Question of the Week
Q: Has the opening of Pearson Access Next (PAN) for the Kentucky Summative Assessment (KSA) been postponed?
A: Yes. In an effort to provide the most up-to-date student upload in PAN for KSA, the Office of Assessment and Accountability (OAA) has rescheduled the opening date to March 28. After discussions with participants from recent February DAC meetings and determining that the first district test date will not start until mid-April, the decision was made to complete the upload into PAN closer to the start of testing. This date change should reduce additional work for schools and districts regarding students who transfer during the span of time the opening date was delayed, while still allowing ample time for creating test sessions.
The Spring 2022 KSA Important Dates document has been revised to reflect the changes.
REMINDER: Alternate Assessment Students Marked Blind/Visually Impaired (VI) On Individualized Education Program (IEP): Deadline Feb. 28
As of today, 22 districts have ordered VI materials. The deadline is one week away, please get orders in soon!
The Kentucky Department of Education (KDE) will provide tactically-enhanced supplemental materials (e.g., maps, graphs) for some grades on the Alternate Kentucky Summative Assessment Attainment Tasks (AT) to students who have visual impairments. KDE must verify that the student has VI marked on their IEP. If a student qualifies for these materials, please complete the following tasks:
- Verify a visual impairment has been clearly marked in the current IEP and the student is identified as participating in Kentucky’s Alternate Assessment. Once completed move to the next step.
- Download your District Spreadsheet using this link: Window 2 VI Orders
- Open the Google Sheet
- Select File>Download>Microsoft Excel
- Edit the spreadsheet with your District’s data.
- Once you have completed this spreadsheet, please save it then upload it in this Google Form
- This needs to be completed by February 28, 2022
- Only one list containing all students who qualify for this accommodation should be provided per district.
All submissions must be made no later than Monday, Feb. 28, to receive these VI materials for the second Alternate Kentucky Summative Assessment Attainment Task window. Districts who submit late information or do not follow the above instructions may not receive these materials for Test Window 2 (April 18 – May 27) on time. For any additional questions or concerns please contact Jason Howard or by phone at (502) 564-4394.
REMINDER: Alternate Assessment Window Two Materials – Please select shipping Window by Feb. 28
The Kentucky Department of Education (KDE) provides two shipping windows for the second window of the Alternate Assessment to accommodate schools on spring break. If you have a preference on shipping windows please submit that preference to Jason Howard by Monday, February 28. Failure to do so will default your district to the earliest possible shipping window (April 4-8).
- Option 1: April 4-8 (default option)
- Option 2: April 11-15
Please e-mail Jason Howard if your district would prefer to select a different shipping window other than the default option.
Reminder: 2021-2022 CTE EOP Assessment Testing Window Opens Feb. 21
The 2021-2022 Career and Technical Education (CTE) End-of-Program (EOP) Assessment testing window opens on Feb. 21. Schools have selected a consecutive two-week school testing window to conduct the assessment administration. All 2021-2022 CTE EOP Assessment testing must be completed by Mar. 31 following current health and safety guidance.
The CTE EOP Assessment is available in-person and must be proctored in-person per 703 KAR 5:080 (Feb. 2014), Administration Code for Kentucky’s Educational Assessment Program, and 703 KAR 5:070 (April 2021), Inclusion of Special Populations in the State-Required Assessment and Accountability Programs. Refer to the CTE End-of-Program (CTE EOP) Assessment Coordinator and Test Administrator Manuals for more details related to assessment administration.
Please visit the CTE EOP Assessment webpage for more information and contact Sherri Craig, Office of Career and Technical Education (OCTE), at 502-564-4286 ext. 4226 with any questions.
Reminder: 2021-2022 Skilled Trades TRACK Assessment Testing Window Opens Feb. 21
The 2021-2022 Skilled Trades, Tech Ready Apprentices for Careers in Kentucky (TRACK) Carpentry or TRACK Electrical Assessment testing window opens Feb. 21. Schools have selected a consecutive two-week school testing window to conduct the assessment administration. Skilled Trades TRACK (Carpentry, Electrical) Assessments only pertain to schools with students enrolled in specified TRACK pathways. Not all schools participate in the TRACK program. All 2021-2022 Skilled Trades TRACK Assessment testing must be completed by Mar. 31 following current health and safety guidance.
The Skilled Trades TRACK Assessments are available in-person and must be proctored in-person per 703 KAR 5:080 (February 2014), Administration Code for Kentucky’s Educational Assessment Program, and 703 KAR 5:070 (April 2021), Inclusion of Special Populations in the State-Required Assessment and Accountability Programs. CTE EOP Assessment Coordinators and DACs/ATC Principals are responsible for the administration of TRACK Carpentry and TRACK Electrical assessments at the school level. Refer to the CTE End-of-Program (CTE EOP) Assessment Coordinator and Test Administrator Manuals and the specific TRACK (Carpentry, Electrical) Assessment Instructions for more details related to assessment administration.
Technical support will be available Mon.-Fri. 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. ET, during the testing window.
Please visit the CTE EOP Assessment webpage for more information and contact Sherri Craig, Office of Career and Technical Education (OCTE), at 502-564-4286 ext. 4226 with any questions.
SAT Assessment Scores in Infinite Campus
The Kentucky Department of Education (KDE) strives to publish student results data in Infinite Campus (IC) as it becomes available. KDE will publish 2021-2022 SAT scores to districts beginning on Tuesday, Feb. 15.
Please email KDE data services inbox with any questions on this matter.
Non-Test Activity for the ACT and Parental Consent Policy Reminder
This spring’s ACT administration materials were delivered to schools the week of Feb. 7 or 14. The delivered materials include personalized non-test instructions documents for each examinee and copies of the Taking the ACT booklets, which students need to conduct the non-test activity in MyACT. When students establish a MyACT account and have the account linked to this spring’s administration, they will be able to utilize free test preparation resources. They will be notified via email when their score is available.
Additionally, schools will have access to a more comprehensive set of information when results are available that will help shape and influence curriculum to ensure examinees are taking or plan to take courses that will ensure they are prepared for success after high school. School testing staff should make arrangements to host school sessions to conduct the non-test activity. Schools may consider hosting separate sessions for students with and without parental consent. Additional information about parental support can be found below. For more information about conducting the non-test activity, please visit Step 4 of your ACT-hosted website.
The Office of Assessment and Accountability (OAA) has been working with the U.S. Department of Education (USED) to ensure that the Kentucky Department of Education (KDE) and Kentucky school districts are fully compliant regarding federal privacy laws concerning non‐test information provided to third parties when administering the Kentucky state administration of the ACT to Juniors in the spring of 2022. The Parental Consent Form is required for all students under the age of 18. The form is embedded into the Parental Consent Guidance document. As a reminder, consent can be obtained through a google doc, email, hard copy or verbally. If consent is not obtained from a parent and/or guardian, the student does not have permission to opt into the Educational Opportunity Service (EOS) system and send scores to colleges. For more information, please contact Shara Savage.
Jefferson County Public School (JCPS) District is the largest school district in the state of Kentucky and the 29th largest in the United States. The district consists of 167 schools: 93 Elementary, 21 Middle, 22 High and 31 non-A1 schools. We educate over 100,000 students on a daily basis with a wide variety of needs.
Over the past two years, JCPS has been focusing its work around three key pillars which are: Backpack of Success Skills, Racial Equity, and Climate and Culture. All schools in JCPS have an unwavering focus on these pillars as they plan system improvement efforts.
The Backpack of Success Skills was launched in the 2018-19 school year with a focus on finding ways to engage students in more meaningful learning experiences. JCPS partnered with Google to create a digital platform for students to create digital portfolios to showcase their artifacts of high quality and individualized learning. Every student beginning with Pre-K has a Backpack of Success Skills to showcase their learning and growth over their educational career. Students will also culminate their 5th, 8th and 12th grade years with a Backpack Defense allowing them to demonstrate that they have met the criteria for advancing on in their education. This platform is not only providing students with a deeper understanding of content standards, it is preparing them to be good communicators, problem solvers, collaborators and more.
JCPS has elevated its focus on ensuring that all students have access to the same quality programs and academic experiences. Our Racial Equity pillar was created to address the needs of students traditionally underserved and ensure that our own workforce is as diverse as the community we serve. This work is evidenced and monitored by the district's Diversity, Equity and Poverty Department.
A focus on healthy and positive school climate and culture is essential for all students to feel safe and a full sense of belonging. We know that attitudes, beliefs and actions of adults in a school can impact student learning. We provide opportunities and resources for staff to make connections with their families and students. We value collaboration and input from our stakeholders. We are establishing excellence across all levels of JCPS.
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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