Assessment Newsletter (Volume 6, Issue 78)

Wyoming Department of Education sent this bulletin at 10/26/2018 12:19 PM MDT

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

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October 26, 2018  |  WDE Assessment Updates  |  Volume 6, Issue 78

ACCESS FOR ELLS DISTRICT & BUILDING TEST COORDINATOR & TEST ADMINISTRATOR TRAINING

November 5, 2018 - Evanston, Wyoming  

Audience: District Test Coordinators, Building EL Coordinators, Test Administrators/Coordinators, Principals & anyone interested

During the morning session, participants will learn: 

  • ordering and distributing materials, 
  • setting up testing schedules, 
  • monitoring test administrator certifications. 

During the afternoon session, test administrators will explore how the WIDA Standards and Assessment System is connected to the ACCESS for ELLs Online. 

Participants will: 

  • Learn to administer the online test to students,
  • Access sample items and the WIDA Assessment Management System,
  • Identify the purpose of the WIDA Accessibility and Accommodations Framework,
  • Explain the technology basics for ACCESS for ELLs,
  • Describe the administrative functions of test coordination in WIDA AMS,
  • Explain scheduling, test administration monitoring and materials management,
  • Discuss the features of each of the different ACCESS for ELLs suite of assessments, 
  • Identify the different aspects of paper test administration such as domain test details,
  • Explain the procedure for scoring the speaking test.

(Participants may attend ½ day of training, but are encouraged to attend the full day).

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PROVIDING EL SERVICES TO A STUDENT WITH AN IEP

If a student qualifies for English Language (EL) and Special Education Services, they are required by law to receive appropriate instruction and services for both. How those services are provided should be addressed in the IEP. They may be provided in a special education or regular education setting as long as they are appropriate to the student’s level of EL needs, are provided by qualified staff, and will help the student progress towards their linguistically appropriate goals and objectives.

An EL with a disability can be “exited” from Active EL status when the student no longer meets the definition of an Active EL. This occurs when the student meets the state’s definition of “proficient” in English on the State EL Assessment. All ELs, including those with disabilities, must participate in ACCESS for ELLs 2.0 or must take the Alternate ACCESS for ELLs. There is no provision in the IDEA that would authorize the IEP Team to remove the “EL” designation before the student has attained English proficiency. Nor does LEA school personnel have the authority under Federal law to remove a student’s EL designation before the student has been deemed proficient in English solely because the student has an IEP.

Please contact Antoinette Hallam at antoinette.hallam@wyo.gov if you have questions.

ACT REPORTS DEADLINE

Please save your ACT reports locally before they are no longer available on PAnext. Beginning Saturday, November 3, access to the spring 2018 administration in PAnext, including the published reports, will no longer be available. 

If you have questions about retrieving reports, please contact the Wyoming ACT helpdesk at 800-553-6244 ext. 2800.  

ACT WEBINARS

  • November 8, 2018 3:30 pm - Accommodations Q & A webinar
  • January 29, 2019 3:30 pm - Test Administration Q & A webinar
  • February 28, 2019 3:30 pm - Test Administration Q & A webinar

Webinar registration for January 29 and February 28 will open at a later date. Please mark your calendars and register for the November 8 training below. 

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ACT AND ACT WORKKEYS SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

2019 ACT

Initial Test Date:
Paper Test Date: April 2
Online Test Dates: April 2-4, 9-11
Accommodation Test Dates for Paper: April 2-5, 8-12, 15-16
Accommodation Test Dates for Online: April 2-4, 9-11

Makeup Test Date:
Paper Test Date: April 24
Accommodation Test Dates for Paper: April 24-26, 29-30

Follow this link to view the 2018-2019 ACT schedule of events.

2019 WorkKeys

Initial Test Date:
Online and Paper Test Dates: April 16 - 30

Follow this link to view the 2018-2019 WorkKeys schedule of events.

WY-TOPP PERFORMANCE LEVEL DESCRIPTORS

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Performance-Level Descriptors (PLDs) give teachers, parents/guardians, and students more information about the typical skills and knowledge a student demonstrates on state assessments in each performance level. PLDs are linked to state-adopted content standards and are used as guides by standard-setting committees as they make recommendations for the scores needed to achieve performance levels (Below Basic, Basic, Proficient, and Advanced) on statewide assessments. Committees comprised of Wyoming teachers developed the PLDs for WY-TOPP during the standard-setting processes the summer of 2018. The committee engaged in a general discussion concerning the knowledge and skills that students at each performance level should be expected to demonstrate. These discussions resulted in a common understanding of expectations for student performance at each performance level, which in turn informed the committee’s cut-score recommendations.

Link to ELA PLDs

Link to Math PLDs

Link to Science PLDs

IMPORTANT UPCOMING DATES

  • October 30: WY-TOPP results webinar (ORS) for administrators 2:00
  • October 30: WY-TOPP results webinar (ORS) for teachers 3:30
  • November 1: WY-TOPP results webinar (AIR Ways) 3:30
  • November 5: ACCESS 2.0 Test Coordinator Training 8:00 - 11:00 - Evanston
  • November 5: ACCESS 2.0 Test Administrator Training 1:00 - 4:00 - Evanston
  • November 8: ACT Accommodations Q&A Webinar at 3:30
  • December 3: ACCESS 2.0 Test Coordinator Training 8:00 - 11:00 - Riverton
  • December 3: ACCESS 2.0 Test Administrator Training 1:00 - 4:00 - Riverton
  • December 18-19: WIDA Engaging ELs in Science Workshop - Green River
  • January 7: WY-ALT Test Administrator Training - Cody/Powell area
  • January 9: WY-ALT Test Administrator Training - Gillette
  • January 10: WY-ALT Test Administrator Training - Casper
  • January 11: WY-ALT Test Administrator Training - Green River/Rock Springs area
  • January 14: ACCESS 2.0 Test Coordinator Training 8:00 - 11:00 - Cheyenne
  • January 14: ACCESS 2.0 Test Administrator Training 1:00 - 4:00 - Cheyenne
  • January 15-February 8: WY-TOPP Winter interim window (Grades 3-10)
  • January 22: WY-ALT Test Administrator Training - Cheyenne
  • January 22-February 26: ACCESS 2.0 assessment window (Grades K-12)
  • January 28-March 8: NAEP assessment window (Grades 4 & 8 for selected campuses)
  • January 29: ACT Test Administration Q&A Webinar at 3:30
  • February 28: ACT Test Administration Q&A Webinar at 3:30
  • March 11-12: WIDA Scaffolding Workshop - Sheridan
  • March 11-April 24: WY-ALT online assessment window (Grades 3-10)
  • April 2: ACT paper test day (Grade 11)
  • April 2-4, 9-11: ACT online test window (Grade 11)
  • April 15-May 10: WY-TOPP Spring Summative window (Grades 3-10)
  • April 15-May 10: WY-TOPP Spring Interim window (Grades K-2)
  • April 16-30: WorkKeys assessment window (Grades 11 & 12)
  • May 20: ACCESS 2.0 Interpreting Score Reports for Instruction Workshop - Riverton
  • May 21: ACCESS 2.0 Interpreting Score Reports for Instruction Workshop - Casper