Question of the Week
Q: Are there additional trainings for the 2021-2022 ACCESS for ELLs testing administration?
A: More trainings are now available for the administration of ACCESS and Alternate ACCESS assessments on the ACCESS for ELLs - Kentucky Department of Education (KDE) page.
An ACCESS Overview training is coming soon.
Questions on ACCESS and Alternate ACCESS assessments may be submitted to Chris Williams or phone (502) 564-4394.
High-Quality Instructional Resource District Coordinator
In order to better communicate future high-quality instructional resource (HQIR) guidance and resources, the Kentucky Department of Education (KDE) is asking districts to identify an individual to serve as their local HQIR coordinator. Though each district may have had someone identified as textbook coordinator in the past, this new role is expected to expand beyond purchasing and traditional textbook adoption. Since a key part of standards-aligned instruction is the use of HQIRs to support student learning, please consider selecting a district position that has the capacity to lead the selection of and the professional development for the resources and curriculum development process. Support of this statewide effort is appreciated.
The district HQIR coordinator position has been created and is available in Open House. Please work with the local web application administrator point of contact (WAAPOC) to set the appropriate contacts through the Web Security Administrator (WSA) application (sometimes called People Manager). To make changes, log into the Web Application tool and select the Web Security Administrator – WSA (or People Manager) link. Find the district WAAPOCs listed in the Open House School and District Directory.
Please Note: Changes to access (group membership) made in WSA will update Open House immediately, which allows one to double check the appropriate contacts and email addresses.
Updates and Reminders: 2021-2022 CTE End-of-Program (EOP) Assessment
UPDATES: The Career and Technical Education (CTE) End-of-Program (EOP) Assessments are aligned to Career Pathway Standards. The list of 2021-2022 Valid CTE End-of-Program (EOP) Assessments has been updated. New and revised CTE EOP Assessments will be available for testing in the spring of 2022, including:
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Engineering: Aerospace Engineering, Automation Engineering, Civil Engineering, Electrical and Electronics Engineering, Engineering Design, Mechanical Engineering
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Business and Marketing: Accounting, Financial Services
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Computer Sciences: Computer Programming, Digital Design and Game Development, Information Support Services, Network Administration, Web Development and Administration
REMINDERS:
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SELECT SCHOOL TESTING WINDOW: CTE EOP Assessment Coordinator must select their school’s consecutive two-week testing window using the 2021-2022 CTE EOP Assessment School Testing Window Selection Form by Dec. 1.
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CRITICAL DEADLINE: Schools must meet CRITICAL DEADLINES for students to be eligible to test. A student must be identified as a “concentrator” in their pathway(s) in the Technical Education Database System (TEDS) by the Dec.1 deadline to be eligible to test in 2021-2022.
RESOURCES: Visit the CTE EOP Assessment web page for more information.
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Assessment Regulations Training All individuals participating in the administration of CTE EOP Assessment shall comply with 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. Required trainings must be completed prior to the administration of CTE EOP Assessment at the local level. Nondisclosures and Group Signature Sheets verifying training should be kept on file locally.
- The 2021-2022 CTE EOP Assessment Coordinator/Administrator Manuals are scheduled to be available at CTE EOP Assessment web page in Dec. 2021. A notification will be sent to districts and schools once the manuals are available.
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CTE EOP Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
WIDA ELD Standards Framework, 2020 Edition: New Grade-level Cluster Booklets
Are districts looking for a resource that is focused on the grade level taught and that will help enact the World-Class Instructional Design and Assessment (WIDA) English Language Development (ELD) Standards Framework? The new grade-level cluster booklets are it! Now, each set of the grade-level cluster materials (K, 1, 2-3, 4-5, 6-8, and 9-12) that appear in section 3 of the 2020 Edition are available as booklets! Each booklet contains the materials organized according to the components of the WIDA ELD Standards Framework, and some additional resources.
View or download the six new booklets at no cost on the 2020 Edition webpage, or purchase a spiral-bound booklet from the WIDA Store.
WIDA Secure Portal Enhancement: Download the Certification History
WIDA Secure Portal users now have the option to download the entire certification history, which can be printed or emailed to a coordinator or supervisor. Log in to the WIDA Secure Portal and go to My Profile. Click Export PDF at the top of the Certifications table to see the entire assessment training history, followed by professional learning course completion.
The 2022 WIDA Annual Conference Call for Proposals Is Now Open
The 2022 WIDA Annual conference will take place Sept. 28-30, 2022 in Louisville under the theme "Advancing Learning Together." WIDA invites districts to share their expertise with other educators as a presenter by submitting a proposal. The deadline to submit a proposal is Jan. 31, 2022.
Modified Customer Service Hours for WIDA and DRC
Next week, WIDA Client Services and Data Recognition Corporation (DRC) Customer Service will observe the following hours of operation.
- Monday, Nov. 22 through Wednesday, Nov. 24: Open from 7 a.m.-6 p.m. CT
- Thursday, Nov. 25 and Friday, Nov. 26: Closed
Reminder: Upcoming ACCESS for ELLs Q&A Webinar
Please join WIDA to learn about the following ACCESS for ELLs topic:
More information and login details can be found in the WIDA Secure Portal on the Webinars page.
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
“Lawrence County School District consists of six schools nestled in the beautiful hills of Eastern Kentucky. Louisa West Elementary (PreK-1), Louisa East Elementary (2-5), Blaine Elementary (PreK-8), Fallsburg Elementary (PreK-8), Louisa Middle (6-8), and Lawrence County High School (9-12) provide educational services to approximately 2,500 students. Of the 2,500 students enrolled in our schools, 67% of them are economically disadvantaged and close to 500 of them meet the definition of homeless under the McKinney Vento Act. As educators in an Eastern Kentucky school district, we understand and embrace the challenges that our students face.
“Although many of the underlying causes of these challenges are out of our educators' direct control, as a school district we are always looking for ways to improve the opportunities offered our students to better ensure that they are well rounded, successful and productive members of society. As the seasons of gratitude and thankfulness approach over the next few months, Lawrence County Schools has many opportunities that have been presented to our district for which we are very thankful.
“At the end of last school year, our superintendent and the Lawrence County High School Career-Technical Education (CTE) staff applied for and was one of nine districts who received funds from the state for renovations to Local Area Vocational Education Centers. The Kentucky School Facilities Construction Commission board approved $9.28 million for our district. These funds will be used to expand our current CTE program as well as renovate and update our greenhouse, provide an additional room for our JROTC program, and add a computer science pathway and carpentry classes. Being that all students are not interested in attending a four-year institution after high school, this will allow Lawrence County students to personalize their learning to what is relevant and of greater interest to them.
“In addition to the CTE award, the district received a FRYSC GEER II Grant. The mission of this grant is to address the social and emotional needs of our middle and high school students. In the aftermath of the isolation and social distancing required due to the COVID pandemic, our educators determined that all students need support regardless of their socioeconomic status. The additional money provided by this grant will allow students to receive the mental health support needed when dealing with peer pressure, bullying, depression, and learning how to reacclimate to a culture of “togetherness” and “normalcy.” The current centers will have more resources available for programs that help students with mindfulness and meditation, as well as self-care and self-awareness.
“As always, the Lawrence County School District works diligently to ensure that all students are educated to the highest level possible and that parents, teachers, and staff maintain a culture of being ‘All In’ for LC Schools.”
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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