Question of the Week
Q: If the ACT contract is finalized, what are the TENTATIVE dates and plans for the ACT (optional) Fall 2024 Senior Administration?
A: Tentative plans are in place for the ACT optional Fall 2024 State Administration for grade 12 students. The Office of Assessment and Accountability (OAA) in collaboration with ACT has established the following tentative training dates:
Training Dates (Tentative)
- Accommodations Webinar – Aug. 1
- ACT/OAA Administration Training – Aug. 7
- Test Administration Webinar – Aug. 15
Registration and additional information regarding the training dates will be released in an upcoming DAC Email, once the modified contract is finalized.
Please note: Tentative ACT Fall 2024 Testing Dates were released in the Monday DAC Email on June 24.
If you have any questions, please contact Christen Roseberry.
2024-2025 Assessment Webinar Schedule and WIDA Screener Trainings
The 2024-2025 assessment webinar dates and links are now available in the WIDA Secure Portal. This is a series of live webinars presented by World-Class Instructional Design and Assessment (WIDA) and Data Recognition Corporation (DRC). The webinars are intended to help test coordinators, test administrators and technology coordinators prepare to administer the ACCESS for ELLs and WIDA Screener assessments. Learn more and add these webinars to school and districts test administrator's calendars on the Webinars page (login required).
Mark school and district Test Administrators (TA) calendars for these upcoming assessment webinars focusing on WIDA Screener:
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WIDA Screener for Kindergarten Tuesday, July 23 at 1-2 p.m. CT
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WIDA Screener Online and Paper Tuesday, Aug. 6 at 1-2 p.m. CT
All assessment webinars are recorded and will be available on the WIDA Secure Portal approximately one week after the presentation.
For questions about the webinar schedule and trainings, please contact WIDA.
Upcoming Webinar on 2023-2024 WIDA Alternate ACCESS Score Reports
Join WIDA this August for a webinar exploring the 2023-24 WIDA Alternate ACCESS scores and reports:
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Understanding 2023-2024 WIDA Alternate ACCESS Score Reports Tuesday, Aug. 27 at 1-2 p.m. CT
This webinar for Local Education Agencies (LEAs) explores the 2023-2024 WIDA Alternate ACCESS scores and reports. Educators can expect to learn how to make sense of the new score levels and redesigned WIDA Alternate ACCESS Individual Student Reports. Attendees will also learn how to use scores for program and classroom planning and hear about new and updated score reporting resources for families and colleagues. Learn more and add this webinar to the school and district calendar on the Webinars page (login required) in the WIDA Secure Portal. This webinar will be recorded and posted to the WIDA Secure Portal approximately one week after the presentation.
For questions about the webinar schedule and trainings, please contact WIDA.
2024-2025 WIDA Screener Online Administration Now Open
The 2024-2025 WIDA Screener Online administration opened in WIDA Assessment Management System (AMS) on June 28. The following resources will help you get ready for the upcoming school year.
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Hear all about this year’s WIDA AMS updates: Watch the WIDA AMS and DRC Technical Enhancements for 2024-2025 webinar recording, located on the Webinars page in the WIDA Secure Portal.
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Prepare to administer WIDA Screener: The 2024-25 WIDA Screener training courses are now available in the WIDA Secure Portal. Contact the District Assessment Coordinator (DAC) in the district or visit Kentucky's member/state page to learn about training and certification.
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Import students correctly in WIDA AMS: Make sure to use the correct WIDA Student Import sample file and file layout for 2024-2025. This year’s layout includes a new column A to indicate whether the import is for ACCESS or WIDA Screener. Find the file layout and instructions in WIDA AMS in the online help feature of Import Management.
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Know where to go for more support: Select the Knowledge Articles button on the WIDA AMS landing page to access a library of in-depth information on a variety of topics.
Access DRC’s Online Help feature from within an application for step-by-step instructions on how to complete tasks in Import, Student or Test Management, the Test Monitoring Application, or Reporting Services. Select the question mark icon in the upper right corner of the application to get started.
Still need assistance, please contact DRC Customer Service at (855) 787-9615.
Featured Resources: Increase Understanding of EL Students with Disabilities
As staff enter Disability Awareness Month, WIDA wants to share some resources to support the work with English Learner (EL) students with disabilities.
For questions about the resources, please contact WIDA.
New Guidance on Administering WIDA Screener to EL BVI and DHH Students
A new guidance document is available under the WIDA Secure Portal to provide WIDA’s recommendations for IEP/504 Plan teams to consider when administering WIDA Screener to an EL student who is blind or visually impaired (BVI), or who is deaf or hard of hearing (DHH). It includes general administration guidance, specific considerations for EL students who are BVI or DHH and a short list of resources for more information. This resource can be found in the WIDA Secure Portal when filtering resources by Accessibility and Accommodations or any screener assessment. A link to the resource will also be included in the 2024-2025 Accessibility and Accommodations Manual (coming soon).
For questions about this document, please contact the WIDA Client Services Center. For questions pertaining to state policy around accessibility and accommodations, please reach out to the Chris Williams and Kentucky's WIDA member/state page.
Upcoming Change to WIDA Customer Service Hours
The WIDA Client Services Center (CSC) will be closed Tuesday, July 30 through Thursday, August 1 to allow staff to participate in organization-wide professional development activities. The CSC will resume its regular hours on Friday, August 2.
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 publish Spring 2024 ACT National and ACT District scores to districts beginning on Tuesday, July 9.
Please email KDE data services inbox with any questions.
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