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Reminder: Quality Control Day Tomorrow
As a reminder, Quality Control Day (QC Day) is tomorrow Wednesday, Sept. 8 for District Assessment Coordinators (DAC) and their designees to review 2020-2021 assessment data. The QC review process affords schools and districts the opportunity to conduct a final review of the data to ensure data quality, identify statewide systemic data issues that potentially impact multiple schools and districts, and ensure accurate data before public reporting.
Quality Control (QC) Day is confirmed to begin at 9 a.m. ET. During QC Day, DACs will receive a Special DAC Email with links to the KDE Applications Login, QC Day Checklist Form, and Online Data Discrepancy Report Form.
As of the time of this email, 20 District Assessment Coordinators (DACs) have not submitted a QC Day Nondisclosure (ky.gov). Without a signed nondisclosure agreement, data will not be released for QC Day. Please submit those forms today.
September DAC Monthly Webcast Cancelled
The Sept. DAC Monthly Webcast is cancelled. District Assessment Coordinators (DACs) are up-to-date on assessment and accountability information. Please look for any updates in upcoming Monday and Special DAC Emails.
Spring 2022 ACT State Testing: Test Accessibility and Accommodations Portal Opening Soon
As was announced in a press release on July 21, ACT’s accommodations review policy is changing to make the review and approval process more streamlined. It vital for testing staff to submit requests for accommodations and support prior to the deadline dates and with the appropriate documentation.
ACT’s Test Accessibility and Accommodations (TAA) portal, which can be accessed via the ACT Success Site, will open for spring 2022 accommodations and supports requests on Sept. 13. ACT and KDE encourage testing staff to request accommodations and supports at this time in order to meet key deadline dates shortly after the end of the 2021 calendar year. Step three of the ACT hosted State Testing Website contains comprehensive information about requesting accommodations and supports. ACT has also made information about ELL supports available for districts and schools’ review. Please ensure testing staff involved with submitting requests for accommodations and supports are aware the system will open soon. For questions and assistance, please email ACTStateAccoms@act.org.
K Screen Nonparticipation Requests
Occasionally there are students who experience a medical circumstance during the kindergarten screening time frame and are unable to be screened. In those cases, the Building Assessment Coordinator (BAC) or District Assessment Coordinator (DAC) can request a nonparticipation, with supporting documentation, in the Student Data Review and Rosters (SDRR) application. All medical nonparticipation requests for the Kindergarten Screen must be made by Oct. 15 at noon ET.
Questions have been received regarding nonverbal students. When considering nonverbal students, it is important to remember that this is a screener and not an assessment with accountability. It is okay if students cannot respond “correctly” to every prompt. Teachers can still gain a lot of valuable information during the screen. If a student cannot answer something, mark the data sheet appropriately and move to the next item. If there is a medical reason the student should not participate in the screener, please request a nonparticipation in SDRR and it will be reviewed.
K Screen Repeating Kindergarteners
In previous years, screening repeating kindergarten students was not required. Last school year (2020-2021) it was required. For the 2021-2022 school year, all students who have been retained in kindergarten will need to be screened again.
Screen data for all new and repeating kindergartners must be entered in the Brigance Online Management System (OMS). When inputting prior settings data for a repeat kindergarten student into Infinite Campus (IC), please select “option 12” and enter in the relevant information. Repeat kindergarten students should have a minimum of two prior settings entries in IC.
To properly appear in OMS, repeat kindergarten students must be assigned to grade 00 in IC. And assigned to a course with state code 703001 (Elementary Homeroom). It is not possible to manually add students to the OMS. As students are enrolled in Infinite Campus (IC), they will be included in the weekly file provided to populate the OMS. Changes will reflect in the OMS within 10 to 14 days.
Redesigned WIDA Secure Portal Is Live
As district or school staff begin to use the redesigned portal, here are some things to keep in mind:
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Check out the Redesigned WIDA Secure Portal Is Live news article to learn more about using the portal.
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The 2021-2022 versions of WIDA assessment manuals and training courses are available in the portal, including the WIDA Test Administrator Essentials resource. The Test Administrator Essentials is a quick reference guide for test administrators to keep on hand during testing. It provides critical details around student grouping, scheduling and domain-specific tips and reminders for TAs and students.
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Changes have been made to the WIDA Screener training and test preparation materials. With the launch of the redesigned portal:
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Test administrators who aren’t sure where to start with the WIDA Screener training should contact the District Assessment Coordinator (DAC) or Chris Williams.
September ACCESS for ELLs Q&A Webinars
Please join WIDA and DRC to learn about the following ACCESS for ELLs topics:
Can’t make it? WIDA Q&A Webinars are recorded and posted to the Webinars page on the WIDA Secure Portal within a week of the presentation. Technology Coordinators may access recordings for technology-related webinars through the webinar schedule in WIDA AMS.
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