Question of the Week
Q: When will the recorded February DAC Meeting videos and resources be released?
A: February DAC Meeting videos and resources are now available. Each section has been recorded by staff in the Division of Assessment and Accountability Support (DAAS) and our testing partners from Pearson. The trainings include Kentucky Summative Assessment (KSA), Alternate Kentucky Summative Assessment (AKSA), Accommodations, High School, Test Security, the Student Data Review and Rosters (SDRR) application and trainings from Pearson on Operational Testing and TestNav. The separate videos may be accessed from the KDE DAC Training Series.
PowerPoints and other referenced resources, which include the FDT training check sheet, for the February DAC Training may be accessed on the Meetings and Trainings page or from the 2024 February DAC Training Google Folder. *Please note that the Test Security Presentation and Video is a Re-Release from the 2023-2024 Back to School trainings.
The 2023-2024 Kentucky Assessment and Accountability FAQ contains questions and answers for the different assessment programs, the Student Data Review and Roster application, test security, and accommodations. This FAQ document is another valuable resource for testing staff.
EILA credit will be offered for the February DAC Meeting Videos. The EILA credit will not include the February DAC Meeting Q&A sessions in person or virtual. The expectation for districts will be to review the recorded training videos prior to the hybrid Q&A Sessions. DAAS staff has prepared a Q&A Checklist to assist in preparing for the Q&A sessions. Information on how to receive the EILA credit will be provided in an upcoming Monday DAC Email.
For questions on any of the resources, please contact DAAS by email or phone at (502) 564-4394.
2024 Site Visit Forms
The 2024 Site Visit Survey Questions are available for review prior to the spring administration on the Forms Webpage. There are three different site visit forms:
Additional details about 2024 Site Visits will be shared in a Monday DAC closer to the opening of testing windows. If you have any questions, please contact dacinfo@education.ky.gov
Visual Impairment (VI) Materials Request
The Kentucky Department of Education (KDE) will provide tactile enhanced supplemental materials (e.g., maps, graphs) for some grades on the Alternate Kentucky Summative Assessment (AKSA) 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 these next steps,
- Locate and 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
- Save updated spreadsheets as “DistrictName_Window1.XLSX”
- Submit a copy to this Google Form by Feb. 12
Note: 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. 12, 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 (Apr. 15-May 24) on time. For any additional questions or concerns please contact Krista Mullins or by phone at (502) 564-4394. Email submissions will not be accepted. If your district does not need any VI materials, please complete the Google Form.
Alternate Kentucky Summative Assessment (AKSA) Window Two Materials Shipping Window Selection
The Kentucky Department of Education (KDE) provides two shipping options for the second window of the AKSA to accommodate schools on spring break. Please complete and submit the 2024 AKSA Window 2 Shipping Selection Form by Monday, Feb. 12. If a form is not submitted by the deadline of Feb. 12, materials will be shipped during the default option. Shipping options for AKSA Window 2 are,
- Option 1: March 25-29 (default option)
- Option 2: April 1-5
For questions, please contact Krista Mullins.
Reminder: Alternate Kentucky Summative Assessment (AKSA) Window 1 Makeup Requests Deadline
The AKSA Window 1 makeup runs from Jan. 8-Mar. 22. A formal request for any makeup must be submitted using the AKSA Window 1 Makeup Request form no later than Jan. 31. All Attainment Tasks must be administered by Mar. 22. Scores must be entered into the Student Registration Database (SRD) by the close of business on Mar. 22.
For more information or any questions, please contact Krista Mullins.
Alternate Kentucky Summative Assessment Window 2 Final Roster Pull Feb. 13
As a reminder, Feb. 12 is the final day to make changes in Infinite Campus to student enrollment status for Alternate Kentucky Summative Assessment (AKSA) prior to the final data pull by the Kentucky Department of Education. Any changes made beyond Feb. 13 will need to be completed manually by district personnel within the Student Registration Database (SRD). The SRD is scheduled to open for score entry on April 15 with AKSA Window 2. For questions, please contact Krista Mullins.
ACT Spring 2024 Junior Administration - Preparing Devices for Online Testing
KDE and ACT strongly encourage schools to conduct the appropriate pretest activities to verify that the local network and devices are properly configured to administer the ACT online successfully. A best practice for schools and districts is to complete all site readiness requirements and lock down (freeze) devices prior to the start of testing. This ensures no operating system updates or other updates are pushed to the devices that could potentially negatively impact the test administration itself. The recommended date to lock down district devices is Jan. 31. Please Note: districts can still do site readiness activities beyond this date, even leading up to the day before testing, but completing the site readiness requirements prior to testing is recommended.
Step 2 of the ACT hosted testing website contains helpful resources about completing site readiness for online testing, to include the Technical Coordinator Checklist, Technical Guide for Online Testing, Site Readiness Plan, Mock Administration Guide, and various training tutorials.
For questions or assistance, please contact Christen Roseberry.
Reminder: ACT Spring 2024 Junior Administration - Accommodations Reconsiderations Deadline
ACT will reconsider requests for accommodations authorized by ACT or English learner supports that were not initially approved. Reconsideration requests must be made prior to the deadline, which is Feb. 2. Please use ACT’s Test Accessibility and Accommodations System (TAA) system to submit additional documentation.
Step 3 of the ACT hosted testing website contains helpful resources about requesting reconsiderations, to include the TAA User Guide and its section titled “Reconsideration Requests.” For questions and assistance, please contact ACT at 800.553.6244, ext. 1788 or email ACT State Accommodations. Additionally, you may contact Christen Roseberry with any questions, concerns or assistance.
Tips for Placing ACCESS for ELLs Additional Materials Orders in WIDA AMS
After districts receive the initial materials order for ACCESS for ELLs, District Assessment Coordinators (DACs) may discover a need to place an additional materials order in the WIDA Assessment Management System (AMS). Districts might have had additional students move into the district or determined that a student needs a special test form due to an accommodation.
Here are some important tips to keep in mind regarding additional materials ordering:
- Check the district or school’s overage Most districts receive overage with the initial order and an additional materials order may not be necessary.
- Check Kentucky’s member/state page for the Online Checklist for grades 1-3 writing information of the WIDA website. Grades 4-12 writing is all done online.
- DACs responsibility is to place the additional materials order, make sure to collect information from all schools in the district. Try to place only one additional materials order at a time.
- When placing the order in WIDA AMS, choose the District Level Additional Orders Only Site from the School drop down menu.
- Do not order extra materials “just in case.” This increases waste and shipping costs. Order only what the district/school needs.
Find more information on additional materials ordering in the District and School Test Coordinator Manual, located in the WIDA Secure Portal.
Upcoming WIDA Webinar Goes Deeper into Marco DALE
Register now to join us Feb. 6 from 3-4:15 p.m. CT for Desarrollando el español: Guiding bilingual instructional planning with Marco DALE. This new, FREE WIDA Webinar will be presented primarily in Spanish and build on the foundational webinar presented in Nov. 2023. The WIDA Español team will explore and connect transculturalismo, multiliteracidades, and intentional planning for language development. Register (and find the recording for the Nov. webinar) on the WIDA Webinars webpage.
Please share with bilingual/dual language program educators and administrators.
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 begin publishing additional 2023-2024 KYOTE scores to districts beginning on Wednesday, Jan. 31.
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