Assessment and Accountability: October 2020

Tuesday, October 27, 2020

Alt KPREP

Alternate K-PREP Combined Overview-Attainment Task Training/Quiz to Open

The 2020-2021 Alternate K-PREP Combined Overview/Attainment Task (AT) training and online quiz will be available Monday, Nov. 2. The Administration Guide will be available to print or download on the Alternate K-PREP Resources page. The Overview/AT Quiz is scheduled to open the afternoon of Nov. 2 and will close Wednesday, Feb. 10. The actual training will remain posted to the Alternate K-PREP Training site.

For any questions please contact Kevin O’Hair by email or by phone at (502) 564-4394.

Tuesday, October 20, 2020

ACT training opportunity

ACT Spring 2021 Administration - KDE Policy and ACT Test Administration Training Opportunity

Due to COVID-19, the annual ACT/KDE Face-to-Face Training will be held virtually. District Assessment Coordinators (DACs) should share the following information with high school principals and ACT school test coordinators. ACT school test coordinators or district and school administrators assisting with ACT administration should plan to attend the virtual annual ACT/KDE Test Administration Trainings.

The training session pertains to KDE policy and ACT administration for the spring 2021 administration cycle on Thursday, Nov. 5 (9 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. ET). Representatives from ACT and KDE will be present to provide information and answer questions regarding all aspects of the ACT administration.

Topics will include:

KDE policies
Key Dates
Important Pre-test tasks
Events surrounding test day
Post-test responsibilities
Testing with accommodations

Science Standards Review Committee Opportunity

Q: Where are the applications for Science Standards and Assessment Blueprint Review Committee (RC) and Advisory Panel (AP) located?

A: District Assessment Coordinators (DACs) are encouraged to share with instructional supervisors and science teachers that applications are being sought for the Science Standards and Assessment Blueprint Review Committee (RC) and Advisory Panel (AP).

KRS 158.6453 calls for the Kentucky Department of Education (KDE) to implement a process for reviewing all academic standards and aligned assessments beginning in the 2017-2018 school year. The review process for the Kentucky Academic Standards (KAS) for Science will begin during the 2020-2021 school year.

The KDE is seeking current K-12 classroom teachers and postsecondary educators to participate in this work. Applicants will be required to meet virtually and/or in Frankfort for 5-10 days beginning in the spring semester of 2021, continuing through summer with further meetings possibly taking place in the 2021-2022 school year.

When applicable, selected team members will receive reimbursement for travel expenses and the teacher’s school district will be reimbursed for substitute teacher expenses. Potential applicants are asked to verify the willingness of their school or district to release them for work dates throughout the school year.

The online application will be posted for 30 days. Applications will be accepted through Nov. 12. Selected team members will be notified by Nov. 23.

Questions on this process can be emailed to the Standards Team.

IF YOU HAVE ANYONE AT YOUR SCHOOL WHO IS INTERESTED, PLEASE HAVE THEM CONTACT ME ASAP.

Wednesday, October 14, 2020

Data Review Post Public Release--ENDS October 23

Data Review

A ten-day regulatory data review period follows public release. The final data review period will take place for ACCESS, Alternate ACCESS and Cohort Graduation Rate in the Student Data Review and Rosters (SDRR) application between Oct. 14-23. It is now open and will close on Oct. 23 for new tickets at noon ET. Schools may request individual student changes to 100-day students for ACCESS/Alternate ACCESS, reporting location for Cohort Graduation Rate, request non-participation, mark accommodations and demographics during this data review period in the SDRR application. Student demographics will be editable in SDRR during data review – any underlined field on the student listing will be editable and changes made will be visible onscreen immediately.

The Office of Assessment and Accountability (OAA) will audit the demographic changes that are made in SDRR to ensure accuracy in reporting; the change must appear in IC. Otherwise, the ticket will be denied. Moreover, any demographic changes should match the demographic information in IC as of the first day of the 14-day spring summative testing window. Users will find up to date information, as well as, links to resources for assistance in the Announcements box on the home page of SDRR (including the 100-Day Tool and the Cohort Tool), and in the Help button at the top right of every page within the web application. Also, users may want to utilize some of the IC Reports to Assist in Data Quality.

This data review period is the final opportunity for school and district staff to request changes to individual student information.

IF YOU FIND ANY DATA THAT IS INCORRECT, PLEASE CONTACT ME ASAP (jessica.scheerhorn@nelson.kyschools.us)

Tuesday, October 13, 2020

ACT Spring 2021 Administration Training

ACT Reminder: ACT Spring 2021 Administration - Training Opportunity

Due to COVID-19, the annual ACT/KDE Face to Face Training will be held virtually. District Assessment Coordinators (DACs) should share the following information with high school principals and ACT school test coordinators. ACT school test coordinators or district and school administrators assisting with ACT administration should plan to attend the virtual annual ACT/KDE Test Administration Trainings.

KDE policies
Key Dates
Important Pre-test tasks
Events surrounding test day

Post-test responsibilities
Testing with accommodations

Friday, October 2, 2020

Alternate Assessment Information 10/2/2020

Note: The messages provided in the email today apply only to students at high school who will complete the Transition Attainment Record (TAR), Employability Skills Attainment Record (ESAR) or the Career Work Experience Certification (CWEC).

Career Readiness- Important Updates

The Career Work Experience Certification (CWEC) and the Employability Skills Attainment Record (ESAR) career readiness opportunities for students participating in the Kentucky Alternate Assessment is moving forward for school year 2020-2021. The Career Readiness Database (CRD) is scheduled to officially open Feb. 15, 2021. The CRD is used for score entry for the ESAR and status of completion or attainment entry for the CWEC.

Districts and schools should continue to maintain supporting evidence for ESAR and CWEC in the Career Ready Alternate Assessment Folder (CRAAF). Refer to the Working with Exceptional Children in CTE web page on the KDE website for additional resources, including ESAR and CWEC Administration Guides and District CWEC Checklist. Additional ESAR and CWEC training videos and WBL guidance for CWEC are forthcoming in October. Please continue to check the Kentucky Alternate Assessment Program (KAAP) website for updates and scheduled opening dates of trainings and quizzes.

For any questions regarding the Career Readiness opportunities for alternate assessment students please contact Kiley Whitaker or Sherri Craig in the Office of Career and Technical Education.

TAR Training/Quiz to Open

The online training and quiz for the TAR will be available the afternoon of Monday, Oct. 5. The TAR is administered to students participating in the Kentucky Alternate Assessment in place of the ACT. The links below provide access to the different materials necessary to complete the TAR training and quiz. These materials will all be available beginning on Oct. 5.

TAR Administration Guide: Alternate K-PREP Resources

TAR Training: Alternate K-PREP Trainings

TAR Quiz: Online Training System

TAR Document (Only available after a successful completion of the quiz):

Online Training System

For questions please email Kevin O’Hair or call at (502) 564-4394.

TAR Administration to Begin Oct. 5

The TAR is a checklist style assessment required for students in grade 11. The TAR can also be provided to any grade 12 or grade 14 student who did not meet benchmark at grade 11. The TAR is available for administration beginning Oct. 5 and will remain open until May 28, 2021. The assessment may be completed by the review team at any time during this period.

For questions please email Kevin O’Hair or call at (502) 564-4394.