February 2024 Assessment Compass Update
The February 2024 OPI Assessment Bulletin has been posted.
The OPI Assessment Bulletin is designed for System Test Coordinators (STCs), subscribers, and any school personnel with a responsibility to administer state assessments. It is crafted each month, August through June, 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 to prepare for state assessments.
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ACCESS for ELLs Test Window Closes February 23, 2024
The test window for the ACCESS for ELLs, Montana’s English language proficiency assessment, opened on December 4, 2023, and closes on February 23, 2024. Ensure all of your district’s EL students are administered the ACCESS for ELLs during this window. The federal expectation for ACCESS completion is 100%.
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Ensure IEP and 504 Plans are Locked in Infinite Campus
The ACCESS for ELLs assessment is currently open, and other state assessment windows will be opening soon. The full suite of MontCAS state assessment testing windows is available on the Montana OPI Published Test Windows document.
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To ensure smooth and successful assessment administrations:
- ensure your schools have state assessments noted on school and district calendars,
- check to be sure that all IEP and 504 Plans have been locked after editing to ensure all students receive the accommodations and/or support they are entitled to,
- provide the opportunity for all students to become familiar with the assessment environment,
- send parent notification letters to parents/families to alert them of upcoming assessments.
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MAST Updates
If your district is participating in MAST this school year, ensure appropriate staff are aware of the MAST Updates section of the monthly OPI Compass to keep abreast of upcoming tasks for the through-year assessments.
For more information and resources for MAST Testing, visit the OPI MAST webpage.
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Ensure Accurate Enrollments in AIM
To ensure all students are uploaded to the appropriate Test Delivery Portals check with your AIM District Data Entry staff to affirm the enrollments in AIM/Infinite Campus are accurate and up-to-date. See the AIM Data Collection Schedule for information and resources to complete these tasks. Questions? Contact the AIM Help Desk at 1-877-424-6681 OR 406-444-3800 or Submit an AIM Help Desk Ticket.
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Stay Informed with Testing Alerts and Updates
The OPI Assessment Unit will continue to share information with schools via the Monthly Assessment Bulletin, accessed via the OPI Compass, the Monthly Webinars and other communication means.
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Both the bulletin and the monthly webinars have been updated and refreshed for the 2023-2024 school year. Based on feedback from the field, the OPI Assessment Bulletin follows a checklist format this year. Monthly webinars will include a “Learning Lab” portion which will provide a step-by-step walk-through for timely tasks each month.
Subscribe to the OPI Assessment Unit’s YouTube Channel to view recorded versions of the monthly webinars, program overviews, and STC Workshop sessions.
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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