder, Data Recognition Corporation (DRC) Customer Service is available 7 a.m.-6 p.m. CT year-round.
REMINDER: CTE EOP Assessment and Skilled Trades TRACK Assessments Test Windows Open March 22
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 testing windows open March 22. Testing must be completed by 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. Refer to the CTE EOP Assessment and Skilled Trades TRACK web pages for more information.
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).
Robertson County Schools is the proud home to the Black Devils. The extremely rural K-12 district is located in Mt. Olivet. The district encompasses all students from grades preschool and HeadStart through grade 12 in one building. The total population is approximately 465 students with over 75% qualifying for free- or reduced-price lunch.
This year has been beyond challenging for everyone involved. Luckily, being in such a small district has enabled Robertson County Schools to deliver lunches and make instructional deliveries daily to the homes of all of students. The cafeteria staff and drivers have gone above and beyond to accommodate students and their families. Teachers and support staff have been forced to think outside of the box when it comes to teaching during a pandemic. Classroom teachers have become more effective with Google classroom and various other online tools to help students become more successful learning from home. The entire staff has worked diligently throughout this pandemic to make sure students have everything needed at home. Although this is most definitely not an ideal school year, everyone has gone above and beyond the call of duty.
Despite being a very small district, Robertson County strives to provide students with the same opportunities as the larger counties that surround them. The goal is to help each student be successful in his/her own way, whether that be in the classroom through academics or through extra-curricular activities. In order to achieve this in a small district, most staff wear many, many hats. One might see a teacher on the ball field coaching, the superintendent driving a school bus or a member of the support staff leading an after-school club. Everyone has adopted the mentality of doing whatever it takes for students.
Robertson County Schools prides itself on creating a culture that is more like a family than just a school.
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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