Assessment Newsletter (Volume 7, Issue 25)

Wyoming Department of Education sent this bulletin at 02/28/2020 03:05 PM MST

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

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02-28-20|  WDE Assessment Updates  |  Volume 7, Issue 25

WIDA Q&A Webinars

Webinar

Data Validation: A webinar for District Test Coordinators and Test Administrators for determining how and when to return secure materials.

From noon-1 p.m. MST on Wednesday, March 4. 

Interpreting Score Reports: A webinar for District Test Coordinators and Test Administrators to provide how-to information on validating student data and correcting student data.

From 10-11 a.m. MST on Thursday, March 12.

WIDA Workshops

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Educator Collaboration to Support Multilingual Learners: This workshop will provide an overview of collaborative methods and structures for instruction and assessment. 

March 10-11 in Afton

Writing with Multilingual Learners in the Elementary Grades: This workshop will focus on writing instruction for English Learners which supports the use of the Teaching and Learning Cycle to produce successful academic writing and to communicate effectively for a variety of purposes and audiences.

April 7-8 in Laramie

ACCESS for ELLs - Student Not Tested Form (SNTF)

Due March 6, 2020

School districts must submit the Student Not Tested Form (SNTF) to WDE about students who did not complete all domains of the ACCESS assessment. This will help ensure that Wyoming is in compliance with federal laws regarding assessments.

RETURNING ACCESS for ELLs Testing Materials

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The ACCESS for ELLs and Alternate ACCESS for ELLs testing window ended on February 25. ALL secure test materials must be returned to DRC by Tuesday, March 3rd, 2020. If you do not have daily UPS pickup, you must call UPS to schedule one. 

For further support please sign into your WIDA account to access the After Testing Tutorial posted in the ACCESS for ELLs training course on the WIDA Website.

WY-ALT LEARNER CHARACTERISTICS INVENTORY REQUIREMENT

Attention:  WY-ALT Test Administrators

This year, before Test Administrators will be able to administer the WY-ALT, they must complete the Learner Characteristic Inventory (LCI) Questionnaire for each student. The purpose of the LCI is to describe the characteristics of students who participate in the Alternate Assessment and Alternate Achievement Standards and to present baseline data results collected as part of the validity evaluation for the assessment.

The LCI Questionnaire is comprised of 19 questions that address student demographic and performance information, and is also located on the Wyoming Assessment Portal under Resources for WY-ALT Test Administrators.

WDE strongly suggests that teachers complete the LCI by logging into the student interface, as the student, before beginning any test sessions with the student.

EXEMPTION REQUEST PROCESS FOR STATEWIDE ASSESSMENTS

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All students are expected to participate in the Wyoming Assessment System. Every effort must be made to inform parents, guardians, and students of the testing calendar.

On behalf of a student, school administrators may apply for an exemption from participation for the following criteria:

  • The student is expelled for the entire testing window.
  • The student is an English Learner who has been enrolled in a US school for less than one year.
  • The student is placed in an out-of-state facility for the entire testing window.

Administrators should view the SAER site training video to learn how to submit exemption requests. Here is the direct link to the SAER webpage to submit an exemption.

COMMUNICATION DEVICE POLICY FOR STATE ASSESSMENTS

It is very important to maintain test item security before, during, and after test administration of any state provided testing. The Wyoming Department of Education (WDE) suggests that campuses communicate a strict policy for communication devices during testing. For campuses that do not have cell phone or communication device policy, Follow this link to an example of a communication device policy that can be read or distributed to faculty, staff, and students during testing. Please remember "devices" include testing computers. This means no screenshots or recordings via the testing device.

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QUALITY ASSURANCE CHECKLIST - TEST SECURITY

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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 the statewide assessment. Principals were contacted to schedule test site visits for the spring WY-ALT administration.

IMPORTANT UPCOMING DATES

  • March 3-April 22: WY-ALT Assessments
  • March 10-11: WIDA Educator Collaboration Workshop in Afton
  • March 24: ACT Paper Test (option 1)
  • March 24-26, 31, April 1-2: ACT Online Test (option 1)
  • April 7: ACT Paper Test (option 2)
  • April 7-9, 14-16: ACT Online Test (option 2)
  • April 7: WIDA “Lesson Planning” Workshop in Laramie (registration coming soon)
  • April 7-8: WIDA “Writing with Multilingual Learners in the Elementary Grades” Workshop in Laramie 
  • April 21: ACT Paper Test (option 3)
  • April 21-23, 28-30: ACT Online Test (option 3)
  • April 20-24: WorkKeys
  • April 14-May 8: WY-TOPP Summative Assessments and Spring Interims
  • April 29: SAER System Exemption Request Window Closes
  • May 19: WIDA “Score Reports for Instruction” workshop in Casper (registration coming soon)
  • May 20: WIDA “Score Reports for Instruction” workshop in Riverton (registration coming soon)