Question of the Week
Q: When will 2023 KSA released items be made available to districts?
A: Kentucky Summative Assessment (KSA) released items from spring 2023 are now available at KY | Released Items (mypearsonsupport.com). The 2023 release includes items for Reading, Mathematics, Science, Social Studies, Editing and Mechanics and On-Demand Writing for all tested grades.
Items are presented in a test booklet format which includes passages and prompts/questions. Following the questions, item performance data is provided including an answer key and the associated content standard, along with rubrics and anchor sets (for short answer and extended response questions).
As required by KRS 158.6453, assessment reports provided to the school districts and schools shall include an electronic copy of an operational subset of test items from each assessment administered to their students and the results for each of those test items by student and by school.
In compliance with statute, statistical information by student and by school is available in PearsonAccessnext (PAN). Released items data files can be accessed by clicking on Spring 2023 Summative > Reports > Published Reports. DACs should communicate with their superintendents and school principals that this information is available. Although not statutorily required, district level data are also included.
These KSA data provide evidence of student learning that helps to inform decision-making related to teaching and learning. Along with other data at the school level, these data can provide insight into student outcomes and provide a clearer picture of school performance.
ACT State Fall 2023 State Senior (Optional) Administration Testing: Office Hour Sept. 27 (Reminder)
OAA and ACT will be hosting an office hour session on Wednesday, Sept. 27 at 11 a.m. ET, which will focus on highlighting the remaining test preparation activities that staff should consider completing as the Window 1 test date nears. The session will be hosted via a Microsoft Teams meeting. While the content will be focused on highlighting those activities, 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 September 27 Teams Meeting Link for the upcoming session. If you have any questions, please contact Shara Savage.
Participate in WIDA ACCESS for ELLs Event
Every year, WIDA asks the WIDA community to participate in events and activities that help review and refresh the assessment tools.
The ACCESS for ELLs assessments are taken by a diverse population of students speaking many languages: students in big cities and in rural areas, students new to the United States, and students born here. WIDA and our test development partners work hard to create an assessment that
- Reflects the diversity of multilingual learners
- Positively portrays students with a range of backgrounds
- Carefully avoids topics or situations that may evoke a negative reaction
While WIDA works to do these things throughout test development via events such as bias, sensitivity and content reviews, classroom observations, surveys, expert panels, and field testing, WIDA knows that our perspective is, by nature, incomplete. For this reason, WIDA invites educators to participate in the review of test content in development. WIDA values the fresh eyes, unique perspectives, and range of experiences that educators bring to items, and WIDA revises test items based on this feedback from the field.
If school and district educators would like to contribute to WIDA test development work, please visit the Building a WIDA Assessment page to learn more and apply.
The Power of Collaboration in WIDA's Mission
WIDA is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year! As a way to mark this occasion, WIDA asked staff members to write about the ways in which WIDA enacts its mission, vision and values. In The Power of Collaboration in WIDA’s Mission, Becky Holmes shares how collaboration is woven into the fabric of WIDA's mission, from the very beginning to current initiatives. Find all of the articles in this series on the Celebrating 20 Years of WIDA webpage.
New: WIDA PreK-3 Resources and Professional Learning Now Available
The following PreK-3 focused resources and learning opportunities have been added to the WIDA website and the WIDA Self-Paced Workshop package:
- The newly revamped Teaching in PreK-3 webpage now includes Are We Ready? videos and supporting resources that give an overview of how districts, programs, schools and staff can promote equitable transitions for multilingual children and their families as they move through PreK-3.
- A new self-paced workshop gives PreK-3 educators an introduction to the WIDA PreK-3 Essential Actions and provides an opportunity to build their knowledge and understanding of the Essential Actions and reflect on their own ideologies, practices, and settings. The workshop, Exploring the WIDA PreK-3 Essential Actions, is available via the WIDA Secure Portal for educators in Kentucky who participate in WIDA’s Self-Paced Workshop package. Learn more and get started on the eLearning page.
Reminder: Upcoming WIDA Q&A Webinar
Please join WIDA and DRC to learn about the following topic:
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Pre-Testing: ACCESS for ELLs for New District Coordinators Tuesday, Sept. 19 at 1-2 p.m. CT
Learn more and add this upcoming webinar to your calendar on the Webinars page (login required).
Can’t make it? The recordings for WIDA Q&A Webinars are posted to the WIDA Secure Portal on the Webinars page within a week of the presentation.
WIDA Alternate ACCESS Update
The WIDA Alternate ACCESS Updates webpage. WIDA added new information to the webpage on the Individual Characteristics Questionnaire (there’s now a link to an example ICQ), Alternate PLDs and score report details. Share the webpage with all district and school staff who would like to learn more about the redesigned WIDA Alternate ACCESS.
A note of WIDA gratitude: Thanks again to all for helping WIDA get to this very exciting milestone of releasing the redesigned WIDA Alternate ACCESS! WIDA couldn’t have done it without you! #WeCandooIt
Reminder: WIDA Standards Implementation Study
WIDA is conducting a survey to better understand how educators make sense of and implement the WIDA ELD Standards Framework, 2020 Edition. The survey will take approximately 25 minutes to complete. At the end of the survey, there is an optional extension opportunity for educators who wish to further engage with WIDA on this topic.
Participation in this study will provide the opportunity to lift the voice and inform future development of resources and professional learning.
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