Assessment Newsletter (Volume 5, Issue 38)

Wyoming Department of Education sent this bulletin at 11/09/2017 05:10 PM MST

Update from the Wyoming Department of Education  |  view online |  website

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November 9, 2017  |  WDE Assessment Updates  |  Volume 5, Issue 38

DEADLINE EXTENDED FOR ORDERING ACCESS 2.0 PAPER MATERIALS

District EL Coordinators must order paper forms and materials for campuses administering ACCESS 2.0 for ELLs by November 29th. Campuses that do not order materials by November 29th will not receive test materials in time for testing. To submit an order for paper test materials, please visit the AMS website. This deadline date is important, as additional test material ordering is often more difficult.

Click the link for access to the AMS User Guide and short tutorials that explain key functions in the WIDA AMS.

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ACT - MANAGE PARTICIPATION AND ACCOMMODATIONS

The manage participation window has opened within Pearson Access Next (PAnext) for the Spring 2018 ACT administration. This task is completed in PAnext by going to SETUP > Organization > Select Tasks > Test Administration; dates will need to be selected for your initial test date, accommodations window, and test material ship date. This task needs to be completed by December 1, 2017. PAnext and the Wyoming Department of Education use different terms to describe the test date options. Please reference the ACT/WDE terminology matrix when choosing test dates in PAnext. Click here to see the assessment calendar for the 2017-2018 school year. 

The accommodations application window is also open; these applications are submitted through the Test Accessibility & Accommodations System (TAA) and must be submitted by February 2, 2018. ACT highly recommends starting your applications early to allow your site time to resubmit the application if there are any issues with your original application. 

WIDA AND ACCESS 2.0 Q&A WEBINAR

Please join the Wyoming Department of Education's English Learner Consultant, Antoinette Hallam, on November 20th at 3:30 p.m. for a WIDA and ACCESS 2.0 Q&A webinar. This session will provide information and an opportunity for questions about the key features of the ACCESS for ELLs 2.0 online and paper-based assessments, and the resources available for all who provide services to EL students. 

Webinar Login Information

Join from PC, Mac, Linux, iOS or Android: https://zoom.us/j/282302107  

or iPhone one-tap : US: +16699006833, 282302107# or +16465588656, 282302107# 

or Telephone: Dial (for higher quality, dial a number based on your current location)： US: +1 669 900 6833 or +1 646 558 8656 

Meeting ID: 282 302 107

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ACCESS FOR ELLs CHECKLIST

CHECKLIST

The 2017-2018 ACCESS for ELLs 2.0 Checklist is now available. Check the Wyoming WIDA website for the ACCESS for ELLs 2.0 Checklist button on the right side of the screen. The checklist is an important guide that highlights all tasks that need to be completed before, during, and after testing within a school or district and shows who typically completes those tasks. The Wyoming Department of Education encourages districts and campuses to follow the checklist and keep track of completed tasks when preparing to administer the ACCESS for ELLs 2.0 assessment. As you use the checklist, we would like you to note any suggestions or feedback that can help make the checklist more accurate and useful for the following year. Please follow the link to input suggestions for the ACCESS 2.0 checklist. 

WY-TOPP AIR Ways REPORTS

AIR Ways reporting allows educators to look at school level, class level, and individual student results for WY-TOPP modular and interim assessments. Click this link to view a recording of an AIR Ways Webinar. Please note that Wyoming will conduct standard setting next summer to determine cut points for proficiency levels. 

WDE and AIR will co-host a webinar in December looking at WY-TOPP Interim results. More information will be available in next week's newsletter.

Link to AIR Ways Reporting User Guide

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WY-ALT ASSESSMENT STUDENT UPLOAD

The WY-ALT and WY-TOPP assessments use TIDE to upload student information and test settings. Many districts completed a student upload prior to the WY-TOPP Fall interim window. If your students are already uploaded into TIDE, then please check your WY-ALT students are flagged as an "Alternate Assessment Tester". Please take time to check your WY-ALT students have been pre-identified prior to the Spring WY-ALT administration (2/26/18 - 3/28/18). If you need help pre-identifying your WY-ALT students please click the link to view How-to pre-identify WY-ALT students resource.

ACCESS 2.0 WRITING FIELD TEST

If you would like to participate, please contact Alex Bauer at 1-608- 265-0601 or email alex.bauer@wisc.edu as soon as possible. 

As we prepare for the third operational year of the ACCESS 2.0 assessment, the department would like to share with you the details of an upcoming writing field test for the computer-based ACCESS for ELLs 2.0. This will be the only field test for this year, and it is on a volunteer basis and may be administered before or after a student completes the operational test. This field test gives students and administrators practice and preparation for testing.

  • Testing time will be approximately 20-30 minutes and participating campuses will receive a small stipend for school supplies.
  • Students in grades 1-3 may test November 14, 2017 through February 16, 2018. (All students in grades 1-3 will hand write their responses)
  • The window for grades 4-12 is December 4, 2017 through March 2, 2018. (All students in grades 4-12 will keyboard their responses)

WIDA states are held to the following U.S. Department of Education Peer Review Guidance.

  • Must provide evidence of appropriate field testing
  • Field test student sample must be representative of the “population” of final test takers (of adequate size and diversity).

Thank you for your continued dedication and effort supporting the development of ACCESS for ELLs 2.0

IMPORTANT UPCOMING DATES

  • October 18-November 29: ACCESS 2.0 Test material Ordering via AMS
  • October 23-November 17: WY-TOPP Fall Interim window (Grades 3-10)
  • November 6-December 1: ACT Manage participation and shipping dates in PAnext
  • November 6-February 2: ACT Request ACT-approved accommodations
  • November 9: ACT Accommodations Q&A webinar @ 3:30 p.m.
  • November 9: ACCESS 2.0 Checklist is available
  • November 19: ACCESS 2.0 Deadline to order paper test materials in WIDA AMS
  • November 20: WIDA and ACCESS 2.0 Q&A Webinar
  • December 4-February 2: ACT Install ProctorCache software and setup proctor cache
  • December 5: WY-TOPP Science Content alignment Review Committee
  • December 5: WY-TOPP Science Bias & Sensitivity Review Committee
  • December 11-15: WY-ALT Math, ELA, and Science Content Fairness and Bias Committee
  • January 8-12: ACCESS 2.0 Paper materials will be delivered to district offices
  • January 8: WY-ALT Test Administrator Training in Sheridan 9:00 - 4:00
  • January 9: WY-ALT Test Administrator Training in Riverton 9:00 - 4:00
  • January 10: WY-ALT TA Refresher Training in Riverton 9:00 - 11:00 a.m.
  • January 10: WY-ALT TA Refresher Training in Riverton 1:00 - 3:00 p.m.
  • January 12: WY-ALT Test Administrator Training in Green River 9:00 - 4:00
  • January 16-February 9: WY-TOPP Winter Interim window (Grades 1-10)
  • January 16-February 2: ACT Verify student information in PAnext
  • January 29: ACT Standard Administration Q&A webinar @ 3:30 p.m.
  • January 22-23: Casper - Phase I & II Literacy and Formative Assessment Workshop
  • January 23-February 27: ACCESS 2.0 testing window
  • January 24: WY-ALT Test Administrator Training in Cheyenne 9:00 - 4:00 p.m.
  • January 25: WY-ALT TA Refresher Training in Cheyenne 9:00 - 11:00 a.m.
  • January 25: WY-ALT TA Refresher Training in Cheyenne 1:00 - 3:00 p.m.
  • January 29-30: Casper - Phase III The Art and Science of Teaching, Unit 2
  • January 30: WY-ALT TA Refresher Training Webinar 1:00 - 3:00 p.m.
  • February 1: WY-ALT TA Refresher Training Webinar 9:00 - 11:00 a.m.
  • February 1-2: Green River -  Phase III The Art and Science of Teaching, Unit 2
  • February 26-March 28: WY-ALT testing window (Grades 3-11)
  • February 28: ACT Standard Administration Q&A webinar @ 3:30 p.m.
  • March 20: Option 1 - ACT paper test day
  • April 3: Option 2 - ACT paper test day
  • April 3-5 and 10-12: Option 3 - ACT online testing window
  • April 16-May 11: WY-TOPP Interim Spring window (Grades K-2)
  • April 16-May 11: WY-TOPP Summative testing window (Grades 3-10)
  • April 17-May 1: WorkKeys testing window (Grades 11-12)