CRCT - Spring 2010

1. CRCT - Spring 2010 Middle School Test Administrators’ Workshop

2. Who Administers the Tests? Certified Staff

3. What is this? • The CRCT is a multiple-choice, criterion-referenced test based on the required state curriculum • Assesses students in five content areas: Reading, English/Language Arts, Mathematics, Science, and Social Studies

4. When do we test? • April 14 - Reading • April 15 - English/Language Arts • April 16 - Mathematics • April 19 - Science • April 20 - Social Studies • April 21-23 - Make-Ups (along with afternoons of regular testing days)

5. Who do we test?

6. Who do we test? • All students in grades 6-8 must be tested • Special education students must be tested unless they are assessed with GAA instead • Students who enroll during testing must be tested • ELL students must be tested unless they qualify for a first-year deferment. • First calendar year in US school • Qualifying W-APT scores for ESOL services • Participated in ACCESS for ELLs • Documented in ELL/TPC

7. What’s New This Year • AYP target increases for Math to 67.6% of students meeting or exceeding the standard • Examiner’s Manuals contain specific directions for read-to accommodations • No more Master Labels – will receive 3 bar-coded labels • New coding for ethnicity and race • Students in grades 6 & 7 will receive scores for Social Studies • Answer documents must be submitted for scoring grouped by teacher • If IR is coded incorrectly, student will not receive scores • Examiner’s Certification forms and School Security Checklist will be returned to us with your answer documents

8. Don’t Forget PIV… • PIV – Participation Invalidation • Student does not receive scores • Counts as “Not Meeting the Standard” for AMO • Does not count for participation for AYP • Used for an irregularity that alters the test, such as a teacher assisting a student with answers, or reading the test to students who don’t have a read-to accommodation

9. Erasure Issues • No Cobb Schools on severe list – Yea! • However, a number of Cobb teachers have resigned or will be non-renewed as result of investigation. • Close monitoring – more important than ever • If students get off the line of answers, creating multiple erasures (skip an answer and discover that later), document as an irregularity; explain thoroughly • Tell students to notify you asap if they must erase multiple times. • Continuous monitoring is essential. If a student puts answers in wrong section, monitoring teacher is called to account. • Administrators – required to go in classrooms • Answer documents must be submitted by teacher.

10. OTHER KEY REMINDERS • NO COACHING STUDENTS • NO NONVERBAL CLUES • SMALL GROUP – BE SURE TO SHIFT FROM TEACHING ROLE TO TEST ADMINISTRATOR ROLE. • ADMINISTRATOR MUST BE PRESENT WHEN SP. ED. STUDENTS’ ANSWERS ARE TRANSFERRED FROM BOOKLET TO ANSWER SHEET. • FOR READ-TO STUDENTS IN MATH – MUST READ 3X<12 AS “3X SYMBOL 12.” • NO READING PASSAGES unless IEP specifically calls for that. • STUDENTS CANNOT HAVE A “PARAPHRASE THE QUESTIONS” OR “PARAPHRASE THE TEST” ACCOMMODATION. THAT INCLUDES 504S, SP. ED., AND ELL STUDENTS.

11. More Reminders • Do not send students to extra time session with test documents. Call a hall monitor to accompany the student. • Cobb County grade-level informational booklets may be kept to review. • Examiners’ manuals are the same for all 3 grades. • Forms differ within class EXCEPT for read-to students who must all have the same form each day. • Tests must be counted each day and locked up after testing. No admittance to testing room after check-in. • Prepare classrooms – Remove or cover content-related materials. • Arrange seating to deter cheating – alpha seating • If a student would not stay awake or refused to answer ANY questions, please let me know immediately.

12. More Important Stuff • No cell phones for teachers or students • If cell phone goes off and everyone keeps testing, record on your examiner’s certification form. • If student is texting, that is an irregularity. • 45 minutes per session – minimal requirement • 10 minute break between sessions REQUIRED • 6th graders code for last elementary school attended • 8th graders code for high school they registered to attend • Students may read a book if test has been collected. • Scratch paper for math only; NO graph paper; scratch paper must be collected and will be shredded. Ask students to please donate paper. Homeroom teacher checks it prior to the test.

13. Last Slide of Reminders • NO paraphrasing of test items. • Read directions verbatim unless IEP indicates differently. • If a student has a “paraphrase the directions” accommodation, that refers to the general directions that are read to all students. When a test question says to “solve for X,” “use the graph to determine,” etc., those are NOT directions, that is part of the question and canNOT be paraphrased or explained. • Ask students to write name on booklet in addition to label – easier to identify. • Science counts for participation on AYP. • May 18 – 20 – retesting for 8th graders. • Results – usually available in 2 weeks. • NO –during testing: timer, moving, checking e-mail; knitting, reading the paper, playing Solitaire, sleeping, or texting/talking on cells • County and state visitors may visit.

14. Extended Make-Up Window… • Extended make-up window through May 7th • Only for 8th graders who were absent throughout testing or enrolled after testing • Reading and Math only • Contact me for materials if you have a student for an extended window makeup

15. Test Coordinator’s Role

16. Planning for Testing • Determine times for testing and plan for make-ups and students with accommodations • Plan procedure for check-out and return of materials • Notify parents of testing • Train examiners and proctors

17. Training Examiners • Only GA certified teachers can administer test • Must have a proctor if more than 30 students are testing together • Teachers should review the Examiner’s Manual during training • Teachers are responsible for test security while materials are in their possession • Teachers are responsible for correct coding and usage of labels on answer documents

18. Test Security They did what?!?!

19. Test Security • Tests must be given in the order and on the days specified in the schedule • Materials have to be locked up when not in use • All materials must be returned to test coordinators after each testing session • Materials must be counted when returned every day

20. Before You Begin Testing

21. Before Testing • Prepare classrooms – • Remove or cover content related materials • Arrange seating to limit cheating opportunities • Plan for students who finish tests quickly and need something to do while the rest of the class is working • Plan for accommodated students – make sure teachers are aware of which accommodations students receive • Make sure all students in a “read-to” group have the same Form of the test, and the teacher has the same Form test booklet to read from

22. Prepare Answer Documents • Information coded on answer documents must be accurate and complete. Incorrect coding could have an effect on your school’s AYP! • There will be 3 bar-coded labels for each student: • Use one on the answer document • Use one on the test booklet • If a label is incorrect, DO NOT USE! • Don’t try to correct or mark through labels • Don’t try to remove labels

23. Prepare Answer Documents • Bubbling will not override student information on the label • If a label is applied incorrectly, the answer document must be voided and a new one bubbled • If a label is applied for a student who has withdrawn, or information on the label is incorrect, you can cover the label with ONE additional label • DO NOT apply more than two labels to an answer document

24. Direct All Students to Fill in the Following and Check for Accuracy • Section 1: Print name, teacher, school, system • Section 9: Form number

25. All 6th and 8th graders fill in school code. • Section 15: Local Coding – Elementary School Code (6th grade) • High School Code (8th grade)

26. All Students: • Back of Answer Document: Print name, teacher, school, system

27. During Testing

28. During Testing • Teachers must follow all administration directions • No cell phones or other electronic devices allowed • Tests are strictly timed • Students must be allowed 45 minutes per session, and can have up to 70 minutes if needed • Students should have a 10 minute stretch break between sections • Be sure that students use the same test booklet each day of testing – use a label!

29. During Testing • Be sure students have their own answer document each day of testing • Be sure that students bubble in the Form of the test they used • Teachers and proctors must move around the room and monitor students constantly during testing • Directions can be repeated if necessary, but follow the script • Be sure that special education, Section 504, ELL, and ELL-M students receive their specified accommodations, and only those accommodations

30. During Testing • Students may write in test booklets in pencil only • Highlighters are not allowed • Reading passages may be in the test booklet twice if there are numerous questions related to that passage • No calculators are allowed for any part of the Math test • Students are allowed to use scratch paper during the Math test only

31. During Testing • Scratch paper must be provided by the teacher and collected after testing • Either plain paper or lined notebook paper can be used for scratch paper – no graph paper • Students must initial or sign the Student Roster each day of testing • The Form number each student used must be listed on the Student Roster • Report any unusual situations or incidents to the school test coordinator immediately

32. Read-To Accommodations • Test Examiner’s Manual contains specific instructions on pages 9-11 for reading the test to students with read-to accommodations • Any teacher administering the test to students with read-to accommodations must follow those directions • May read test items and answer choices two times • Only read the reading passages of the Reading test one time to students with this accommodation • Do not rearrange the order of the text in any way • Be careful not to provide clues to students • Read abbreviations as written • Specific directions for each content area test

33. Irregularities • Immediately report any irregularities to our office • Teachers and proctors should write up a thorough description of what happened • Fax this to our office along with a Testing Irregularity Form as soon as possible • If further action is needed, we will let you know

34. Real Men(and Women and Children)of Genius Don’t Try This At Your School… Please… I’m Willing to Beg

35. Yes, Someone Really Did This… • 1st grade teacher tore the covers off all of her test booklets – yes, the part where it has the student name, GTID, etc. • 7th grade teacher tore all the answer documents in half along the fold • Teacher left the students unattended while testing to have a smoke in the school bathroom

36. No, I’m Not Making This Up… • Someone made popcorn during testing, burned it, and set off the fire alarm • Student stuck their gum inside the answer document - it jammed the scanners and temporarily shut down scoring • Students had to be evacuated from room due to wasps attacking

37. Not Making This Up, Either… • 1st grade teacher thought answers would be transferred to separate answer documents after testing, and allowed students to color, draw pictures, write, etc. in test booklets with markers, crayons, pens…. • Student looked ahead at Math test during ELA test, and copied Math problems on her arm - her entire arm. • Teacher attempted to dry out a wet answer document in the microwave - food bits in microwave melted and burned holes in document.

38. And Then You Have the Parents… • Parent showed up at classroom door during testing, bearing birthday cupcakes • Student transferred from out of state during testing. Parent registered child as a 5th grader and child took 5th grade test. Turns out he was really a 4th grader. • Another student transferred from out of state during testing and parent registered him as a 5th grader. Turns out he was really a 6th grader.

39. And the Winners Are… • Student told teacher that she already knew the answers because her grandmother went over the test with her already (grandmother was a teacher in another system) • Teacher assisted students by paraphrasing questions & answer choices, reading words and phrases to children upon request, explaining meanings of words, and telling students that answers were wrong and to take another look. Also took notes on upcoming test to do a pre-test warm up the next day.

40. MARK YOUR CALENDARS! • APRIL 21 – CHECK-UP DAY • ALL TEST ADMINISTRATORS REPORT TO GUIDANCE FOR ANSWER DOCUMENT CHECKING DURING PLANNING • CHECK BY FIVES

41. Test Results …and 8th Graders Who Don’t Pass

42. Test Results • We hope to receive results in the system around May 7th • We will receive PL1 Rosters and Class Roster Reports first • We will receive early results in electronic form

43. Promotion Requirementsand AYP • 8th graders must pass Reading and Math for promotion to 9th grade • Reading, ELA, and Math for grades 6-8 will be used for AYP • Science for grades 6-8 will be used for Participation Rates for AYP • 1st year ELL students will count toward Participation Rate, but not in AMO

44. 8th Graders Who Don’t Pass • 8th grade students who score in Performance Level 1 on the Reading or Math tests will need to retake that test • 8th grade students who don’t take the test will need to take the Reading and Math tests • The retest will be May 18-20

45. 8th Graders Who Don’t Pass • Students who score in Performance Level 1 again will be retained in 8th grade • Parents can appeal – will require a unanimous decision by the principal, teacher(s), and parent(s) to promote • Students who don’t retake the test will be retained in 8th grade

46. Things You Think You Don’t Have to Say, But…. • The Table of Shame is a real place, not just an urban legend • Teachers have to follow all administration directions, even the ones they don’t like • Move around the room during testing. If you are checking e-mails, playing solitaire, reading the paper, knitting, or sleeping, you aren’t moving around the room • Teachers shouldn’t talk on their cell phones during testing

47. Continued… • Students can’t use their cell phones during testing, either • If the directions don’t say to give the students scratch paper, extra time, whatever – then don’t • If you are the only class that has finished with testing, you should definitely find out why. Right away. • If you are the only class that hasn’t finished testing, and it’s not because you have an extended time group, you should look into this, also.

48. Finishing Up • When a strange, unforeseen situation arises, don’t guess what to do. Get your test coordinator! • It is much easier and takes less time to make sure that students bubbled the Form number on their answer document than it is to dig through boxes to find the test booklet while your test coordinator sits at the Table of Shame. It’s a lot more pleasant when the test coordinator gets back to the school, too.

49. Thank You for being such conscientious professionals! • Great job last year! • Expecting no issues this year! • MANY thanks to Kristin Bendig, Elizabeth Blank, and Kristi Myers for attending district training. Silvia Roll joined them as they unpacked testing materials, affixed labels, counted, and prepared your folders. • I appreciate their experienced advice and hard work!

50. Questions?