Question of the Week
Q: How will accountability be applied for students enrolled in full-time online virtual and remote learning programs?
A: In 2023, 704 KAR 3:535 established minimum requirements for the operation of online, virtual and remote learning programs (OVRs) in school districts for grades Kindergarten through grade 12. The regulation’s provision for student accountability determinations is defined as “Each student enrolled in a full-time enrolled online, virtual and remote learning program shall participate in the state-required assessment program and be included in the state accountability system as set forth in 703 KAR Chapter 5.”
The Kentucky Department of Education (KDE) is in the process of proposing amendments to 703 KAR 5:240, and 704 KAR 3:535 to establish accountability provisions for students enrolled in OVRs, but the updated regulations will not be effective in time for fall 2024 accountability reporting. Therefore, for students enrolled in the current small number of OVRs, KDE will implement a transitory process until the amended regulations become effective.
For the 2023-2024 school year, students enrolled in the OVRs will be accountable in alignment with current provisions in 703 KAR 5:240 wherever current regulatory requirements can be applied. For example, a student enrolled in an accountable school (A1 or B1) for at least 100 instructional days (full academic year) will be included in the accountability calculations for that accountable school, regardless of any days enrolled in an OVR.
If a student has a combined enrollment of a full academic year in an accountable school and an alternative education program, KDE will apply current procedures that include track-back accountability to the accountable school, regardless of any other time enrolled in an OVR.
Those and all other enrollment scenarios that can be used to determine accountability in accordance with the currently effective regulation will be considered first.
If a student has no other enrollment situations that can fulfill accountability under current regulatory procedures, the following policies will be implemented:
- If the student with any OVR enrollment has a full academic year in a district, the student will be attributable to that district.
- If the student with any OVR enrollment does NOT have a full academic year in any district, but has 100 days in Kentucky schools, the student will be attributable to the state.
The Office of Assessment and Accountability has updated the 100-Day Flowcharts, the 100-Day Tool and the 100-Day quiz under the “I Need Help” button in the Student Data Review and Roster (SDRR) application.
ACT Spring 2025 Junior Administration: TENTATIVE Testing Dates Released
The Office of Assessment and Accountability (OAA) and ACT have partnered to provide schools and districts with the Spring 2025 Junior Administration Tentative testing dates.
Initial Test Window 1
Standard & ACT-Authorized Accommodations (Online): March 11-14 & 17-21
Accommodations Administration (Paper): March 11-14 & 17-21
Makeup Test Window 2
Standard & ACT-Authorized Accommodations (Online): March 25-28 & March 31, April 1-4
Accommodations Administration (Paper): March 25-28 & March 31, April 1-4
For more information or questions, please contact Christen Roseberry.
ACT Spring 2024 Junior Administration - State Use Question Deadline Reminder
With the ACT spring administration now complete, the Kentucky Department of Education (KDE) and ACT want to ensure testing staff are aware of and are in compliance with the KDE Parental Consent Policy. This policy requires school staff to answer a state-use question in PearsonAccessnext (PAN) for examinees under the age of 18 who did not obtain parental consent to opt into the Educational Opportunity Service (EOS) system and/or select score recipients during the non-test activity.
Testing staff is encouraged to review the information outlined within the Administration Supplement to gather instructions for answering the state use question. This task must be completed by Friday, April 26.
For questions or assistance, please contact Christen Roseberry.
K Screen Upcoming Staff File Release
The 2024-2025 staff file is set to be released to districts on April 29, 2024, through the Monday DAC Email. District Assessment Coordinators (DACs) will have the opportunity to edit the existing staff file from 2023-2024, making any changes to data entry or administrator-level accounts in the Online Management System (OMS) for their respective district. The deadline for returning an updated file to KDE is July 1.
Please remember this is the only time to add data entry staff to the OMS. Once the staff file revision deadline of July 1 has passed, DACs will need to use guidance from the Implementation Guide to add users to the OMS. Continuing from last year, administrators may only add administrators to the OMS; staff will not be able to add any new staff with data entry privileges only.
If you have any questions concerning the upcoming staff file or K Screen process, please contact Lisa Jett.
K Screen Materials Ready to be Shipped
The first round of BRIGANCE materials is scheduled to be shipped this week. Districts can expect to receive their screening materials within the next two weeks. If the district does not receive their K Screen materials or if there is a question concerning the order, please contact Lisa Jett.
Kentucky Summative Assessment (KSA) PearsonAccessnext (PAN) Work Requests
Pearson is encouraging District Assessment Coordinators (DACs) and Building Assessment Coordinators (BACs) to check for Work Requests within PAN upon each login. Work requests are indicated by a red bell in the black page toolbar and are displayed for students that have transferred to a new school within Kentucky. Please refer to directions for submitting and authorizing a Work Request located on page 28 in the 2024 Spring KSA Test Administration Manual.
If you have any questions, please contact Pearson Kentucky Customer Service at 888-437-1430.
2024 KSA and AKSA Spring Testing Site Visits
Staff from the Office of Assessment and Accountability (OAA) will be conducting virtual and in-person assessment site visits to selected schools across Kentucky during the KSA and AKSA testing windows. Sites are selected both purposefully and randomly for each region.
During both in-person and virtual visits, OAA members will interview school staff. Staff should include the BAC but may also include the DAC and a school administrator if available. During the interview, OAA will ask questions from the 2024 Site Visit Survey Form and request copies of testing documentation, including the testing schedule, examples of seating charts, good faith effort checklists, etc.
Interview information will be documented during the visit then compiled and retained at the Kentucky Department of Education (KDE) for reporting and auditing purposes.
SDRR "Hot Topic" Office Hour Reminder
The Student Data Review and Roster (SDRR) team in the Office of Assessment and Accountability (OAA) will be hosting the second SDRR "Hot Topic" Office Hour on Spring Rosters Task List and Ticketing Basics on April 23 from 1-2 p.m. ET in Microsoft Teams. The audience for this SDRR "Hot Topic" Office Hour includes new District Assessment Coordinators (DACs) and new Building Assessment Coordinators (BACs).
Please refer to the SDRR February DAC Training PPT for additional SDRR "Hot Topic" Office Hours and the Microsoft Teams login information for each session.
Please email Chris Williams if you have any questions.
Finding the ACCESS Reports in WIDA AMS
As a reminder, DRC’s Reporting Services application in WIDA Assessment Management System (AMS) is the new home for ACCESS for ELLs and WIDA Screener Online score reports. This change has been in multiple communications and webinars, so here are the highlights:
- Reports from 2023-2024 are now located under My Applications > Reporting Services.
- Looking for translated copies of the Individual Student Report (ISR). Navigate to Batch Download > ACCESS Translated. Use the filters to narrow down the results as needed and select a language. From the results list, select the student(s) and download the report(s).
- Roster Reports, Frequency Reports and the District Student Response File can be found under Published Reports. Make sure the district or school is selected as appropriate from the drop-down menus and download the reports.
- WIDA Alternate ACCESS score reports will be available in WIDA AMS on Kentucky's reporting date this fall. Visit the Kentucky's member/state page on the WIDA website for more information.
If looking for previous ACCESS and Alternate ACCESS reports from 2021-2022 or 2022-2023, return to the WIDA AMS home page and navigate to My Applications > Report Delivery.
Kindergarten ACCESS Project Webpage Reminder
WIDA is redesigning Kindergarten ACCESS for ELLs to incorporate the WIDA ELD Standards Framework, 2020 Edition. New this month, WIDA has a webpage to capture this exciting work! Bookmark the Redesigned Kindergarten ACCESS Is Coming in 2025-2026 webpage to stay in the know about timelines and upcoming events like field testing.
Register for Upcoming WIDA Webinar
WIDA's next free webinar will be held on Thursday, May 2 from 10-11:15 a.m. CT. Using Data and Research to Inform Practical Issues in EL Proficiency and Growth will examine ways in which large-scale assessment data can be used to extract important, practical and useful insights in English learners’ education.
It’s not too late to register. Visit the WIDA Webinars webpage to learn more.
2024 WIDA Annual Conference Registration Opens May 6
The 2024 WIDA Annual Conference will take place October 15-18, 2024, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania under the theme Bridging Cultures, Empowering Multilingual Voices. New need to know information is now available on the 2024 WIDA Annual Conference website including a program at a glance, registration rates (look for the new Teacher Appreciation Week rate available May 6-12), and more. This year’s event also includes a virtual track which is designed for attendees to experience a sampling of the WIDA Annual Conference.
Enter to win! WIDA is giving away registrations to attend #WIDA2024 in Pittsburgh. Head over to WIDA's Facebook, Instagram and X accounts to learn how to win.
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