Changes/Updates/Reminders Spring 2012

1. Changes/Updates/RemindersSpring 2012 District Test Coordinator Training

2. ReminderLabeling Test Books/Answer Booklets • All test books and answer booklets must have a label applied before the test books are used by students. • Test books/answer booklets that do not have a precode label or district/school label will be considered unused and will NOT be scored. • Manual scoring of test books will be at district expense ($150/per content area).

3. ReminderPrecode Label • Note the HSGQE Retest label includes the HSGQE subtests to be taken. • It is a quick reference for proctors to use. • If only the subtest(s) listed is inaccurate, the label may still be used – this will not impact data collection.

6. ReminderTest in – Enrolled in • Test students in the grade they are enrolled • Returning tenth graders – test on Grade 10 SBA-HSGQE • Necessary for AYP purposes • EED will suppress any HSGQE subtests where student is proficient from prior testing. • True for all grades regarding SBA

7. ReminderHSGQE Waivers • The Late Arrival and Rare and Unusual Circumstanceswaivers require the students take the HSGQE. If they do not pass, they are waived from passing. • The regional school board may not grant a waiver until the student’s final semester of attendance before graduation. • After HSGQE scores are posted, identify students who need the waiver. • Avoid sending in waivers at the start of the year. • If a student passes, rescind the waiver - contact EED if waiver is rescinded. • Passed another state’s competency exam waiver does not require the student take the HSGQE. • Check listing on website (EED provided updated list). • Diligence in determining an equal assessment. • Regional school board can grant at any point of year.

8. ReminderTeacher Use Fields Student refusal is defined as - any student who refuses to start the test. The student did not put pencil to paper.

9. NewAccommodations • Do not use this page for communicating accommodations prior to testing. • It must be completed after testing to capture the accommodations actually used. • LEP accommodations have been updated. • Large Print and Braille are now on the inside.

10. NewParticipation Guidelines • Look for the June 2011 version • Updated accommodations for both LEP and SWD • Updated criteria for student on the Alternate

11. NewParticipation Guidelines • A transitory impairment is an impairment with an actual or expected duration of six months or less. A transitory impairment does not constitute a disability for purposes of Section 504 unless its severity is such that it results in a substantial limitation of one or more major life activities for an extended period of time. • A suggested form for documenting accommodations can be found on the department’s website.

12. NewGrade 10 SBA/HSGQE Field Testing • 7 forms for Writing and Mathematics • 14 forms for Reading • Students DO NOT need to use the same Reading form number as Writing/Math form number. • Most Districts will receive 1 common form in packs of 10. • Big 7 Districts Only • will receive spiraled packs of forms in packs of 10 • School-specific Read-Aloud forms were ordered through eDIRECT’s Enrollment System for the Big 7 districts. Do not pull books from spiraled packs for Read-Aloud purposes.

13. NewAdults taking the HSGQE Retest • A person, including a person older than school age and holds a Certificate of Achievement, may take the High School Graduation Qualifying Examination (HSGQE) after exiting high school until the person passes the HSGQE [4 AAC 06.771]. • Guidance has been created to support the process on the HSGQE website. • Limited English speakers may request accommodations.

14. NewPractice Tests and ACFA • New practice test • Grade 10 SBA/HSGQE • Grades 3-9 SBA reading, writing, and math • Grades 4, 8 and 10 SBA Science • January 13, 2012, the ACFA program was discontinued. If an Alaska school or district is interested in contracting for continued access to ACFA, please contact CAL at 866-406-3850 x125 or info@caltesting.org.

15. NewGrade 12 Return Shipping Labels • Blue grade 12 return shipping labels will be used for boxes containing used grade 12 materials. • For HSGQE, DTC chooses label color based on contents of box. • Use only a blue grade 12 shipping label on grade 12 boxes. • Use only an orange return shipping label for all HSGQE boxes.

16. UpdateDevelopmental Profile • Schools must put the Developmental Profile (DP) on the assessment schedule. • Please put procedures in place this spring to ensure that all kindergarten teachers will be familiar with the DP at the start of the 2012-2013 school year. • All DP materials can be found by selecting the DP link at http://www.eed.state.ak.us/tls/assessment/. • A PowerPoint presentation is available that should take no more than 30 minutes for teachers to review.

17. UpdateNAEP • Superintendents and DTCs will be notified in May 2012 of schools selected for the NAEP 2013 administration for grade 4 and grade 8. (FYI: all large middle schools are always selected for the NAEP) DTCs will need to notify schools that they will be in the NAEP sample. • In June assessment dates will be sent to DTCs. The assessment window for NAEP 2013 is January 28-March 8. For rural schools, these dates are place holders. Dates are not finalized for rural schools until the NAEP Assessment Coordinators start making travel arrangements. • In the fall of 2012 the NAEP Coordinator will communicate with DTCs about information needed for the NAEP 2013 administration.

18. UpdateAlternate Assessment Participation Criteria Updates • Clarification added about parent’s signature (not giving permission to test, but acknowledging that the Alternate is a non-diploma track assessment) • Clarification on WorkKeys assessments for students with significant cognitive disabilities for students in grades 11 and 12 (may be used if the IEP team determines it supports the transitional plan of the IEP) Alternate Assessments Writing Study • A study is being conducted on the alternate assessment writing tests for grades 8 and 10 • Do not shred grades 8 and 10 writing tests (includes scoring protocols, student materials, and any student generated work) • Mentors will organize materials week of April 9-13 and give to DTCs by April 16 • DTCs will prepare materials for shipping week of April 16-29 and ship by April 23

19. UpdateWorkKeys Method of Administration: • Paper Pencil Event Window: November 5 – 16, 2012 • 2 weeks of testing all 3 content areas, pre id labels, all accommodation available, hard copy score reports, labor intensive and stringent guidelines to follow • Internet Testing: August 1 – December 31, 2012 • 5 months to administer, self import, limited accommodations, score reports must be printed (challenging task for Mac Districts), freedom and flexibility administer. • Districts and school must commit to method of administration or hybrid model prior to summer break. WorkKeys Accommodations • The State Board of Education approved the Alaska Supplement for WorkKeys Assessment January 2012

20. UpdateELP Assessment • World-class Instructional Design and Assessment (WIDA): Alaska is now a member of the WIDA Consortium, a non-profit cooperative group of 27 states, involved in the instruction and assessment of LEP students. • The assessment is called ACCESS for ELLs • Proposed exit criteria for limited English proficiency students: Out for public comment through February 27, 2012. pupil obtains, on tier B or tier C of the assessment approved by the commissioner under (c) of this section a (1) composite score of 5.0 or higher; and (2) score of 4.0 or higher in each tested domain – reading, writing, speaking, and listening. • Center for Applied Linguistics (CAL): collaborates with WIDA on developing new test items, conducting research, and providing technical and psychometric expertise to the Consortium. • CAL will work with EED to conduct a bridge study for the new assessment and exit criteria. • MetriTech: is responsible for the printing, scoring, reporting and distributing of all ACCESS for ELLs materials and results.

21. UpdateAssessment Regulations • 4 AAC 06.755(b) High school graduation qualifying examination includes start time and clarity for student entrance and departure at center. • 4 AAC 06.758 Results for SBA and HSGQE may be distributed to teachers no later than the first day during which school is in session in the next school year. • 4 AAC 06.761 Test administration; this is a new section to clarify test center requirements. • 4 AAC 06.765 Test security has been updated to reflect training requirements and the inclusion of WorkKeys. • 4 AAC 06.776(b) Assessment of a student with limited English proficiency has been updated to provide clarity regarding team combination for decision making. • 4 AAC 06.830 Subgroups; the definition for multi-ethnic students is replaced with “students of two or more races” and former LEP included in calculations for two years. Public Comment • ELP Assessment exit criteria • Proposed English language arts and mathematics standards

22. ChangesIDEA Requirements • The Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP) contacted EED January 3, 2012, requiring the state report the number of children with disabilities in regular assessments who were provided accommodations in the HSGQE and TerraNova. • 2012 HSGQE accommodations will not be collected • 2012 TerraNova accommodations will be collected from SBA testing. • Districts with accommodation data can send to Karen Lipson at the department karen.lipson@alaska.gov • 2013 HSGQE accommodations will be collected in the Participation Rate file • 2013 TerraNova accommodations will be collected during TerraNova testing on the bubble sheet.