Question of the Week
Q: When does PearsonAccessnext open for Spring KSA?
A: PearsonAccessnext (PAN) opens today, Monday, March 27 for Kentucky Summative Assessments (KSA) for the Quality of School Climate and Safety Survey, reading, mathematics, science, social studies, editing and mechanics and on-demand writing in grades 3-8, 10 and 11. Although testing is still several weeks away, opening now allows District and Building Assessment Coordinators the opportunity to complete administrative tasks necessary for the 2023 spring assessment.
Note: Districts are encouraged to start completing these tasks listed below as soon as possible.
Trainings for both PAN and TestNav are available on the Meetings and Trainings page on the Kentucky Department of Education (KDE) website and on the Kentucky Portal.
As a reminder, please make sure that the following tasks are completed:
- Update district and school profiles.
- Familiarize staff with PAN navigational instructions.
- District Assessments Coordinators (DACs) create user accounts.
- DACs order accommodated kits via the additional order option in PAN. For help placing additional orders, refer to the Create an Order for Materials.
- DACs and Building Assessment Coordinators (BACs) create test sessions.
- Prepare online testing environment with technology staff.
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Complete student transfer work requests (indicated by a red bell).
On the Kentucky Portal, Text-to-Speech (TTS) and IEP/504 Instructions are found under the PAN Guidance Document Tab.
Please refer to the KSA Important Dates for all KSA completion dates.
Program Consultant Vacancy (Closing Update)
An Education Administration Program Consultant II position in the Division of Assessment and Accountability Support (DAAS) is open through April 14 for applicants. The posting lists the job description and duties for all those who are interested in working with the Office of Assessment and Accountability (OAA). The Kentucky Department of Education (KDE) offers flexible work hours and the opportunity for a hybrid work schedule. Apply Now. The estimated time to complete is 10-15 minutes.
Please share this information with your colleagues who would be interested in this position. We look forward to filling it quickly.
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DAC/BAC Certification of Proper Test Administration Forms
The DAC/BAC Certification forms are available and can be found on the Kentucky Summative Assessment (KSA) Page as well as the Assessment Support Forms Page. These forms require that DACs and BACs certify their responsibilities were met throughout the duration of the spring 2023 KSA administration. All DACs must remit to the Office of Assessment and Accountability (OAA) the completed Certification of Proper Test Administration form through Google Forms. Submissions via email will not be accepted. Certification of Proper Test Administration Forms are due within 2 weeks following the close of the test window.
All KSA Scripts Now Available
The Office of Assessment and Accountability (OAA) and Pearson have released all additional 2023 KSA and Quality of School Climate and Safety Survey (QSCS) scripts for this spring’s summative assessment. Scripts for grades 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 10, and 11 are currently available on the Resources tab of the KY Portal.
ACT Spring 2023 Junior Administration: Makeup Testing (Test Window 2) Opening Soon
Schools who have students participating within the makeup, or test window 2, should be aware that online testing will begin on Tuesday, March 21. Online test sessions can be created, and students can be added to those sessions at this time. Testing staff who have outstanding questions about online test preparation and/or online test session creation should review the documents and resources within step 2 of the ACT-hosted website. Testing staff who have questions about online test delivery are encouraged to review the documents and resources within step 5 of the ACT-hosted website.
Finally, as with the initial test window, or test window 1, once testing has concluded, ACT has arranged a prescheduled material pick-up, which will occur on Monday, April 3. For questions or assistance, please contact Shara Savage.
ACT Spring 2023 Junior Administration: Returning Materials After Makeup Testing
ACT has scheduled a makeup testing material pickup which will occur on Monday, April 3. There are resources and training tutorials posted within Step 6 of the ACT-hosted website that testing staff should review to ensure awareness of the process for collecting, storing, and returning materials after testing concludes. Testing staff may find value in the following training tutorial: How to Return Online Test Materials (Video). For more information or questions, please contact Shara Savage.
ACT Spring 2024 Junior Administration: Testing Dates Released
OAA and ACT have partnered to provide schools and districts with the Spring 2024 Junior Administration testing dates. Beginning with the spring 2024 administration, for the first time, each online test window will be comprised of nine testing days. For more information or questions, please contact Shara Savage.
Initial Test Window 1
Standard & ACT-Authorized Accommodations (Online):
March 12-15 & March 18-22
Accommodations Administration (Paper):
March 12-15 & March 18-22
Makeup Test Window 2
Standard & ACT-Authorized Accommodations (Online):
March 26-29 & April 1-5
Accommodations Administration (Paper):
March 26-29 & April 1-5
K Screen Online Ordering for the 2023-2024 School Year
The ordering window for K Screen Materials is now open. District BRIGANCE contacts or District Assessment Coordinators will submit orders to Curriculum Associates through KDE. The ordering window begins on March 27 and closes Monday, April 10.
Curriculum Associates anticipates shipping to begin the week of May 8. If this is during the district’s summer vacation, consider shipping all materials to a central location or the Board of Education to ensure a signature upon delivery. The order form is hosted on the Common Kindergarten Entry Screener webpage. The order form is a continuation of the Google Form used last year. Once these sections are complete, download and save the order form following the directions provided. Once the order form is complete you will upload it into the Google Form before submitting it.
If further guidance is needed, ordering instructions will be available on both websites and you may also contact Lisa Jett.
K Screen Train the Trainers for New Staff
KDE and Curriculum Associates will be presenting the first of three Kindergarten Screen Train the Trainers at 9 a.m.-2 p.m. ET on April 26.
This training will be virtual and is required for new K Screen coordinators who will need to provide the three-hour training to teachers and district staff. This training is only required for new K Screen coordinators.
Register by completing this Google Form. KDE will be accepting registrations on the Google Form until 5 p.m. ET on April 21. More information on how to access the virtual event will be provided on April 24 via email to new district trainers who have signed up.
Attendees will receive 6 hours of Effective Instructional Leadership Act (EILA) credit. KDE also will be hosting an in-person Train the Trainers in July and a virtual Train the Trainers in late August for those that cannot make it to the March event.
2023 EILA Credits for February DAC Training – Reminder and Deadline
District Assessment Coordinators (DACs), Building Assessment Coordinators (BACs), and school and district employees who have viewed the 2023 February DAC training videos can apply for three hours of EILA Credits. To receive the EILA credits, participants must complete a survey after watching all videos. The survey can be accessed on Google Forms. Please allow at least two weeks after you have completed the survey to receive the EILA certificate via email. EILA credit for the February DAC Trainings does not include the Q&A sessions. Please complete the survey prior to Friday, March 31. For questions or assistance on receiving the EILA Credit, please contact Lisa Jett.
ACCESS for ELLs Theme Generator & Standards Expert Recruitment
World-Class Instructional Design and Assessment (WIDA) and test development partners at the Center for Applied Linguistics (CAL) are looking for educators to serve as Theme Generators and Standards Experts for new ACCESS for ELLs test items between April and September 2023. This is a chance for educators to be a part of the test development process.
- Activity format: virtual
- Anticipated time commitment: 2-8 hours (asynchronous, can be over multiple days)
- Level of experience needed: Any educator who has experience with students in grades 1-12 in a WIDA member state during the previous two years.
For more details, please review the informational flyer. To apply, complete the participation survey by March 31.
KSA District Test Window Collection Reminder
District Test Window Collections for the Kentucky Summative Assessment (KSA) will close on March 30 at 5 p.m. ET in the Student Data Review and Rosters (SDRR) application. District Assessment Coordinators (DACs) need to enter the date of the first day of Kentucky Summative Assessment (KSA) testing for elementary, middle and high schools in the district.
For more information, please refer to the Monday DAC Email on March 6 and the Special DAC Email on March 14.
Reminder: 2022-2023 CTE EOP Assessment Testing Window Closes Mar. 31
The 2022-2023 Career and Technical Education (CTE) End-of-Program (EOP) Assessment testing window closes Mar. 31. All 2022-2023 CTE EOP Assessment testing must be completed by Mar. 31.
CTE EOP Assessment performance results and certificates are scheduled to be released Apr. 16. More details are forthcoming to assessment coordinators.
Please visit the CTE EOP Assessment webpage for more information and contact the Office of Career and Technical Education (OCTE) at kdeeopsupport@education.ky.gov, or Sherri Craig, OCTE, at 502-564-4286 ext. 4226 with any questions.
Reminder: 2022-2023 Skilled Trades TRACK Assessment Testing Window Closes Mar. 31
The 2022-2023 Skilled Trades, Tech Ready Apprentices for Careers in Kentucky (TRACK) Carpentry, TRACK Electrical or TRACK Welding Assessment testing window closes Mar. 31. All 2022-2023 Skilled Trades TRACK Assessment testing must be completed by Mar. 31. A retest window will be available for Skilled Trades TRACK Assessment Apr. 17-28. More details are forthcoming to assessment coordinators.
Please visit the Skilled Trades, Tech Ready Apprentices for Careers in Kentucky and CTE EOP Assessment webpage for more information and contact the Office of Career and Technical Education (OCTE) at kdeeopsupport@education.ky.gov, or Sherri Craig, OCTE, at 502-564-4286 ext. 4226 with any questions.
KDE Calculator Policy Clarification
In response to several inquiries, the Office of Assessment and Accountability (OAA) is providing clarification about the Kentucky Department of Education (KDE) Calculator Policy. The policy includes a list of prohibited calculators, but this list is not exhaustive. The following types of calculators are prohibited regardless of if they are specifically listed within the KDE Calculator Policy: calculators which contain functions, modes, and/or instructions that cannot be disabled and would provide an advantage over a student using the testing calculator within the testing platform. If you have additional questions or need further clarification, please email dacinfo@education.ky.gov.
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