Spring 2021 ACT testing information

 

OAA/ACT State Spring 2021 Training Materials

On behalf of the Office of Assessment and Accountability (OAA) and ACT, thank you to everyone who had the opportunity to join the OAA/ACT Spring 2021 State Testing Training on Thursday, Nov. 5.

If the testing staff was unable to attend the training on Thursday, Nov. 5, training and PowerPoint documents will be posted to the Preparation stage of the ACT hosted state testing website as soon as they are available.

Additionally, the KDE/ACT Guidance Document has been published on the KDE webpage.

The guidance document provides answers to many of the questions from the training. Some of the information in the guidance document is general in nature. As information becomes available, OAA will communicate during the ACT/OAA Office hours and DAC communications.

ACT Accomodations training (webinar) now available

 

ACT Accommodations Training Available Soon

ACT offered a training session focused on the accommodations process on Monday, Nov. 2. The content was recorded and will be posted to the ACT hosted state testing website soon.

Important ACT information 11/3/2020

 

ACT PearsonAccess^next (PAN) Opening

On Wednesday, Oct. 28, ACT Test Coordinators (TCs) received an email from NoReplyTestAdmin@act.org, announcing the systems’ required tasks. It also included links to system user guides with more detailed information.

After logging in to the system, TCs will select a test date (deadline: Nov. 30). Select A Date task is a required step in PAN. Failure to select a date could mean students will not receive testing materials. Failure to complete this step also means that the school will no longer receive administrative communications from ACT for the current school year.  

On Thursday, Oct. 29, ACT Test Coordinators (TCs) received an email from NoReplyTestAdmin@act.org, announcing PAN’s opening. District Assessment Coordinators (DACs) were copied on the email. The email message included directions for accessing the systems and completing upcoming tasks.

If School Test Coordinators have changed from the Spring 2020 or Fall 2020 testing cycles, DACs should forward the ACT email to the current Test Coordinator and then change the TC contact information in PAN when it opens on Nov. 2. Directions for changing TCs can be found in the PAN User Guide for ACT or the Managing Contacts video. New DACs that do not have an account in PAN for the ACT should email Shara Savage or call 502-564-4394.

ACT training opportunity 11/5/2020

 

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

Due to COVID-19, the annual ACT/KDE ACT 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 ACT Test Administration Trainings.

The training session will provide information about KDE policy and ACT administration for the spring 2021 administration cycle. The live session will occur 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
• Test day activities responsibilities
• Testing with accommodations

Register for Training: Registration will be open until the morning of Nov. 5. This link will close at 8:45 ET on Nov. 5. I

Alt. Assessment info 11/3/2020

 

Alternate Assessment Students Marked Blind/Visually Impaired (VI) On Individualized Education Program (IEP)

The Kentucky Department of Education (KDE) will provide tactically-enhanced supplemental materials (e.g., maps, graphs) for some grades on the Alternate K-PREP Attainment Tasks (AT) to students who have visual impairments. KDE must verify that the student has VI marked on their IEP. If a student qualifies for these materials, please complete the following tasks:

1. Verify a visual impairment has been clearly marked in the current IEP, and the student is identified as participating in Kentucky’s Alternate Assessment.
2. Include any alternate assessment students in the district who will qualify for VI services in the 2020-2021 Window 1 VI Listing. Save and submit the spreadsheet as your district name-2020-2021 Window 1 VI Listing. Only one list containing all students who qualify for this accommodation should be provided per district.

All submissions must be made to Kevin O’Hair no later than Friday, Dec. 11 to receive these VI materials for the first Alternate K-PREP Attainment Task window. Districts who submit late information will not receive these materials for Test Window 1 (Feb. 15-Mar. 26). For any additional questions or concerns please contact Kevin O’Hair or by phone at (502) 564-4394.