Question of the Week
Q: Is there a schedule change for the November DAC Webcast?
A: Yes. The Office of Assessment and Accountability (OAA), Division of Assessment and Accountability Support (DAAS) will host its live monthly DAC Webcast virtually Wednesday, Nov. 10, from 11 a.m. – 12 noon ET. The Kentucky Department of Education (KDE) is closed Thursday, Nov. 11 in observance of Veteran’s Day.
The meeting will be hosted by Dr. Jennifer Stafford, Director, in the Division of Assessment and Accountability Support. She will be joined by others to discuss current assessment and accountability topics. The agenda 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.
Deadline Approaching: Register for KDE Policy ACT Administration Training Sessions
The Office of Assessment and Accountability (OAA) and ACT, Inc. will be delivering hybrid trainings this fall for the upcoming spring state administration of the ACT on Nov. 17 and 18. New this year, OAA and ACT are offering three sessions at each location to ensure there is ample opportunity to participate and to be in compliance with COVID-19 mitigation efforts. Masks are required at all in-person sessions. Space will be limited at each in-person session. The 11 a.m. sessions per location will include a remote option. The remote option will be a Teams meeting. EILA Credit will be provided for this training. To receive EILA Credit for the virtual option, participants must sign in virtually. Please ensure testing staff are aware of these dates and options. Registration links for the location nearest you can be found embedded below. Please carefully consider if the in-person or virtual option will be best and register just once for the appropriate session. The deadline to register for the appropriate session is Nov. 16 at 11:59 p.m. CST. Please note: All Participants are encouraged to bring an electronic device.
Register for the Lexington Location
Date: Nov. 17
Location: Clarion Hotel Conference Center – North
Address: 1950 Newtown Pike, Lexington, KY, 40511
Times (EST): 8 – 10 a.m., 11 a.m. – 1 p.m., 2 – 4 p.m.
Register for the Bowling Green Location
Date: Nov. 18
Location: Holiday Inn University Plaza – Bowling Green
Address: 1021 Wilkinson Trace, Bowling Green, KY, 42103
Times (CST): 8 – 10 a.m., 11 a.m. – 1 p.m., 2 – 4 p.m.
For questions or more information, please email Shara Savage.
ACT State Testing Accommodations Webinar Available for On Demand Viewing
An on demand version of the ACT hosted webinar focused on accommodations requests can be found within the Accommodations step of the ACT state testing website. Testing staff can register for this on demand session, consume the content as their schedule allows, and still have the opportunity to submit questions via a Q&A feature embedded in the webinar. Please ensure the school staff responsible for submitting accommodations and supports requests are aware of this webinar.
As a reminder, the deadline to submit accommodations requests for the spring 2022 administration of the ACT is Jan. 7, 2022.
Family Engagement Resources Available in Dari and Pashto
As refugee students and families from Afghanistan begin their school journey in the United States, World-Class Instructional Design and Assessment (WIDA) decided to translate and publish some of its family engagement resources in Dari and Pashto – two languages spoken in Afghanistan. The newly translated print resources, which are housed on the WIDA Family Engagement webpage under Explain English Learner (EL) Status and Language Testing and Promote and Support Family Engagement, help explain things like EL status and language testing, and provide families with things they can do to support children’s language development.
Note: Those familiar with WIDA’s family engagement resources might notice that some of the resources are now available in Korean. This work was made possible by the WIDA International School Consortium. Thank you, international team! If districts sent a request to WIDA to have resources translated into a language that's spoken in the school, don't worry, that request is still being considered.
Supported System Requirements for ACCESS for ELLs and WIDA Screener Online
Updated Supported System Requirements for ACCESS for ELLs Online and WIDA Screener Online have been posted to WIDA Assessment Management System (AMS). These system requirements are valid for Oct. 2021 – Feb. 2022.
Contact Data Recognition Corporation (DRC) Customer Support or phone (855) 787-9615 with any questions.
Reminder: Upcoming ACCESS for ELLs Q&A Webinar for Technology Coordinators
Please join WIDA and DRC to learn about the following ACCESS for ELLs topic:
Pre-Testing: Technology Coordinator Support for Test Administrators Tuesday, Nov. 9, 1 p.m.-2 p.m. CT
More information and login details can be found in the WIDA Secure Portal on the Webinars page. Technology Coordinators interested in attending technology-related webinars can find the 2021-2022 Q&A Webinar Schedule for Technology Coordinators in WIDA AMS.
Can’t make it? The recordings for WIDA Q&A Webinars are posted to the WIDA Secure Portal on the Webinars page within a week of the presentation. Technology Coordinators may access recordings for technology-related webinars through the webinar schedule in WIDA AMS.
“The mission of Letcher County Schools is, in partnership with family, students and community, to assist all students in the pursuit of their individual educational goals and enable them to lead a successful life.
“Letcher County is in the furthest part of southeastern Kentucky and sits on the Kentucky/ Virginia boarder. The Letcher County School System is the county’s largest employer and serves 2,700 students and consists of eight schools. There are three K-8 schools, two K-5 schools, two 6-8 schools, and one high school. Our students also can attend the Letcher County Area Technology Center, which is attached to the high school via an indoor pedway, which makes the partnership invaluable while assisting students with post-secondary readiness. Within our district, we have the Letcher County Education Center which provides an alternative setting for students, if needed.
“For the first time, our district has provided interventionists in every school to help those students who might have been adversely impacted by virtual and hybrid learning. Data shows that many students are experiencing academic growth through intense individual and small group instruction and are quickly meeting grade-level benchmarks. Another first for our schools is to have additional counselors in the buildings, whose purpose is to work with students on their social/emotional learning.
“While trying to meet all students’ needs, the school system has recently set a virtual academy into motion for students and families who are experiencing health concerns during the pandemic. Currently, there are approximately 150 students in grades K-12, which is fewer than expected. Our goal is to have all students back to in-person learning as soon as the numbers safely allow. Meals (breakfast and lunch) are provided for those families for pick up, and students are being contacted several times weekly for support with grades, social/emotional needs, or to offer resources for families.
“As Letcher County School leaders, all schools are visited regularly; often we go as a team for Instructional Rounds, but many times, we visit in classrooms informally, observing, participating with students, or chatting with staff, instructional assistants, custodians, cafeteria workers, and administrators. One positive outcome of the pandemic is that the circumstances have made all Letcher County School “people” appreciate having full classrooms of happy students.”
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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