Question of the Week
Q: When will Test Window 2 Open for ACT Fall 2024 Optional Senior State Administration?
A: Tuesday, Oct. 15, schools with students participating within Test Window 2 can create online test sessions, and students can be added to those sessions. Testing staff who have questions about online test preparation and/or online test session creation should review the documents and resources within Step 2 and Step 4 of the ACT-hosted website. This includes training tutorials about online technical readiness (Overview, TestNav, and Mock Administration) and how to Create and Assign Test Sessions.
Testing staff who have general questions about administering the online test are encouraged to review the documents and resources within Step 5 of the ACT-hosted website.
For any questions, please contact Christen Roseberry.
Updating Teacher Profiles in the Online Training System (OTS)
As the administration of the Alternate Kentucky Summative Assessment (AKSA) approaches, district administrators are reminded to encourage teachers to complete profiles in the OTS. It is important that the grades taught are accurately specified, as this will unlock access to essential resources for AKSA Window 1 test administration.
Window 1 of the AKSA, running from Nov. 12 to Dec.18, requires access to all necessary materials, including animations and video files. These multimedia tools are crucial for properly administering the attainment tasks outlined in the AKSA guidelines. Failure to update profiles with the correct grade levels may cause delays in accessing these resources, potentially affecting the smooth administration of the assessment.
For further guidance or questions, please reach out to Krista Mullins.
Employability Skills Attainment Record (ESAR) Training/Quiz Now Open
The online training and quiz for the ESAR opened on Oct.11 in the Kentucky Alternate Assessment Program (KAAP) Online Training System (OTS). The ESAR qualifying quiz will close on Dec. 20. The links below provide access to materials necessary to complete the ESAR training and quiz.
ESAR Administration Guide: Admin Guide
ESAR Training: PowerPoint | Training Video
ESAR Quiz: Online Training System
The ESAR document is available in the OTS after successful completion of the ESAR qualifying quiz. A printable ESAR document is available in the Career Ready Database (CRD) upon access: Online Training System.
For questions, please email Sherri Craig or call at (502) 564-4286.
ESAR Administration to Begin Nov. 12
The Employability Skills Attainment Record (ESAR) is a career readiness measure for the postsecondary readiness indicator of the Kentucky accountability system. It is administered to students participating in alternative high school diploma courses of study or alternate assessment and working towards career readiness. The ESAR is a rating scale that assesses student demonstration of skills linked to the Employability and Foundational Academic Standards-Alternate Assessment (EFAS-AA). The Career Ready Database (CRD) is scheduled to open on Nov.12 for data entry of the Career Work Experience Certification (CWEC) completion status and ESAR score entry. The Qualified ESAR Administrator must pass the qualification quiz before ESAR administration begins.
The CWEC and ESAR qualifying quizzes are now open and scheduled to close on Dec. 20. Teachers must pass both the CWEC and ESAR quizzes in the Kentucky Alternate Assessment Program (KAAP) Online Training System (OTS) to access the CRD for data entry. Administration of the ESAR must be completed by May 23, 2025. Due to data reporting timelines, the deadline to enter all CWEC completion status and ESAR scores into the CRD is May 30, 2025.
Refer to the Kentucky Alternate Assessment Program Calendar for more information related to CWEC and ESAR deadlines.
For questions, please email Sherri Craig or call at (502) 564-4286.
New Writing Sample Items for ACCESS Online
New sample items are available for the ACCESS Online Writing test for grades 4-12. The refreshed items better reflect current Writing task structures and expectations. Find online sample items on the WIDA AMS login page under Public Test Resources or in the DRC INSIGHT application. You can find other resources to prepare students on the ACCESS Test Practice and Sample Items page.
For questions about ACCESS, please email Chris Williams.
October Monthly DAC Webcast
The Office of Assessment and Accountability (OAA), Division of Assessment and Accountability Support (DAAS) hosted the live monthly DAC Webcast on Thursday, Oct.10 at 11 a.m. ET.
The meeting was hosted by Shara Savage, Program Manager, in the Division of Assessment and Accountability Support. She was joined by Christen Roseberry, Ben Riley, Tiffany Christopher and Krista Mullins, who provided important information pertaining to assessment and accountability. The agenda topics included:
- Fall 2024 Optional Senior ACT Administration Reminders
- Spring 2025 Junior ACT Administration Training Registration
- K Screen Updates
- Kentucky Alternate Assessment Program (KAAP) Updates
- Administrative Regulations for Public Comment
- House Bill 6 (2024) Website Updates
The Oct. 2024 DAC Webcast PowerPoint and video recording are available on the right-hand side of the KDE Meetings and Trainings webpage.
Future broadcasts are scheduled for the second Thursday of each month at 11 a.m. ET.
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