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Dear District Assessment Coordinators,
The Office of Assessment and Accountability has those who have been impacted by the devastation across Kentucky over the weekend in our hearts and minds. We wish for strength and comfort for everyone touched by this natural disaster. Please know that OAA is focused on both the personal and professional needs of those affected.
Gov. Beshear has established the Team Western Kentucky Tornado Relief Fund to assist those impacted by the tornadoes and the severe weather system on Dec.11, 2021. All donations to the Team Western Kentucky Tornado Relief Fund are tax-deductible and donors will receive a receipt for tax purposes after donating.
In his Monday Message, Commissioner Jason E. Glass provided “Resources for Schools and Districts Providing Support for Families Suffering a Loss During the Tornadoes.” Please reference his important message for guidance.
I want to express my sincere gratitude to the education community for always meeting the challenge. We are truly #TeamKentucky. Thank you for your immediate action and continued efforts to support our fellow Kentuckians. Please stay safe and healthy!
Sincerely,
Jennifer Stafford, Ed.D.
Alternate Kentucky Summative Assessment Window to Close/Makeup Window Announced
As the AKSA Window 1 comes to an end, please remember that Window 1 officially closes on Dec. 20. All scores must be entered by Dec. 22. As usual, there will be a makeup window for the Alternate Kentucky Summative Assessment. The Window 1 makeup begins Jan. 3 through March 18, 2022. Please remember in order to use the makeup for Window 1 must do the following:
1. Email Jason Howard to communicate the reason the makeup testing is required. The makeup window is not to be used as an ‘extension’ of testing Window 1 but requires a valid reason that impacted the ability to complete testing during Window 1 in order to utilize the makeup window (illness, quarantine, natural disaster, etc.).
2. Test the students in a timely manner once approved.
3. Email Jason Howard and Darrell Mattingly in order to get the Student Registration Database (SRD) unlocked so you can enter scores. In order to complete these requests we will need the SSID#, District, School Name and the account email address for the person entering the scores. Please submit those at the time of the request.
If you need any further assistance please let us know.
ACT/KDE Parent Consent Form and Guidance Document Available
The ACT/KDE Parent Consent Form and Guidance Document are now posted. As a gentle reminder, all students under the age of 18 must have consent from parents/guardians to choose whether or not a student participates in the Educational Opportunity Service (EOS) and/or request score reports sent up to 4 college(s). The Parental Consent Guidance Document and the ACT/OAA Guidance Document and FAQ hold valuable information in completing this task.
Spring 2022 ACT State Administration -- Resources
ACT/KDE Guidance Document and FAQ
ACT/KDE Guidance and FAQ Document is now posted to the KDE website. This document is a vital resource for the Spring 2022 State Administration of the ACT. The document contains ACT and OAA's latest updates, new policies for 2022 and frequently asked questions.
Spring 2022 KDE Policy & ACT Administration Training Information Now Available
The week of Nov.15, KDE and ACT partnered to host a series of training sessions designed to provide information about KDE policy and the ACT administration process. The content has been recorded and posted to the ACT hosted website for review and revisit as needed during this spring's administration cycle. Please be sure to provide BACs with the link to this vital resource.
ACT Reminder to Request Accommodations
If requests for ACT authorized accommodations and supports have not been completed, ACT and OAA strongly encourage schools/districts to submit requests in the Test Accessibility and Accommodations (TAA) system prior to winter break. This will help ensure testing staff has ample time to provide ACT with any additional information and documentation that may be needed to secure the authorized accommodations and supports. The deadline to complete this task is Jan. 7, 2022. Additional resources can be found in the Accommodation section on the ACT State testing webpage.
Register for ACT Test Administration Training Jan. 5
ACT is hosting the first of two test administration training sessions, which will focus on pre-test activities, on Jan. 5, 2022, at 10 a.m. ET. DACs and BACs are encouraged to register for this event even if they are unable to join the session in real-time. By completing the registration process, DACs/BACs will be notified when recorded content is available to view as time allows.
ACT State Testing Office Hour Dec. 16
OAA and ACT will be hosting an office hour session focused on the recently announced parental consent policy this Thursday, Dec. 16, at 11 a.m. EST. The session will be hosted via a Microsoft Teams meeting. While the content will be focused on this policy, KDE and ACT encourage testing staff to attend and ask any questions they may have at this time. Please be sure to provide testing staff with this Dec. 16 Teams Meeting Link for this week's session.
Spring 2023 ACT State Administration Testing Dates
ACT and OAA have set the dates for the Spring 2023 State Administration of the ACT. The dates are as follows:
Initial Test Window 1
Standard and Accommodated Administration (Online) - March 7-9 and March 14-16, 2023
Standard Administration (Paper-limited to special circumstances) - March 7, 2023
Accommodations Administration (Paper) - March 7-10 and March 13-17, 2023
Makeup Test Window 2
Standard and Accommodated Administration (Online) - March 21-23 and March 28-30, 2023
Standard Administration (Paper-limited to special circumstances) - March 21, 2023
Accommodations Administration (Paper) - March 21-24 and March 27-31, 2023
Emergency Test Window 3
Standard and Accommodated Administration (Online) - April 11-13 and April 18-20, 2023
Standard Administration (Paper-limited to special circumstances) - April 11, 2023
Accommodations Administration (Paper) - April 11-14 and April 17-21, 2023
Reminder: Identify High-Quality Instructional Resource District Coordinator
In order to better communicate future high-quality instructional resource (HQIR) guidance and resources, districts need to identify an individual to serve as their local HQIR coordinator. Though each district may have had someone identified as a textbook coordinator in the past, this role is expected to expand beyond purchasing and 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. Your support of this statewide effort is appreciated.
The district HQIR coordinator position has been created and is available in Open House. Please work with your 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. One can find district WAAPOCs listed in the Open House School and District directory.
Questions? Please contact Thomas Clouse, Academic Program Manager, Division of Program Standards, Office of Teaching and Learning, 502-564-2106, ext. 4120.
2022 February DAC Training and Q&A Session Date/Locations
Feb. 9 – Ashland – Kentucky Education Development Corporation
Feb. 15 – Florence – Ralph Rush Professional Development Center
Feb. 16 – Laurel – Center for Innovations
Feb. 22 – Frankfort – Sower Building
Feb. 24 – Eddyville – West Kentucky Educational Cooperative
The February DAC Training videos will be released in late Jan./early February, and the expectation will be to review the recorded training videos prior to the hybrid Q&A Sessions. The training material will not be repeated during hybrid Q&A Sessions. Registration for the Q&A sessions is coming in Jan.
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DAC Spotlight
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"Monroe County School District is located in the city of Tompkinsville in Monroe County. The school district is located in the south-central area of the state, sitting on the Tennessee border. MCSD services around 1,800 students K-12 and is comprised of five schools: Gamaliel Elementary, Joe Harrison Carter Elementary, Tompkinsville Elementary, Monroe County Middle, and Monroe County High. There is also an alternative learning center, Falcon Academy, and an Area Technology Center attached to the high school. The district is very fortunate to also house Preschool, Head Start, and Wee Care Daycares in each of its elementary schools as well. We feel that this is one of the factors that attributes to our successful elementary schools. The transition from early learning to Kindergarten is seamless.
"It is the mission of the Monroe County School District to give students the skill set and the toolset to be successful, productive citizens. The theme in the district for the current and upcoming school year is CONNECTING: Connecting back TOGETHER after being so disconnected last year, connecting back to our FOUNDATIONS, and connecting back to our BELIEFS. MCSD believes that together we can focus on foundational/core beliefs about teaching and learning to help address student gaps and learning loss that has developed due to COVID-19. We rely heavily on formative and summative assessment data to determine a multitude of decisions both inside the classroom and school-wide.
"Christie Biggerstaff has been a teacher, assistant principal, principal, and now an instructional supervisor. She has been a BAC or DAC for the last 15 years. Communicating often and early is one of the best pieces of advice for an efficient DAC."
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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