March 2024 Assessment Compass Update
The March 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 Closed
The ACCESS for ELLs assessment window closed on Friday, February 23rd. Score reports will be available in the WIDA AMS in late April, and printed reports will be mailed to districts in early May.
Districts can follow these ‘After Testing’ steps to wind up ACCESS for ELLs testing for the 2023-2024 school year.
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- Return testing materials to DRC as soon as possible to ensure timely return of student results. Follow the instructions in the Returning ACCESS Materials to DRC
- Report any testing incidents that have not yet been reported, and report instances of non-participation for your district. Both of these tasks are reported in the MontCAS Application. For step-by-step instructions, see the MontCAS Application User Guide.
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Summative ELA, Math, and Science Assessment Windows Open Soon!
The state assessment testing windows are outlined in the OPI Published Test Windows. To ensure smooth and successful assessment administrations:
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- 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,
- ensure all staff who will be administering assessments have completed all required training.
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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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Turn on Test Settings in TIDE
Schools must administer state assessments with or without accommodations based on individual student needs consistent with all state and federal laws and regulations (ARM 10.56.104). Each school must support their students with accessibility tools per the student’s educational plan.
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For SBA, MSA, and AMSA, verify all student information and test settings are correct in the Montana Testing Portal. All test settings must be enabled in TIDE prior to a student entering the test for them to be available. All accommodations require an IDEA/IEP or Section 504 plan. This flag must be set for a student before an accommodation can be updated in TIDE. Review the assessment-specific accommodations guidelines document(s) found in the Resources section of the Montana Testing Portal.
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Ensure High Schools are Ready for Online ACT with Writing
To be prepared for online ACT with Writing, be sure your school is following the preparation steps as noted in the ACT Montana State and District website.
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Resources under Step 2: Configuration help to ensure your school’s systems are set up and data is submitted for testing.
Resources under Step 4: Preparation will prepare students, staff, school facilities, and materials for testing.
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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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