Washoe County School District

A Primer for Testing: Policies and Professional

Expectations

2014-2015Department of Assessment

Revision Posted: 11/14/14 – Slides 33 & 40 “Calculators” Clarification

The mission of the WCSD Department of Assessment is to maximize

student success on the Pathway to College and Career Readiness by

promoting, monitoring and supporting a balanced assessment system…the department provides valid and

reliable data from multiple measures to inform curricular and

instructional decisions and facilitates the judicious use of assessment information by a

variety of users to answer questions about student progress.

MISSION STATEMENT

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Mandatory Training for ALL School Personnel Involved with Testing

➠ This presentation is meant to be an overview of the contents of the Primer; however, the Primer must be read in its entirety.

➠ The principal or his/her designee will annually review A Primer for Testing with all staff members who assist with testing and/or handle secure test materials.

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Statement of Responsibility

➠ All certified and classified personnel concerned with assessment must be familiar with the policies and professional expectations contained within the Primer.

➠ Those receiving the training must verify that they have received this training by completing the “Acknowledgement of Professional or Classified WCSD Personnel” found in the Primer.

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Changes, Changes, Changes

Do not rely on previous experience for the administration of any state assessment.

Your professional responsibility includes a thorough reading and understanding of each specific test administration manual.

ASK QUESTIONS!!! Consult with Student Support Services (IEP), Departments of ELL (EL), Counseling (504), & Assessment

test delivery, timing, accommodations, supports, permissible tools, content, accountability…

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• All Accountability assessments are administered in the spring of each year with the exception of the October administration of the HSPE to 11th & 12th graders.

• All state assessments must be administered ONLY to eligible students as posted in IC.

• Not Shown: National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), and local assessments.

State Assessment Program 2014-2015Gr 3-4 Smarter Balanced or NAA – ELA and MathGr 5 Smarter Balanced or NAA – ELA and Math; Science or NAA

ScienceGr 6 Smarter Balanced or NAA – ELA and MathGr 7 Smarter Balanced or NAA – ELA and Math; EOC Math I (course

eligible)Gr 8 Smarter Balanced or NAA – ELA and Math; Science or NAA

Science; EOC Math I and/or Math II (course eligible)High

School

End-of-Course Exams – Math I & II, ELA I & II (Grades 9 & 10 only)HSPE Math, Reading, Science & Writing (Grades 11 & 12/AD only)CCR – ACT Plus Writing(Grade 11 only)CTE for Course Completers

K-12 English Language Proficiency Assessment (ELPA) or Alternative ELPA

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Administration & Participation The Nevada Department of Education

prescribes the specific date or range of dates on or during which an examination or examinations will be given.

Nevada Revised Statutes (NRS) requires that all students enrolled in grades for which a state-mandated test is given participate.

Schools will provide appropriate accommodations on all state tests for IEP and students with a Section 504 plan as outlined in their accommodations form.

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NAEP: The National Assessment of Educational Progress

All Nevada schools that are selected by the National Assessment Governing Board for participation in the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) MUST participate (see NRS 389.012).

NAEP does not provide scores for individual students or schools; instead, it offers reports for the entire state based upon a sample of student populations.

NAEP is conducted at selected schools in grades 4, 8, & 12. 8

Parent/Guardian Notification

All school administrators and teachers must communicate with the parents/guardians of affected students at least one month before the administration of a large-scaleassessment.

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Purposes of the Assessment Program

▸ Support Envision WCSD 2015 Strategic Plan, school improvement plans, and Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS).

▸ Inform school and classroom decisions on differentiated instruction and intervention.

▸ Track statistical data longitudinally.

▸ Gather and report data that are accurate, meaningful, and professionally sound.

▸ Fulfill accountability requirements.10

Personnel

All individuals involved with the testing process must be trained

Classroom test administrators must be licensed

Proctors may be unlicensed, but may not be left alone w/students or secure test materials

The test administrator is responsible for all testing activities at the classroom level

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Timing the Examinations

Specific test administration manuals dictate the timing options for each assessment in the WCSD Assessment Program, which includes all assessments prescribed by the Nevada Department of Education.

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Breaks A restroom break should be provided

prior to test administration. Breaks taken during untimed and

timed test administrations must be closely supervised, and peer interaction is prohibited.

Document all persons entering and exiting the testing room; include time.

Limit breaks during testing except for students taking the NAA; they may take as many breaks as necessary.

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Timing Continued… Additional time, if allowed, must be provided for

any student who is working productively at the end of the district-prescribed times.

Students must not interact with peers during transitions and must be accompanied by trained, licensed staff.

Licensed staff must transport secure test materials.

Students needing extra time must not be excused to another class, lunch, recess, or other school activity prior to completion of testing.

Students may not return to a previously-administered section or part of a paper-based assessment and other single-day administration tests after an unsupervised break or on a subsequent day.

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Procedures

Test Administration

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DISCLOSURE OF TEST CONTENT

IS STRICTLY PROHIBITED

BY STATE LAW16

DO NOT READ, REVIEW, LOOK AT, COPY OR TAKE

NOTES ON TEST CONTENT

DO NOT PHOTOGRAPH, RECORD, OR TRANSMIT ANY

PART OF A TEST OR TESTING SESSION*

*Does not apply to the video recording of NAA test sessions.

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Procedures: TEST MANUALS Read each administration manual

thoroughly prior to each test administration.

You are responsible for complying with the contents of these manuals.

The manuals must be distributed well in advance of each test administration.

Follow only the script provided for the test administration. 18

Procedures: IN THE TESTING ROOM

A minimum of one (licensed) Test Administrator for every 30 students must be assigned to each testing room.

Students who are not participating in a specific test and parents/guardians must not be allowed in the testing room.

Document all individuals in the testing room (students & adults), including persons entering at any time; note the time (enter/exit, start/finish). 19

Procedures: TRANSLATION PROHIBITED

Translation by the test administrator or proctor of any test material (directions, passages, questions, answer choices) into another language is prohibited during test administration.

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Procedures: TEST ITEM CONCERNSIf a student has concerns about a test item:

1) Without reviewing the item – test administrator records ONLY the test subject, grade level, item number, and test booklet version or the student’s name and session ID for computer based assessment and submits information to testing coordinator

2) Test coordinator reports information to district assessment director

3) District assessment director reports information to the state

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Procedures: ACTIVELY CIRCULATE Ensure that students are on task and

working and responding in the correct section of the test.

ATTEND TO STUDENTS throughout the session and do not engage in other distracting activities.

DO NOT provide assistance of any kind beyond making certain that students understand the instructions, in ENGLISH, for taking the test. 22

Procedures: SECURE TEST MATERIALS At no time before, during or

after testing, shall students be left unattended with testing materials or unlicensed personnel, nor shall examination materials be left unattended, unless locked and secure.

In other words,

SUPERVISE STUDENTS AND

KEEP TEST MATERIALS SECURE

100% of the TIME!

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Procedures: PERMISSIBLE MATERIALS Students may not access any

additional instructional/support materials unless specified by their testing accommodations or designated supports.

Students may not access personal materials during testing.

Arrange to have permissible materials available for distribution to students prior to testing.

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Procedures: TRACK ALL MATERIALS Test booklets are not to be distributed

until the prescribed date for each examination.

Each time secure test materials change hands the materials must be counted and the count shown on a time-stamped sign-in/sign-out sheet and must not be left unsupervised.

In short, ACCOUNT FOR ALL TEST MATERIALS AT ALL TIMES!

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Procedures: Distributed = CollectedAll testing materials, including test

booklets, writing prompts, student responses, HSPE formula sheets and scratch paper, must be collected by the test administrator and accounted for before a student is allowed to leave the testing area for any reason.

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Procedures: Test Materials Return Upon completion of testing each day,

all materials must be returned in person to the appropriate test coordinator in a timely manner and not later than the end of the school day on which the examination is administered.

WCSD EXCEPTION: NAA materials may be stored in the test administrator’s room/office if they can be secured in a LOCKED cabinet. 27

NO ELECTRONICS!Students and Test Administrators

Inform students in advance☞ NO electronic devices (also

applies to Test Administrators/Proctors)• unless a student has an

accommodation plan that allows a specific permissible device

☞ Unauthorized possession of a non-permissible device is grounds for invalidation of scores

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Procedures: EARLY FINISHERS

Students who finish early – may read paper materials only

>> NO E-READERS <<test materials must be collected

prior to a student accessing reading materials

Pencil-and-paper activities are prohibited (no writing or drawing)

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Testing Students with Special Needs

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Students with Special Needs All students must participate Students who are receiving special

education or have a 504 plan, may be afforded accommodations or opportunities to take the NAA

Students who do not meet the above criteria must test under regular conditions*

*Designated Supports, documented by a team of educators, may be afforded to all student populations. 31

Identify: Students with Special Needs

All teachers and staff members at each school are required to assist the principal in ensuring that all students with special needs receive appropriate accommodations and/or designated supports.

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Embedded Universal Tools – available for students taking computer-based administrations in grades 3-8; part of the technology platform

Non-Embedded Universal Tools – for all students taking the Smarter Balanced and EOC exams; not part of the technology platform

Universal Tools

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*Calculators as a Testing Accommodation: Basic free-standing, 4-function or scientific, non-graphing/non-

programmable… HSPE – IEP only

Special features free-standing (Braille, talking scientific) for use on approved math items…Grades 3-8 (not already supported by platform-embedded technology), EOC–IEP/504 only; HSPE–IEP only

Designated Supports

Designated Support features are permissible for use by any student for whom the need has been identified by a team of educators.

Designated Supports must be identified prior to test administration.

Decisions made by professionals familiar with the student and trained in supports available for the specific assessment. 34

Designated Supports - FORMS The NDE Designated Supports for

Testing Students in EL Programs form is sent to schools for each eligible EL student as determined by the WCSD Department for ELL

For all general education, IEP, and 504 students using designated supports, document using the Designated Supports for Students in Washoe County School District form

☞Test Coordinator retains copies of all forms for testing

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Designated Supports…continued Embedded Designated Supports –

available to students taking computer-based administrations in grades 3-8 for whom the need has been identified prior to test administration; part of the technology platform

Non-Embedded Designated Supports – available to students for whom the need has been identified prior to test administration; use with Smarter Balanced and EOC exams; not part of the technology platform

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Accommodations Accommodations are only for students

whom the accommodations are included on an IEP or 504 plan

Selected accommodations should be used during the regular instructional day in the classroom

Accommodations are specific for each student

A testing accommodation form must be attached to the IEP or 504 plan

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Accommodations…continued Embedded Accommodations – for

students with accommodations included as part of an IEP or 504 plan who are taking computer-based administrations in grades 3-8; part of the technology platform

Non-Embedded Accommodations – for students with accommodations included as part of an IEP or 504 plan who are taking the Smarter Balanced and EOC exams; not part of the technology platform 38

Document: Designated Supports and Accommodations

Lists of students with special needs and their specific Designated Supports and Accommodations, updated for each test or examination, must be prepared and provided to all test administrators who will be administering a test to those students.

☞ Test Coordinator retains copies of all forms for testing

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Calculators: Clarification Use varies by test! Consult specific

state/district test manuals for guidance When allowed as a universal tool, or as an

accommodation, calculators must meet test specifications and are used only on calculator-approved math items

HSPE – Accommodation only: free-standing; 4-function or scientific, no graphing/programmable

EOC – Non-Embedded Universal Tool: free-standing; 4-function or scientific, no graphing/programmable

Grades 3-8 – Embedded Universal Tool: part of platform; available for pre-determined math items

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American Sign Language (ASL)

If included in the IEP and regularly used by the student for translation of written information: Glossaries, hard copy (paper) only

– Must be word-to-signed symbol styleRandom House Webster’s

• Concise ASL Dictionary• Pocket ASL Dictionary

Collins, ASL Concise Dictionary

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Bilingual Dictionaries Bilingual Dictionaries

–Glossary style, word-to-word translation only• BilingualDictionaries.com

(recommended)

• Must be hard copy (paper) only

–Permitted ONLY as directed by specific exam (see permissible materials).

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Accommodations… Note! Teachers providing read aloud

assistance to students must sign the confidentiality agreement prior to test administration.

Students given “Modifications” will be counted as non-proficient and not participating.

Accommodations allow access to the assessment without compromising

validity; Modifications alter the scope of what is being assessed. 43

HSPE: Read Aloud Clarification HSPE Math and Science tests ONLY

IEP, 504, EL studentsWords may be read aloud, ENGLISH

ONLYNO symbols (including numerals)NO paraphrasing, elaborating or

explainingNever read any part of the HSPE

Reading test aloud to a student in any language

“Test” includes passages, questions, answer choices (everything beyond the TA script)

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Computer-based Assessment Read Aloud Clarification

Computer-based assessments Text-to-Speech Designated Support

- Math stimuli and ELA items only- Not for reading passages- This support may impede the performance of students who do not regularly have the support during instruction

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Computer-Based Accommodation for Text to Speech reading passages Only allowed for grades 6-8

—Accommodation is appropriate for a very small number of students (1%)

—Student need must be documented in IEP or 504 Plan

Computer-Based Assessment Read Aloud Clarification…

continued

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Accommodation: Alternate Response Mode

Students whose 504 plans or IEPs call for it may use a touchpad, keyboard, or Braille writer for hand-written responses*

*If administering the HSPE writing test under these conditions: complete and submit the Certification of Proper Use of

Keyboard or Braille Writer form with the student’s answer document

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WCSD Local Assessments

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District-level examinations may vary significantly in rules and procedures from State tests.

Administrators and staff must carefully read all guidelines and resources that accompany these tests.

District Assessment Program2014-15K, Gr. 1, 2 Developmental Reading Assessment 2 [DRA2+]

Gr. 1-9 Measures of Academic Progress [MAP] – Math Gr. 3-9 Measures of Academic Progress [MAP] –

ReadingCourse-specific

High School Math Common Finals : Algebra 1, Algebra 2, Algebra 2 Honors, Geometry, Formal Geometry ELL Common Finals (MS & HS)

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WCSD Assessments

The same proscriptions and rules against inappropriate test administrator/proctor assistance and/or tampering with or inflating student scores that apply to Nevada accountability assessments apply to all WCSD Local Assessments.

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WCSD Assessments: MAP and DRA Interim assessments must be

administered within the prescribed testing windows and by qualified & trained test administrators

Plan ahead to ensure full administration to all eligible students, within the testing window.

Retesting is not permitted. Do not use scores from interim

assessments for academic grades.51

WCSD Assessments: COMMON FINALS Secure assessments

Follow security guidelines for Nevada summative tests (security includes storage, distribution/collection, supervision, administration, etc.)

Read and follow WCSD administration guidelines

Read teacher scripts verbatim

Adhere to Administrative Procedure: Final Test Guidelines

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Security & Confidentiality

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Security & Confidentiality: NV / WCSD

The test items, problems, or questions contained in all state-mandated or WCSD-mandated summative tests and the approved answers for scoring them are SECURE and CONFIDENTIAL.

DO NOT GENERALLY CIRCULATE copies of writing test prompts or test booklets, marked answer sheets, or answer keys, except for test administration. This includes electronic circulation. 54

Security & Confidentiality: Ethics

Copying test items, problems, or questions and the approved answers for grading them by any means or disclosure of those items, problems, or questions and the approved answers for scoring them is a breach of NRS provisions, NAC regulations, WCSD testing procedures, and ethical expectations for the professional behavior of all district employees.

Such breaches of testing procedures shall be cause for disciplinary action.

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Student Test Data & FERPA

Reporting and accessing test scores of individual students by anyone other than authorized school personnel, the student’s parent/guardian, or the student is prohibited.

http://www.washoeschools.net/Page/448

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Testing Irregularities

Varying degrees of severity–Administration errors –Security breaches – Interruption of testing

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Irregularities: Report

Immediate notification required by law

– Test Administrators & Proctors: Notify your school principal or test coordinator ASAP

– Test coordinator or principal notifies district office; completes reporting form

– District office notifies Department

Written report submitted to Department within 14 school days

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Irregularities: Follow-up and Document

Detailed narrative – Include student information, if

applicable– Ask questions & obtain as much

information as possible Department is obligated by law to

conduct investigations as it deems necessary

Investigations conducted at school, district, & state levels 59

Irregularities: Possible Consequences

Corrective action administered by the State Department or District

Invalidation of scoresAccountability consequencesLicense sanctions

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Remember

The principal is ultimately responsible for all testing

activities at the school

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Relevant Definitions

The important terms “Classroom Test Administrator”, “Classroom Proctor”, and “School Official” are terms that can refer to teachers and classified school staff. Their full definitions can be viewed in the Primer.

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Primer Contents

In addition to test security procedures, your Primer for Testing includes additional valuable information : An Appropriate Testing Environment

WCSD Emergency Plan During Testing

Testing Students with Special Needs Decision Making Flowchart

NDE Universal Tools & Designated Supports information; Designated Supports & Accommodations Forms

WCSD Assessment Philosophy 63

Next Steps

☞ Read the Primer in its entirety; reference and review throughout the school year (keep for all 2014-2015)

☞ Sign the Acknowledgment form at the back of the Primer and submit to your principal

☞ Review Primer, as well as all applicable manuals, before each major assessment

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Finally…

Don’t make mistakes; when in doubt, ASK your principal or contact Assessment Support

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For More Information

Contact:

Sandra Aird, Director of Assessment

Assessment Support TeamPhone: 348-0248AssessmentSupport@washoeschools.net