April 2022 Assessment Compass Update
The April 2022 OPI Assessment Bulletin has been posted. The OPI Assessment Bulletin is specifically designed for System Test Coordinators (STCs), subscribers, and any school personnel with a responsibility to administer state assessments. It is carefully crafted each month by the OPI Assessment Unit to provide timely access to key test administration responsibilities and actionable content within each of the program checklists. Also included in each issue are references to the state and federal requirements, resources to support professional learning, testing alerts and updates, and frequently asked questions. School districts are encouraged to share the Assessment Bulletin with any school staff who must be aware of these tasks and responsibilities in order to prepare for state assessments.
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Review Readiness Checklists for Smarter Balanced, Montana Science, and Alternate Montana Science Assessments
The Montana Pre-Testing Checklist provides tasks that should be completed before the planned testing day to ensure a smooth testing experience for students. This resource describes the prioritized tasks and some tips to make sure your school is ready.
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Report Non-Participation Reasons for ACCESS for ELLs
Report any instances of non-participation in the MontCAS Application. Any instances where it was unsafe for the child to participate in the assessment due to COVID reasons or for medical reasons must be reported to the OPI using the policies for participation and non-participation as defined within the “MontCAS Policies and Procedures for Participation in State Assessments” state guidance.
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Test Windows Are OPEN!
The OPI has extended the State Assessment Test Windows to the greatest extent practicable. Any instances where it was unsafe for the child to participate in the assessment due to COVID reasons should be reported to the OPI using the “Medical Exemption for COVID Reason” policy as defined within the MontCAS Policies and Procedures for Participation in State Assessments. The COVID reason is a one-year non-participation option for school districts.
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The U.S. Department of Education has released to states guidance as “Frequently Asked Questions: Impact of COVID-19 on 2021-2022 Accountability Systems” under ESEA-ESSA. This guidance confirms the following testing, accountability, and reporting requirements for this school year:
- The participation requirement to administer state assessments is required under federal and state law.
- School districts must plan on providing students the opportunity to assess when it is safe to do so.
- Schools are required to annually measure the achievement of not less than 95 percent of all students and students in each subgroup on its annual statewide assessments.
- All accountability and school identification requirements under ESEA-ESSA Section 1111 are in effect.
- Data from this year’s assessments will be used within the accountability process to annual meaningfully differentiate schools.
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Smarter Balanced Test Length
Last year Superintendent Arntzen implemented a considerably shortened Smarter Balanced assessment. The test has been shortened by an average of 3–4 hours. This test modification reduces testing time to support schools and preserve instructional time. To learn more about this modification, view the session titled “Five Things You Must Know About Smarter Balanced This Year”.
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Turn on Student Test Settings at the Local Level
Schools must administer statewide assessments with or without accommodations based on individual student needs consistent with all state and federal laws and regulations (ARM 10.56.104).
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Each school must support their students with accessibility tools per the student’s educational plan. This school year [2021-2022] school districts must use the AA-AAS Participation Criteria worksheet to determine whether a student qualifies to participate in the Alternate Assessments along with the Learner Characteristic Inventory (LCI) for Alternate Assessments. Based on the public comment procedures for the “Alternate Assessment Eligibility Guidelines”, the OPI will maintain these guidelines until the end of the school year. Effective on August 1, 2022, the OPI will implement the new eligibility guidelines for district use. The “Alternate Assessment Eligibility Guidelines” has been made available this month for school district training and technical assistance purposes. This allows school districts with adequate time to transition and implement the updated policies and procedures.
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ACT Test Date 1: March 29, 2022
The first test date for ACT with Writing assessment for Grade 11 students is Tuesday, March 29. Schools using this date for their initial paper/pencil mode testing must return test booklets, used answer documents, and completed test administration forms to ACT on March 30. Materials received by ACT after April 5, 2022, will not be scored.
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Schools should retain manuals, barcode labels, and unused answer documents needed for make-up testing and order make-up materials for the April 12 test date through PearsonAccessnext.
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Stay Informed with Testing Alerts
The OPI Assessment Unit will continue to share information to the field via its Monthly Assessment Bulletin Newsletter, Monthly Webinar, and other communication means. For more information on state assessment, visit the following resources:
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Direct questions to the OPI Assessment Help Desk at OPIAssessmentHelpDesk@mt.gov, or 1-844-867-2569.
The OPI is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to people with disabilities. If you need a reasonable accommodation, require an alternate format, or have questions concerning accessibility, contact the OPI ADA Coordinator, 406-444-3161, opiada@mt.gov, Relay Service: 711.
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