Assessment Newsletter (Volume 8, Issue 31)

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

WDE Assessment Updates

03-19-2021  |  Volume 8, Issue 31


DO NOT REMOTE TEST

Use the Student Not Tested Form (SNTF)

To ensure the validity and reliability of the state assessments, there will not be any remote testing options. To accommodate guardians who do not want their student in person at a school or testing site due to the COVID-19 pandemic, schools should report these circumstances using the Student Not Tested Form (SNTF) for WY-TOPP / WY-ALT. This must be submitted by the end of the assessment window. The SNTF can be found in the district-designated Google Folder previously shared with district Assessment Coordinators, or a downloadable spreadsheet can be found here. Have your Assessment Coordinator upload the document into the district-designated Google folder after it has been completed.

Reminder: It is important to test as many students as possible, with safety being the top priority.

For more information, contact Jessica Steinbrenner, WDE Assessment Supervisor, at 307-777-8568 or jessica.steinbrenner@wyo.gov.


ASSESSMENT AND ACCOUNTABILITY

State Accountability Waiver during the COVID-19 Pandemic

  • In October, the Wyoming State Board of Education approved a motion to waive all state accountability requirements.
  • The WDE is advising districts to test to the “greatest extent possible,” while keeping staff and student safety in mind.
  • For students who should test, but are not able to do so due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the WDE is asking districts to provide that information on a *Student Not Tested Form (SNTF).*see the above article

Federal Accountability Waiver during COVID-19 Pandemic

  • The WDE submitted an Addendum to the ESEA Consolidated State Plan and a waiver request for TSI school identification to the U.S. Department of Education. These are under review.

For more information, contact Laurie Hernandez, WDE Director of Standards & Assessment, at 307-777-3469 or laurie.hernandez@wyo.gov.


TEST SECURITY

Test security is important for all assessments. Any violation of test security, whether intended or accidental can compromise our ability to make inferences about student performance on state assessments. The WDE emphasizes proactive practices — before, during, and after testing — as the primary method of ensuring test security. Following appropriate procedures regarding preparing for testing, handling test booklets, and administering tests is fundamental to ensuring public confidence in the results we report. Reference the Testing Materials Security document for details. 

In preparation for the WY-TOPP Summative window which opens on April 13, review with staff the Assessment Security Training slides, WY-TOPP Test Administration Manual, and the Assessment Best Practices guidance.

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


MOVING TESTING MATERIALS WITHIN DISTRICTS

School staff are responsible for ensuring the security of testing materials. District staff may transport test booklets between buildings, including to a student’s home to facilitate student participation only in exceptional circumstances and with permission from the WDE. To grant approval, the WDE must review and approve the plan that the district or school will implement while moving the testing materials.

This plan should describe: 

  • An assessment calendar which includes the administration dates, testing locations, and names of Test Administrators (TAs).
  • The processes and methods that ensure the security of test materials while being distributed, transported, and re-collected/returned.
  • Practices that ensure an optimal test environment for the student.
  • Any accommodations required for addressing the needs of students with disabilities, per their IEP.
  • Assurance that the TAs have been trained and certified.

The WDE recognizes and appreciates the effort of districts to safeguard test materials and maintain standardized assessment protocols while ensuring maximum participation.

If you need to transport materials, submit your plan to Jessica Steinbrenner, WDE Assessment Supervisor, at 307-777-8568 or jessica.steinbrenner@wyo.gov.


DO NOT SHARE WYOMING ASSESSMENT CREDENTIALS

Never Share Your Passwords

  • Your unique username and password is your identity in all Cambium or ACT systems.
  • Sharing passwords is the same as giving away a personal identity.
  • Your account will no longer be secure.
  • Account activity can be tracked; inappropriate behavior performed by someone using your account will be traced back to you.
  • If someone were to misappropriate information or commit an inappropriate act while using your account, you will be held responsible.

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


IMPORTANT UPCOMING DATES

  • September 1-June 18: WY-TOPP Modulars.
  • January 13-April 27: SAER System Open to Accept WY-TOPP Exemption Requests.
  • March 2-April 23: WY-ALT Assessments.
  • March 19-April 1: ACCESS Pre-Reporting Data Validation-LEAs in AMS.
  • March 23: ACT Paper Test. 
  • March 23-26, 29-31, and April 1-2: ACT Test Dates for Paper Accommodated. 
  • March 23-26, 30-31, April 1: ACT Online Test Dates.
  • April 6: ACT Paper Test.
  • April 6-9, 12-16: ACT Test Dates for Paper Accommodated.
  • April 6-8, 13-15: ACT Online Test Dates.
  • April 13-May 7: WY-TOPP Spring K-2 Interims.
  • April 13-May 7: WY-TOPP Summative Assessments, grades 3-10.
  • April 19-30: WorkKeys Test Administration Window.
  • April 20: ACT Paper Test.
  • April 20-23, 26-30: ACT Test Dates for Paper Accommodated.
  • April 20-22, 27-29: ACT Online Test Dates.