Assessment Newsletter (Volume 8, Issue 37)

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

WDE Assessment Updates

04-30-2021  |  Volume 8, Issue 37


WY-TOPP TESTING IN SESSION

Testing Closes on May 7, 2021

  • At this time nearly 99,000 tests have been completed. Thank you for your efforts!
  • Some schools have expressed some students are taking longer to complete testing, which prompted the WDE to do an analysis of testing times thus far. 
    • Upon review of the preliminary data, the WDE has determined testing times for 2020-21 are currently on par with testing times from previous administrations.
  • As you review your data this year, note circumstances that may have impacted the data. Consider the following questions:
    • Did all demographics have the opportunity to participate in the assessment?
    • Was instruction any different this year from previous years?
    • How were the conditions during testing different compared to an “average” year?
    • How might the one year gap prior to this year’s assessment have had an impact?
  • After tests are submitted, scores may take up to 10 days to appear in Centralized Reporting.
  • As score reports become available in Centralized Reporting, keep in mind that these scores are preliminary, which means that the WDE has not certified the results. 
    • The final result file is reviewed and posted in late summer/early fall.
    • Preliminary results may be used for initial school planning purposes but should not be provided publicly.
    • Student results should be provided to families upon the release of the Individual Student Reports in the fall.

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


SCIENCE TEACHERS NEEDED FOR ASSESSMENT REVIEW COMMITTEES

SCIENCE MULTI-STATE ITEM REVIEW & RUBRIC VALIDATION COMMITTEES

Applications Due May 18, 2021

  • Cambium Assessment Inc. (CAI) will conduct a series of virtual reviews by educators from across multiple states of field-tested items and item clusters for science. Committee members will perform Rubric Validation, Item Review, and Fairness Review.
  • Review dates include the weeks of: June 7-11, June 21-25, July 19-23, July 26-30, and August 16-20.
  • View this document to learn more.
  • Indicate your interest to participate by completing this survey by May 18, 2021.

WY-TOPP SCIENCE CONTENT AND FAIRNESS COMMITTEES

Applications Due June 7, 2021

  • The WDE seeks educators to participate in either the Science Assessment Item Review or the Science Fairness Review Committee meetings being held virtually June 29 - July 2, 2021.
  • To participate in these committee reviews, all participants must be available to attend a morning training 8:30-9:30 a.m. MDT on June 29, 2021.
  • All committee members selected will be eligible for an honorarium that will be paid out after committee meetings have taken place.
  • Apply here. All applications submitted by June 7, 2021 will be considered.

For more information, contact Shannon Wachowski, Science Consultant, at 307-777-8753 or shannon.wachowski@wyo.gov.


TEACHERS NEEDED FOR WY-ALT ASSESSMENT REVIEWS - BOTH SPED & GENERAL EDUCATION TEACHERS

WY-ALT CONTENT AND FAIRNESS REVIEW COMMITTEES

Application Due May 18, 2021

  • The WDE is seeking Wyoming educators to participate in either the WY-ALT Item Review or the WY-ALT Fairness Item Review Committee meetings (ELA, Math, & Science). Meetings will be held virtually the week of June 14, 2021.
  • Participants must be available to attend a morning training on Tuesday June 15, 2021.
  • Committee members will be eligible for an honorarium that will be paid after all committee work is complete.

If interested, apply here. All applications submitted by May 18, 2021 will be considered.


ACCOMMODATIONS MANUAL UPDATE COMMITTEE

Applications Due May 5, 2021

  • The WDE is seeking Wyoming educators interested in participating in the WY-TOPP/WY-ALT Accommodations Manual Update meeting(s). 
  • The initial meeting will be held virtually on Tuesday, June 29, 2021.
  • Additional meetings will be added if needed.
  • All participants will be eligible for a stipend to be paid after the committee meeting(s) have taken place. 
  • All interested parties must complete the Accommodations Manual Update Committee Participation Survey.
  • All applications submitted by 11:59 p.m. on Wednesday, May 5, 2021 will be considered.

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


IMPORTANT UPCOMING DATES

  • September 1-June 18: WY-TOPP Modulars.
  • April 13-May 7: WY-TOPP Spring K-2 Interims.
  • April 13-May 7: WY-TOPP Summative Assessments, grades 3-10.
  • May 6: Interpreting ACCESS for ELLs Score Reports Overview.
  • May 24: Districts Receive Online Reports for ACCESS.
  • June 14-16: Districts Receive Printed Reports for ACCESS.