Assessment Newsletter (Volume 8, Issue 7)

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

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09-18-20  |  WDE Assessment Updates  |  Volume 8, Issue 07


ACT VOUCHERS FOR FALL NATIONAL TEST DATES

Dates for National Testing: October 10, 17, 24, 25, and December 12 

Deadline: September 25

The Wyoming Department of Education (WDE) is accepting requests for ACT vouchers for Fall 2020 Testing on behalf of 2019-20 Juniors unable to take the ACT last year, due to COVID-19. The vouchers must be requested by schools (not students or parents) and are for use on National Testing Dates. They must be used at the time the student registers for testing. To request a voucher for student use, a single point of contact at each school must complete the survey below. Reminder: Fall 2020 ACT testing is not open to 2020-21 Juniors, as they will participate in Spring 2021 ACT testing.

For more information, contact Michelle Carroll, WDE Assessment Consultant, at 307-777-3618 or michelle.carroll@wyo.gov.

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ACT TEST SITES FOR STUDENTS USING VOUCHERS

National Testing Locations

Due to community health precautions, there may be ACT testing facility closures for the safety of students. For those who must travel for ACT National Testing dates, the following links will provide the most timely information about testing site availability.

For more information, contact Michelle Carroll, WDE Assessment Consultant, at 307-777-3618 or michelle.carroll@wyo.gov.


ACT WEBINAR - UNDERSTANDING THE VALUE OF WORKKEYS

ACT Workkeys

This Webinar Was Pre-recorded

Presenters will discuss using WorkKeys information to help students explore career pathways as well as ways to increase readiness. 

Topics will include:

  • How Wyoming students can use ACT WorkKeys to qualify for the Hathaway Provisional Opportunity Scholarship.
  • How WorkKeys can be used to help identify students’ career readiness needs for different career pathways.
  • Reporting and research to help students and educators better understand the value of WorkKeys and the WorkKeys NCRC.

For more information, contact Michelle Carroll, WDE Assessment Consultant, at 307-777-3618 or michelle.carroll@wyo.gov.

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WY-TOPP ONLINE REPORTING SYSTEM (ORS) CLOSES

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ORS Will No longer Be Available After October 9

Cambium Assessment has integrated AIRWays reporting and the Online Reporting System (ORS) into one user-friendly system, Centralized Reporting (CR) System. Previous years’ data have been rolled over into the new system and are available for use. ORS will no longer be available after October 9. Please download any reports or information from ORS before this date.

For more information, contact Michelle Carroll, WDE Assessment Consultant, at 307-777-3618 or michelle.carroll@wyo.gov.


WIDA eSUMMIT SPOTLIGHT ON THE 2020 EDITION OF THE WIDA ELD STANDARDS

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October 12-30, 2020 Free Virtual Learning Event - Canvas Course 

Available Early October In the eLearning Center of the WIDA Secure Portal

WIDA will host a weekly series of professional development and training opportunities. Each week will have a theme with a multitude of webinars relating to the weekly topic. Join the developers of the WIDA English Language Development Standards, 2020 Edition as they unveil new features and key information about the 2020 Edition during the first week of the WIDA eSummit.

Week 1: The focus will be on the 2020 Standards, with a session that introduces the WIDA ELD Standards, 2020 Edition — as well as sessions about Proficiency Level Descriptors and updated Key Language Uses. 

Sessions include:  

  • October 12: Introduction to the design and navigational features of the WIDA ELD Standards, 2020 Edition (Watch for a live stream of this session on WIDA’s Facebook page).  
  • October 14: Understanding WIDA’s New Key Language Uses – Inform, Narrate, Explain, and Argue.  
  • October 16: WIDA ELD Standards, 2020 Edition: Introducing the Grade-Level Cluster Proficiency Level Descriptors Sessions are interactive and include recordings and downloadable resources available after the event. Learn more about the WIDA ELD Standards, 2020 Edition updates and learning opportunities. 

Sessions are interactive and include recordings and downloadable resources available after the event. Learn more about the WIDA ELD Standards, 2020 Edition updates and learning opportunities.

For more information, contact Antoinette Hallam, WDE EL Consultant, at 307-777-5217 or antoinette.hallam@wyo.gov.


WIDA UPDATED PARENT/GUARDIAN RESOURCES

WIDA has five new or refreshed flyers for educators to share with parents, guardians, and families. These flyers, available in 13 languages, can be found in the Resource Library on the WIDA website and on the Family Engagement Page.

  • *NEW* What is Language Testing? – This flyer explains what language testing is, and why it’s important to help students build academic English language skills.
  • Explaining ELL Status – This flyer explains to families what it means to be identified as an English language learner, how their child was identified, and what the family should expect in terms of assessment and instructional support.  
  • What is ACCESS for ELLs? – This handout helps parents and families understand the ACCESS for ELLs assessment and its components, and replaces the ACCESS for ELLs and Alternate ACCESS for ELLs Parent Handouts.
  • ACCESS for ELLs: Understanding Your Child's Scores – This flyer, replacing the Parent Guide for ACCESS for ELLs Score Reports, helps parents and families understand the Individual Student Report in a more comprehensible format.
  • The Alternate ACCESS for ELLs: Understanding Your Child's Scores flyer replaces the Parent Guide for Alternate ACCESS for ELLs Score Reports and presents the information in the Individual Student Report in a more comprehensible format. 

For more information, contact Antoinette Hallam, WDE EL Consultant, at 307-777-5217 or antoinette.hallam@wyo.gov.


IMPORTANT UPCOMING DATES

  • September 1-October 23: WY-TOPP Fall Interim (off grade and on-grade).
  • September 1-June 18: WY-TOPP Modulars.
  • September 22, October 6 & 20: State Fall ACT Test Dates for 2019-20 Juniors.
  • September 22: Pre-Testing: ACCESS for ELLs for New Test Administrators Webinar.
  • September 23 and 30: WIDA’s School Leaders: Ensuring Equity for Multilingual Learners. Available in the WIDA eLearning Center.
  • September 24: Pre-Testing: ACCESS for ELLs for New District Test Coordinators Webinar.
  • September 25: ACT Voucher Requests Due.
  • October 6: Pre-Testing: Software Updates & Technology Readiness Checklist Webinar - ACCESS for ELLs Assessment.
  • October 6-9: ACT Emergency Materials Ordering Window.
  • October 8: Pre-Testing: Technology Installations* (1.5 hours) Webinar - ACCESS for ELLs Assessment.
  • October 9: WY-TOPP Online Reporting System (ORS) Closes.
  • October 13: Pre-Testing: Ordering Materials in WIDA AMS Webinar - ACCESS for ELLs Assessment.
  • October 19: WIDA’s Mathematical Meaning-Making: Ensuring Equity.
  • October 22: Pre-Testing: Test Scheduling Webinar - ACCESS for ELLs Assessment.