March 9, 2018 | WDE Assessment Updates | Volume 5, Issue 53
 The WDE is seeking Special Education educators who are interested in serving on the WY-ALT Blueprint Committee for the new computer adaptive WY-ALT assessment. This committee will work on creating assessment blueprints for Math, ELA, and Science that align to the Wyoming extended standards. Extended standards are used with the students with the most significant cognitive disabilities. Participants need to be able to commit to attending a two-day work session (face-to-face) that will occur April 4-5 in Cheyenne. Those interested in serving on this committee should complete this survey by 11:59 p.m. on March 11, 2018. Respondents will be notified of their selection status by March 16th. Selected committee members will be given further information at that time, including payment, meeting location, and agenda.
Please follow this link to apply for consideration to participate.
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We are halfway through the WY-ALT testing window February 26th - March 28th.
The Data Entry Interface (DEI) is now accessible through the Wyoming Assessment Portal. Personnel entering student scores into the DEI must be assigned the proper user account (Alt TA or SS) and be certified in TIDE. In order to be certified, users must have attended a 2018 WY-ALT training. In addition, in order to enter scores for a student, the user and the student must be associated with the same school. All student scores must be entered into the DEI by 11:59 p.m. on Wednesday, March 28. Failure to submit scores in the DEI will result in no scores reported. Through March 28, DTCs can also add, edit, and delete student records in TIDE.
The DEI User Guide and a step-by-step video tutorial are available on the Portal.
The window to order additional WY-ALT materials is from February 12th - March 16th. Building Coordinators must submit additional material orders in TIDE. Orders will be approved by WDE. Please include your student count in the comment section of your order.
If you have any questions regarding the TIDE system, please refer to the TIDE User Guide and FAQs located on the Resources section of the Portal. You may also contact the Wyoming Help Desk at 1.888.897.8024.
Cheyenne on June 21-22
This application is for any Wyoming educator interested in participating in either the Content Alignment Review Committee or the Bias & Sensitivity (Fairness) Review Committee meeting for WY-TOPP Science items. Due to these committee meetings being held concurrently, applicants will only be selected for one committee, but applicants may use this single form to apply for either or both committees. Travel and lodging reimbursements will be offered to committee members traveling from outside of Cheyenne. All applications submitted by 11:59 p.m. on March 30, 2018 will be considered. Follow this link to apply for consideration to participate.
April 23rd - deadline to submit exemption requests for the WY-TOPP assessment
This year the department will be using a Secure Google Drive folder to collect exemption request documents from districts. Please contact Catherine Palmer at catherine.palmer@wyo.gov to request access to your campus' Secure Google Drive Folder. Here is a link to the exemption request document. Please view this tutorial on how to submit your exemption request and documentation.
 ACT is providing data learning opportunities this spring to you, your colleagues, and staff. Registration is now open for new webinars throughout March and April to help district and school leaders, school counselors, and teachers understand and use ACT data.
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Administrators: Leading Your School or District Using the ACT Profile Report
Learn about the data available in the ACT Profile Report and how school and district leaders can use this data to improve student readiness
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Counselors: Impacting Students Using the ACT High School Report
An overview of the ACT High School Report and how counselors can use the data to discuss student academic achievement and help students plan for life after high school
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Teachers: Connecting the ACT Profile Report to your Curriculum
Explore what gets tested on the ACT, learn how the ACT College and Career Readiness Standards describe students’ skills at different levels of readiness, and use the ACT Profile Report to understand the current level of performance of students in your school
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ACT® Academy™, a free online learning tool and test practice program, will be open to students on March 22, 2018.
ACT Academy will provide students with content and materials developed by ACT, Khan Academy, NASA, PBS and other learning organizations in one place. It will include materials from OpenEd, an online resource library for K-12 teachers.
ACT Academy will be compatible with all devices and will allow students to work on building their skills anytime, anywhere they have internet access. Parents, teachers, and counselors can also use ACT Academy to help students study and learn. Sign up at www.act.org/academy to receive notifications when this new solution is available.
 This spring, Wyoming schools will have an opportunity to administer the ACT WorkKeys Assessment in the following window:
Test Mode and Test Window
ACT WorkKeys- Online April 17-May 1, 2018
ACT WorkKeys- Paper April 17-May 1, 2018
Building coordinators should have received an email from ACT WorkKeys. The communication included information about the ordering paper window, online testing realm set up, training, etc.
Key information to keep in mind about ACT WorkKeys:
3/5/2018 – 3/16/2018 - The window to order paper tests has been extended.
If you have not received any information regarding ACT WorkKeys please call Jeremiah Barnhart at 319-337-1386.
Training-Attend one of ACT WorkKeys’ webinars. ACT offers recorded and live webinars on topics such as Introductions to ACT WorkKeys Online Test Administration, ACT WorkKeys Test Administration Training for Paper Testing, Explore What’s Changed with ACT WorkKeys, etc.
To view or register for a training please follow the link here.
For more detailed information please refer to the Wyoming- ACT WorkKeys Schedule of Events and the Wyoming's ACT State testing Website.
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Please follow this link to the Quality Assurance Checklist. The Wyoming Department of Education will be using the Quality Assurance Checklist when conducting test site visits. The purpose of the visit will be to observe test security practices and answer any questions school staff may have about statewide assessment. Principals will be contacted in March to schedule test site visits for the spring WY-TOPP administration. Please contact Catherine Palmer at 307-777-5296 or catherine.palmer@wyo.gov, if you have any questions regarding the checklist. |
 Validation Window opens March 22, 2018
The Pre-Reporting Data Validation Window for ACCESS for ELLs 2.0 and Alternate ACCESS for ELLs for Wyoming starts on Thursday, March 22, 2018. Data validation is an important process of reviewing student test records to identify errors and make corrections before score reports are produced. This is designed to identify student demographic, accommodation, and test result records that could potentially contain errors, as well as provide the opportunity for corrective action before reporting. Follow this link to the WIDA AMS User Guide Supplement: Data Validation guide. This document provides instructions for completing data validation in WIDA AMS. Follow this link to the Data Validation Tutorial. This training tutorial provides instructions for completing data validation in WIDA AMS. Click on this link to view the a Post Testing Webinar.
After the close of your Data Validation Window, districts and schools WILL NOT have another opportunity to edit student data prior to reports being printed/posted to WIDA AMS.
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Phase IV
Using Proficiency Scales with Exceptional Learners
March 26, 2018 - Ramkota Inn - Casper.
This session will address questions and challenges regarding how to use proficiency scales appropriately with students who have exceptional needs. Participants will receive information about providing appropriate accommodations and modifications for students that relate to language on proficiency scales. Additionally, they will learn how to use the adjusted scales to offer accurate information about achievement to students and parents.
March 26, 2018 - Ramoka Inn - Casper
Phase IV
Standards Based Grading
May 3, 2018 - Round House, Evanston
This session will overview effective grading practices based on proficiency scales. Pertinent grading topics, such as homework, separating academic performance from behaviors, and reassessment will be addressed. Participants will also learn different methods for calculating grades based on proficiency scales.
May 3, 2018 - Round House - Evanston
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February 12-March 16: WY-ALT additional materials ordering window
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February 26-March 28: WY-ALT testing window (Grades 3-11)
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March 3-16: WorkKeys Window to order paper materials
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March 3-9: WorkKeys Schools will receive online testing realm email and information
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March 5-30: WY-TOPP paper test initial order window
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March 14: ACT Deadline to order additional testing materials
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March 20: Option 1 - ACT paper test day
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March 26: Marzano - Phase IV: Using Proficiency Scales with Exceptional Learners
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April 2-6: WorkKeys Schools will receive paper test materials
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April 3: Option 2 - ACT paper test day
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April 3-5 and 10-12: Option 3 - ACT online testing window
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April 4-5: WY-ALT Blueprint Committee - Cheyenne
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April 5: Marzano - Phase IV: Standards Based Grading - Casper
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April 9-10: Marzano - Phase I & II: Assessment Literacy and Formative Assessment
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April 9-27: WY-ALT Independent Field Test window
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April 16-25: WY-TOPP paper test late order window
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April 16-May 11: WY-TOPP Interim Spring window (Grades K-2)
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April 16-May 11: WY-TOPP Summative testing window (Grades 3-10)
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April 17-May 1: WorkKeys testing window (Grades 11-12)
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May 3: Marzano - Phase IV: Standards Based Grading - Evanston
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June 21-22: WY-TOPP Science Content Bias and Fairness Review in Cheyenne
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