Assessment Newsletter (Volume 5, Issue 40)

Wyoming Department of Education sent this bulletin at 12/01/2017 10:58 AM MST

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

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December 1, 2017  |  WDE Assessment Updates  |  Volume 5, Issue 40

WIDA LESSON PLANNING WORKSHOP

Save the date! January 17-18 in Casper

This two-day learning opportunity, presented by Suzanne Johar from WIDA, will enhance participants' lesson planning processes. Specifically, participants will focus on creating contexts for meaningful language use within settings that integrate content and academic language learning. Throughout this process, participants will explore elements of the WIDA Standards Framework in depth as they design instruction that promotes students' content learning and language development. Registration will open soon.

Please contact Antoinette Hallam at 777-5217, if you have questions about the workshop.

WY-ALT 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 that 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 FIELD TESTING

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. Please contact Antoinette Hallam at 777-5217 with questions regarding Wyoming state policy for the ACCESS 2.0 assessment.

WY-TOPP GRADES 1-2 WINTER INTERIM ITEM REVIEW AND FALL INTERIM RESULTS WEBINAR

December 18th at 4 p.m. and December 19th at 7 a.m.

Mark your calendars! WDE and AIR will co-host a webinar focused on the WY-TOPP Winter Interim items for Grades 1-2 and WY-TOPP Fall Interim results. Both webinars will address the same topics. Please plan to attend one of the two webinar options. 

Webinar Login Information

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WY-ALT TRAINING REQUIREMENT

training

Second scorer assignments will be posted in TIDE on December 6th.

All Spring 2018 Test Administrators (TAs) and Second Scorers (SSs) must attend one of the WY-ALT trainings, even if you administered the test in the past. If you attended a full day training last year as well as administered the test last year and feel comfortable administering in 2018, you can attend one of the half-day refresher trainings, rather than the full day training. WY-ALT Test Administrators will ​need to take the full training at least once every 4 years or when the assessment changes and take the refresher course annually. To register for a WY-ALT training, please click on the appropriate training date and submit the registration. You may register for one training session per person. If you would like to edit your registration, please contact the Help Desk at wyohelpdesk@air.org. 

January 8, 2018 - 9:00-4:00 p.m. - TA Training in Sheridan

January 9, 2018 - 9:00-4:00 p.m. - TA Training in Riverton

January 10, 2018 - 9:00-12:00 p.m. - TA Refresher Training in Riverton

January 10, 2018 - 1:00-4:00 p.m. - TA Refresher Training in Riverton

January 12, 2018 - 9:00-4:00 p.m. - TA Training in Green River

January 24, 2018 - 9:00-4:00 p.m. - TA Training in Cheyenne

January 25, 2018 - 9:00-12:00 p.m. - TA Refresher Training in Cheyenne

January 25, 2018 - 1:00-4:00 p.m. - TA Refresher Training in Cheyenne

January 30, 2018 - 1:00-4:00 p.m. - TA Refresher Training Webinar

February 1, 2018 - 9:00-12:00 p.m. - TA Refresher Training Webinar

ACT ACCOMMODATIONS APPLICATION

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. 

If you have any questions regarding accommodations, please contact the Wyoming ACT help desk at 800-553-6244 ext 1788 (Wyoming school code = 51).

IMPORTANT UPCOMING DATES

  • November 6-December 1: ACT Manage participation and shipping dates in PAnext
  • November 6-February 2: ACT Request ACT-approved accommodations window
  • 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
  • December 18: WY-TOPP Interim for Grades 1-2 and Interim Results Webinar @ 4:00 p.m.
  • December 19: WY-TOPP Interim for Grades 1-2 and Interim Results Webinar @ 7:00 a.m.
  • 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 - 12:00 p.m.
  • January 10: WY-ALT TA Refresher Training in Riverton 1:00 - 4:00 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 17-18: WIDA Lesson Planning Workshop in Casper
  • 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 - 12:00 p.m.
  • January 25: WY-ALT TA Refresher Training in Cheyenne 1:00 - 4:00 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 - 4:00 p.m.
  • February 1: WY-ALT TA Refresher Training Webinar 9:00 - 12:00 p.m.
  • February 1-2: Green River -  Phase III The Art and Science of Teaching, Unit 2
  • February 2: ACT Deadline for accommodations approval
  • February 26-March 28: WY-ALT testing window (Grades 3-11)
  • February 28: ACT Standard Administration Q&A webinar @ 3:30 p.m.
  • March 3-9: WorkKeys Window to order paper materials
  • March 3-9: WorkKeys Schools will receive online testing realm email and information
  • March 20: Option 1 - ACT paper test day
  • April 2-6: WorkKeys Schools will receive paper test materials
  • 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)