Question of the Week
Q: When can schools expect the Fall State ACT materials to be delivered?
A: During the select test dates task, the testing staff identified the week during which they would like to receive their materials for the upcoming ACT administration. Material distribution for Test Window 1 will begin the week of Sept. 12 and continue into the week of Sept. 19. Testing staff can monitor material shipment progress by logging into PearsonAccessNext (PAN) and locating a tracking number associated with their material shipment. When materials arrive, testing staff should inventory the packages to ensure all items within the packing list are accounted for. Testing staff can review the Test Coordinator manual for more detailed instructions about receiving and handling secure material.
The material shipment will include personalized non-test instructions, secure accommodation materials and corresponding supporting documentation for students to conduct the non-test activity within MyACT. Prior to conducting the non-test activity, testing staff should be made aware of the KDE Parental Consent policy form, as well as the instructions and resources for conducting the non-test activity, both of which can be found within step 4 of the ACT-hosted website. All schools will also receive bar code labels, although the labels will not be needed for online testing. For any questions or assistance, please contact Shara Savage.
Kentucky Alternate Assessment – CWEC Training / Quiz Opened Sept. 9
The Career Work Experience Certification (CWEC) qualified CWEC administrator training and quiz opened in the Online Training System (OTS) Sept. 9. Please visit the Kentucky Alternate Assessment Program (KAAP) website for access to the CWEC training and quiz.
Districts and schools should continue to maintain supporting evidence for the Employability Skills Attainment Record (ESAR) and CWEC in the Career Ready Alternate Assessment Folder (CRAAF). Refer to the Working with Exceptional Children in CTE web page on the KDE website for additional resources, including the CWEC Administration Guide and District CWEC Checklist. Refer to the 2022-2023 Alternate Kentucky Summative Assessment Calendar for a complete CWEC and ESAR dates list.
For questions related to career readiness opportunities for students in an alternate high school diploma course of study or alternate assessment, please contact Sherri Craig, Office of Career and Technical Education, or Bill Bates, Exceptional Child Educational Consultant for CTE in the Office of Special Education and Early Learning. For assistance with the Online Training System (OTS) or Career Ready Database (CRD), contact Darrell Mattingly, Kentucky Alternate Assessment Program (KAAP) at UK-HDI.
Alternate Assessment Students Marked Blind/Visually Impaired (VI) On Individualized Education Program (IEP): Deadline Extension
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. A small and final extension for ordering materials has been obtained from the vendor. 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 1 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 as “DistrictName_Window1.XLSX and submit a copy to the Google Form.
- This needs to be completed by close of business September 13, 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 Tuesday, September 13, to receive these VI materials for the first Alternate Kentucky Summative Assessment Attainment Task window. No further extensions for the first window ordering can be granted. Districts who submit late information or do not follow the above instructions may not receive these materials for Test Window 1 (November 14 – December 16) on time. For any additional questions or concerns please contact Jason Howard or by phone at (502) 564-4394.
ACCESS for ELLs Braille Material Updates for 2022-2023
As districts move closer to the start of the 2022-2023 ACCESS for ELLs testing window, WIDA would like to share some updates related to braille materials.
- WIDA has streamlined the materials needed to administer this assessment. The test administrator script for braille now includes the human reader script directions and graphic descriptions. Find the full description of braille kit contents in the Accessibility and Accommodations Manual.
- Districts will receive sample items and a sample items user guide with each braille kit. These sample items will be in the same braille code as the ordered test materials. District and school staff need to remove sample items from the material boxes as soon as the materials arrive, so test administrators and students have time to become familiar with the braille assessment. Sample items and the sample items user guide are not considered secure test materials and should not be returned to DRC; these materials may be kept by the district.
- Sample items and sample items user guides have been added to the ACCESS Test Practice and Sample Items page on the WIDA website in four grade clusters: 1-3, 4-5, 6-8, and 9-12. Braille sample items with graphics are available as images, while sample items without images are available in .brf (braille ready format) files and can be downloaded and embossed.
International Baccalaureate Assessment Scores in Infinite Campus
The Kentucky Department of Education (KDE) strives to publish student results data in Infinite Campus (IC) as they become available. KDE will publish the 2021-2022 International Baccalaureate (IB) assessments to districts beginning on Tuesday, September 13.
Please email KDE data services inbox with any questions on this matter.
September Monthly DAC Webcast
The Office of Assessment and Accountability (OAA), Division of Assessment and Accountability Support (DAAS) hosted its live monthly DAC Webcast on Thursday, September 8. The meeting was hosted by Jennifer Stafford, Director of DAAS. She was joined by DAAS consultants Chris Williams and Devon Avery. Agenda topics included:
Preparation for Quality Control (QC) Day
Calculator Resources and Policy
ACT Fall Senior Administration Reminders
The September 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. Future broadcasts are scheduled for the second Thursday of each month at 11 a.m. ET.
REMINDER: “We Will Rise” 2022 Scott Trimble Workshop on Assessment and Instruction October 27-28, 2022
Register for the 2022 Scott Trimble Workshop on Assessment and Instruction. The workshop will be held at the Crowne Plaza Louisville Airport Expo Center. Early Bird Registration Fee of $225 and KAAC Hotel Block deadline is September 26, 2022. You can find all the information regarding the Workshop Schedule, Hotel Accommodations, and Registration information by going to www.kaac.org.
|
