Question of the Week
Q: How can educators become actively involved in important assessment committees?
A: The Kentucky Department of Education is seeking Kentucky educators to assist in the many assessment related tasks coming up in the next several months. The goal is to have assessments of the highest quality, accurately measuring the Kentucky Academic Standards, and above all, to be fair to all test takers. Creating the Kentucky Summative Assessments (KSA) and the Alternate Kentucky Summative Assessments (AKSA) is a complex process that involves many steps including standard setting, item writing, bias review and blueprint development. Legislatively required Review Committees and Advisory Panels are part of this important process. K-12 and postsecondary educators, as well as community stakeholders, interested in participating in the assessment development and review work are needed. A pool of candidates is being gathered for these critical steps and other supporting activities that may occur. Applications are being accepted for each of these activities in reading, mathematics, science, social studies and writing. A large portion of this work will be accomplished virtually and participants will receive a stipend.
The Application for Assessment Committees is due April 28 for summer 2022. If not chosen for participation this summer, applicant names will be kept on file for future assessment work.
For questions, please email dacinfo@education.ky.gov.
Chrome OS Version 100 and Chrome OS Auto-Updating
Last week, some districts noticed their Chrome OS devices were upgraded to version 100 even though they had version 99 “pinned.” Apparently under certain circumstances, Google may override a pinned version and upgrade a device so it can better access resources within the Google suite or Google Cloud Storage.
That said, Pearson also released their support of Chrome OS version 100 this week for the Kentucky Summative Assessment (KSA). If devices have been upgraded to Chrome OS version 100, it can now be used for the KSA. In order to avoid the pushed upgrades from Google during the test window, it is advised to disable auto-updating until the district has completed KSA testing. Once testing has concluded, please resume normal practices for updating the Chrome OS devices.
Grammarly Application and Browser Extension
Pearson recently advised the Office of Assessment and Accountability (OAA), that the TestNav application will be capable of detecting the Grammarly application/extension on devices used for the Kentucky Summative Assessment (KSA). Grammarly is an application/extension that runs in the background of the device’s operating system or browser and can make spelling corrections, grammar corrections and other related benefits when writing. The Grammarly application/extension must be disabled prior to taking the KSA.
Specific directions for Chrome OS/Chromebooks/Chrome OS Devices, Apple Devices (Desktop/Laptop/iPad), and Windows Devices and additional technical support can be found at KY | Technology Setup (mypearsonsupport.com) or calling Pearson at, (888) 437-1430.
2022 EOP Assessment results and certificates are now available in E-SESS
The 2021-2022 CTE End-of-Program (EOP) Assessment performance results and certificates are now available in E-SESS, April 18, 2022. District Assessment Coordinators, CTE EOP Assessment Coordinators and Additional E-SESS Report Users may use the same E-SESS account information previously provided by E-SESS to log into the KYEOP organization to access 2021-2022 CTE EOP Assessment performance results. Please refer to the instructions provided to assessment coordinators for more details.
CTE EOP Assessment Coordinators and DACs now have access to print the CTE EOP Assessment certificates from E-SESS. Please ensure that students receive their certificates and the recognition they deserve for passing the assessments.
The 2021-2022 CTE EOP Assessment State Report will be provided later. An email update will be provided once the state report is available. All 2021-2022 CTE EOP Assessments are associated with statewide articulation agreements. Please refer to the KDE Statewide Articulation Agreements web page for more information.
If you have questions, please contact Sherri Craig, Office of Career and Technical Education, at sherri.craig@education.ky.gov or (502) 564-4286 Ext. 4226.
K Screen 2022-2023 Brigance Training Materials Website is Now Available
The 2022-2023 Brigance Training Materials webpage is now available. This webpage is password protected and contains the training materials that district trainers need to train staff for the one-hour training for experienced K Screen proctors, and the three-hour required training for new K Screen proctors.
Password: BRIGANCEtrainers2022
Prior Settings Form for Kindergarten Registration 2022-2023
The prior settings form is available in English and Spanish. The form can be found on the Common Kindergarten Entry Screener webpage.
Many districts include this form in their kindergarten registration information. Prior settings information can be collected any time before and during the 2022-2023 K Screen window. Please review the 2022-2023 Implementation Guide for more information.
2022 Spring Testing Site Visits
Staff from the Office of Assessment and Accountability will be conducting virtual and in-person assessment site visits to selected schools across Kentucky during the upcoming testing windows.
For in-person visits, District Assessment Coordinators (DACs) will be contacted approximately 30 minutes before the team arrives at the school to announce the visit. DACs are invited to accompany the OAA team on the visit if they wish. Virtual site visits will be scheduled in advance.
During the visit, OAA staff will interview the BAC and/or Principal. Staff will focus particularly on the testing environment and will examine posters/classroom materials, placement of students for overcrowding and student work surfaces.
The documents used by OAA staff to collect information during the visits are attached below. Staff will ask the school to provide:
- 1 copy of a Testing Schedule
- 1 copy of a Seating Chart (any 2 grades)
- 1 copy of a Medical Nonparticipation Form (if applicable)
- 1 copy of a Good Faith Effort Checklist (if used)
OAA staff will ask to take a copy with them of Good Faith Effort Checklist (if used), Seating Charts, Testing Schedule and/or Medical Nonparticipation Form (if applicable).
Student Individualized Education Programs (IEP), Program Service Plans (PSP) and/or 504 Plans will be reviewed through the Infinite Campus student identification system.
Please share information about the visits and the documents that will be used with your BACs and Principals or other appropriate staff.
The Site Visit Survey Questions are available for review prior to spring testing.
April DAC Monthly Webcast
The Office of Assessment and Accountability (OAA), Division of Assessment and Accountability Support (DAAS) hosted its live Monthly DAC Webcast on April 14. The meeting was hosted by Jennifer Stafford, Director of DAAS. She was joined by DAAS consultants Lisa Jett, Ben Riley and Shara Savage. Agenda topics included:
- Preparation for Testing
- Kindergarten Ordering Update
- Virtual and In-Person Site Visits and Forms
- End-of-Course/ACT Updates
- Recruitment of Educators and
- Legislative Updates
The April 2022 DAC Webcast PowerPoint and the DAC Webcast Video links are available on the right-hand side of the KDE Meetings and Trainings webpage. The recorded session is posted on the KDE Media Portal.
The May Monthly DAC Webcast is cancelled due to the state testing windows. Future broadcasts are scheduled for the second Thursday of each month at 11 a.m. ET on the KDE Live Stream.
Update: Read Aloud Sessions in Pearson Access Next (PAN) Now Available
Read Aloud Sessions in PAN are now available for the Quality of School Climate and Safety (QSCS) Survey. This is for surveys in Grades 3-5 and Grades 6-11. Districts should now be able to create Read Aloud Sessions for both the QSCS Survey and content tests.
For more information about the Read Aloud Sessions, please visit the Creating Test Sessions guide on the KY Portal. There are step-by-step directions provided on slides 13-20 for creating these sessions.
Alternate Kentucky Summative Assessment (AKSA) Window 2 Begins Today
Testing for AKSA Window 2 begins today, April 18, 2022. OAA would like to wish all teachers, students and administrators a successful test administration window. Materials should already be in districts.
If something is missing that cannot be replaced by DAC materials, please e-mail Jason Howard as soon as possible so additional materials can be mailed out.
AKSA Makeup window reminder
Any student that is in the Alternate Assessment Program that has not completed Window 1 to this point must complete both Windows of the assessment in Window 2. This includes newly registered students as well as students newly admitted to the Alternate program. Any student responsible for taking the AKSA that has not completed Window 1 must do so during Window 2. It is recommended that tests are grouped by subject and not Window (I.e. Reading Window ½, Mathematics ½) when administering both tests in one window.
In order to enter scores for Window 1 the following must be done:
- Formally request a makeup window for Window 1 testing by e-mailing the following information to Darrell Mattingly and Jason Howard: SSID#, Grade, School, District, Reason for each student requiring a makeup session.
- Test the student
- Once the test is complete e-mail Darrell Mattingly and Jason Howard to make us aware Window 1 testing is completed and the SRD will be opened up for score entry.
These steps must be followed in order to enter Window 1 test scores for the AKSA for any student that has not completed Window 1 to date.
Upcoming Webinar: WIDA AMS Technical Enhancements for 2022-2023
Please join World-Class Instructional Design and Assessment (WIDA) and Data Recognition Corporation (DRC) for an LEA (Local Educational Agency- schools and district) specific webinar on the changes to WIDA AMS on Tuesday, May 17 from 1 p.m.-2 p.m. CT. DRC Technical Enhancements for 2022-2023 will focus on:
- WIDA AMS landing page changes
- Accommodated logins for Test Practice and Sample Items
- DRC Customer Service enhancements for LEAs
- Test Monitoring Application
More information and login details can be found in the WIDA Secure Portal on the Webinars page. The recordings of WIDA Q&A Webinars are posted to the WIDA Secure Portal on the Webinars page within a week of the presentation.
Reminder: ACCESS Data Validation
ACCESS for ELLs (ACCESS/Alternate ACCESS) Data Validation window closes on April 20. Please refer to the April 4 Monday DAC email for details.
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