Question of the Week
Q: When will the KSA and QSCS Test Administrator Manual (TAM) and Scripts be available?
A: The Office of Assessment and Accountability (OAA) and Pearson have released the 2024 Kentucky Summative Assessment (KSA) and Quality of School Climate and Safety (QSCS) Test Administrator Manual (TAM). In addition to the TAM, grade-specific scripts for grades 3, 4 and 10 are currently available. The TAM and scripts can be accessed on the KY Portal under Resources. The TAM is also directly linked on the KSA webpage. Additional scripts will be posted in the portal as they become available.
ACT State Testing Office Hour - Feb. 20, 2024
OAA and ACT will host an office hour session focused on the Non-Test Activities on Feb. 20, 2024, at 11 a.m. ET. The session will be hosted via a Microsoft Teams meeting. While the content will be focused on that specific task, 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 Microsoft Teams Link for the session. Attendees will not have to register for office hours specifically but will want to mark time on calendars to avoid any scheduling conflicts.
If you have any questions, please contact Christen Roseberry.
ACT Spring 2024 Junior Administration: Materials Arriving Soon
Test materials to support activities related to the ACT Spring 2024 Junior Administration, including the materials needed to conduct the Non-Test Activities in MyACT, will arrive in schools the week of Feb. 12 or 19, depending on the material receipt week chosen in PearsonAccessnext (PAN). Testing staff can monitor the status of inbound material shipments in PAN (see the View Status and Shipment Information section of the PAN User Guide for more information). After materials are delivered, be sure to follow the steps to inventory (check-in) the box(es) within 24 hours of receipt (see the ACT Test Coordinator Information Manual page 27 for more information about Receiving Materials before Testing).
Also, the personalized Non-Test Instructions for Students will arrive in the non-secure shipment. Students should complete the non-test information in MyACT accounts before testing.
Please note students are still required to test regardless of the MyACT status. Step 4 of the ACT-hosted testing website contains helpful resources about completing the non-test activity in MyACT.
For questions or assistance, please contact Christen Roseberry.
ACT Spring 2024 Junior Administration: Test Preparation Reminder
Prior to the start of testing, OAA and ACT strongly encourage testing staff to be aware of all ACT policies and procedures and the responsibility for implementing those procedures. This ensures a fair and standardized testing experience, which also reduces the risk of misadministration. There are various resources available to testing staff, including training based on roles such as Room Supervisors. Please reference Step 5 of the ACT-hosted testing website to access these resources, which include the ACT Administration Manual – Online Testing, Room Supervisor Checklist, and Room Supervisor Training video.
Additionally, prior to the start of testing, school testing staff should make arrangements to host in-school sessions to conduct the non-test activities. Schools recently received materials that include personalized non-test instructions documents for each examinee and copies of the Taking the ACT booklets, materials that students need to conduct the non-test activities in MyACT. Schools should host separate sessions for students with and without parental consent. Step 4 of the ACT-hosted testing website contains helpful resources about completing the non-test activities in MyACT.
For questions or assistance, please contact Christen Roseberry.
ACT Spring 2024 Junior Administration: Non-Test Activities for the ACT and Parental Consent Policy Reminder
The delivered test materials will include personalized non-test instructions documents for each examinee and copies of the Taking the ACT booklets, materials which students need to conduct the non-test activities in MyACT. When students establish a MyACT account and have the account linked to this spring’s administration, students will be able to utilize free test preparation resources. Students will also be notified via email when their score is available.
Additionally, schools will have access to a more comprehensive set of information when results are available that will help shape and influence curriculum to ensure examinees are taking or plan to take courses that will ensure they are prepared for success after high school. School testing staff should make arrangements to host in-school sessions to conduct the non-test activities. Schools should host separate sessions for students with and without parental consent. Step 4 of the ACT-hosted testing website contains helpful resources about completing the non-test activities in MyACT.
OAA has worked with the U.S. Education Department (USED) to ensure that the Kentucky Department of Education (KDE) and Kentucky school districts are fully compliant with federal privacy laws concerning non‐test information provided to third parties when administering the Kentucky state administration of the ACT to students.
The Parental Consent Form is required for all students under the age of 18. The form is embedded into the Parental Consent Guidance. As a reminder, consent can be obtained via hard copy (written signature) or electronically via Google form or email. Note that verbal consent is no longer an option for collecting consent. If consent is not obtained from a parent and/or guardian, the student does not have permission to opt into the Educational Opportunity Service (EOS) system and send scores to colleges. The form does not hinder a student from taking the assessment.
For questions or assistance, please contact Christen Roseberry.
Reminder: AKSA Visual Impairment (VI) Materials Request Due Today
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. If VI materials forms were completed for Window 1, please submit a new form for Window 2 to ensure students receive the materials needed.
Reminder: Alternate Kentucky Summative Assessment (AKSA) Window Two Materials Shipping Window Selection Due Today
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 Window 2 Final Roster Pull Feb. 13
As a reminder, Monday, Feb. 12, is the final day to make changes in Infinite Campus to student enrollment status for the 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.
2024 Feb. DAC Trainings Hybrid Question and Answer (Q&A) Sessions Reminder
The Division of Assessment and Accountability Support (DAAS) is hosting the second February DAC Training Hybrid Q&A session Feb. 15 at the Kentucky Educational Development Corporation (KEDC) ) in Ashland, Kentucky. This will be the second in a series of three question and answer sessions, the first hybrid session.
For in-person Q&A Sessions, registration will begin at 8:30 a.m. and will be followed by the Q&A Sessions scheduled from 9 a.m. to noon (local meeting location time).
Please use the links below to register for the Ashland or Eddyville February DAC Training Sessions. Registration is open for both in-person and hybrid attendance for each remaining location.
Meeting links would be sent out via email containing details on attending virtually.
Feb. 15 In-Person Registration: Kentucky Educational Development Corporation (KEDC) in Ashland (Capacity 90) or Feb. 15 Virtual Registration: KEDC
Feb. 21 In-Person Registration: West Kentucky Educational Cooperative (WKEC) in Eddyville (Capacity 120) or Feb. 21 Virtual Registration: WKEC
Please contact Lisa Jett with any questions or concerns surrounding the February DAC Trainings.
Reminder: 2023-2024 CTE EOP Assessment Testing Window Opens Feb. 19
The 2023-2024 Career and Technical Education (CTE) End-of-Program (EOP) Assessment testing window opens Feb. 19. Schools have selected a consecutive two-week school testing window to complete testing. Technical support during testing will be available M-F 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. ET. All 2023-2024 CTE EOP Assessment testing must be completed by March 29. Test tickets are now available in the online testing system, E-SESS, for review and testing preparations.
The CTE EOP Assessment is available in person and must be proctored in person per 703 KAR 5:080 (February 2014), Administration Code for Kentucky’s Educational Assessment Program, and 703 KAR 5:070 (April 2021), Inclusion of Special Populations in the State-Required Assessment and Accountability Programs. Refer to the CTE End-of-Program (CTE EOP) Assessment Coordinator and Test Administrator Manuals for more details related to assessment administration.
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: 2023-2024 TRACK Pre-Apprenticeship (Carpentry, Electrical, Welding) Assessment Testing Window Opens Feb. 19
The 2023-2024 Tech Ready Apprentices for Careers in Kentucky Pre-Apprenticeship (TRACK) Carpentry, TRACK Electrical or TRACK Welding Assessment testing window opens Feb. 19. Schools have selected a consecutive two-week school testing window to conduct the assessment administration. Technical support during testing will be available M-F 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. ET. TRACK Pre-Apprenticeship (Carpentry, Electrical, Welding) Assessments only pertain to schools with students enrolled in specified TRACK pathways. Not all schools participate in the TRACK program. All 2023-2024 TRACK Pre-Apprenticeship Assessment testing must be completed by March 29. Test tickets are now available in the online testing system, E-SESS, for review and testing preparations.
The TRACK Pre-Apprenticeship Assessments are available in person and must be proctored in person per 703 KAR 5:080 (February 2014), Administration Code for Kentucky’s Educational Assessment Program, and 703 KAR 5:070 (April 2021), Inclusion of Special Populations in the State-Required Assessment and Accountability Programs. CTE EOP Assessment Coordinators and DACs/ATC Principals are responsible for the administration of TRACK Carpentry, TRACK Electrical and TRACK Welding Pre-assessments at the school level. Refer to the CTE End-of-Program (CTE EOP) Assessment Coordinator and Test Administrator Manuals and the specific TRACK Pre-Apprenticeship (Carpentry, Electrical, Welding) Assessment Instructions for more details related to assessment administration.
Please visit the 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.
Featured Resource: WIDA Focus Bulletin on Interactive Learning in Content-Area Classrooms
Interactive learning is key to multilingual learners’ academic success, language development, and sense of belonging in the classroom community. Read WIDA's Focus Bulletin from 2021 on Interactive Learning with Multilingual Learners in Content-Area Classrooms for a discussion of two aspects of interactive learning, expressing and co-constructing ideas. This resource also includes sample interactive learning activities and questions to help educators reflect on the role of interactive learning in the classroom.
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