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Student Assessment Listserv

Assessment Update

Tuesday, March 26, 2019
  • Fifteen-Year-Old Students with Disabilities (IEP) in Elementary School Districts
    ISBE had hoped to produce updated guidance about 105 ILCS 5/14-6.01 for the spring 2019 testing season, this issue is deeply connected with other areas, including Evidence-based Funding, special education, and more. As such, it requires careful deliberation and research on intended and unintended outcomes. Previous ISBE guidance that students be enrolled in a high school district as grade 9 students, which was last confirmed in 2014-15 is still in effect. Detailed guidance to assist with spring 2019 is posted now.​
  • ​​​​​​​1st First Year in US Status Students with First Year in U.S. School indicator status “Yes” in Pre-ID are required to take the math, ELA, and science (if applicable to the grade or course) ​assessments. The scores these students receive will not be used in the calculation for district and school accountability. Verify and edit this indicator as needed in the SIS Pre-ID.​​
  • 2018-19 State Assessment Dates
  • Student Assessment Webinar Dates for 2018-19
    The scheduled day and time is Friday from 10 – 11 a.m.
    • March 29​, 2019
    • April ​5​, 2019
    • April 1​​2, 2019
  • Registration - Illinois Assessment Update Webinars – March 29​​, 2019
  • ​Recorded Assessment Webinars​
  • SIS Help Desk – 217-558-3600, option 3

IAR (Illinois Assessment ​of Readiness)

  • Irregularity Report
    Form on https://il.mypearsonsupport.com/ - under Forms
    Send to: https://www.isbe.net/Pages/Home.aspx
    Under System Quick Links – Send ISBE a File
    Or Fax to 217-782-6097
  • NOTE: When requesting a student transfer in Pearson Access Next, please remember to update the student enrollment status in SIS.
  • NEW - When making student transfer requests, some test records will have completed or partially completed tests. If your school receives a student test that is completed (e.g., math), and another test that is partially complete, or not started (e.g., ELA). Leave the completed test (e.g., math) in the transfer session.
  • NEW – Stopping Sessions
    In order to stop a session, all units in the session need to be listed as “Completed," or “Marked Complete." If there is a student test in a session that will not be started (for whatever reason), remove the test from the session. You do not need to mark the units complete if the test is never started.​
  • The IAR Accessibility and Accommodations Manual is posted.
  • ​IAR Administration Forms Posted - look under Forms.​
    Download the form(s) and it will be a fillable document.
  • IAR Test Administration Directions Posted – under Resources​
  • Pearson Call Center - 1-833-213-3879; Monday – Friday 6:00 am - 6:00 pm (CT)​
  • Pearson Support
  • Test Administration Manuals Posted
    The Test Coordinator manual and Test Administrator manual (for computer-administered tests) are posted. The Test Administrator manual for paper-administration will be posted later in the week.
    IAR Training Resources​
  • Recorded Technology Trainings​
    This training will focus on technology preparation activities for the Spring 2019 Illinois Assessment of Readiness including reviews and updates of current system requirements, how to conduct an infrastructure trial, how to set-up and use proctor caching, how to install and manage the TestNav app on different devices, and where to find additional technology resources and support.
    Target Audience: Technology Coordinators​
  • Recorded Test Administration Trainings
    This training will focus on test administration activities to conduct before, during, and after testing including:
    • how to find existing users and create new user accounts
    • how to create and start test sessions
    • how to print test tickets
    • how to order additional materials
    • where to find additional user guides, manuals, and training modules.​​
    Target Audience: District Test Coordinators​
  • ​​Test Window
    • Online Test Administration: March 11 – April 26
    • Paper Test Administration: March 25 – April 26
      • Paper test administration material will arrive in district between March 13 and March 18.
  • ​District/School staff can ProctorCache now.
  • Additional orders can be placed now.​
  • ​District/School staff will be able to prepare sessions from March 7 through April 26.
  • ​​​IAR Schedule of Testing Time and Number of Units
  • Released Items
  • Training Modules
  • ​IAR pre-ID template
  • ​​Students Must Test On Grade
    Beginning in 2019, students must test on grade. Students who have been accelerated in mathematics (for example), will not be able to take a high school course-based assessment (e.g., Algebra I assessment).​

SAT®, PSAT™10, and PSAT™8/9 College Board Assessments

Illinois Science Assessment (ISA)

  • ​Initial Student Test Attempt Data Moving Into IWAS, Assessments
    For students rostered via the SIS process, ISBE will move students into the “Students with a test attempt" list in our IWAS, Assessments System Listing. Each night, ISBE will move student records for those we anticipate score results. The only exception are manually added students. ISBE will not receive the manually added student test records until mid-May. The nightly movement will help identify students in need of RNVTA codes as we move forward. ISBE will not calculate Participation Rates until final scale scores are loaded into IWAS Assessments in late July.​
  • Reminder: Check ISBE Teach Rosters
    Please be sure to check ISBE Teach Rosters before ISA testing begins to ensure high school students have course assignments listed in SIS. ISA uses the course assignment data to roster high school students for the assessment. High school students with no course assignments will be added to the test population and require either a submitted test or a Reason for No Valid Test Attempt. If neither of these are submitted, it will count against the school's ISA participation rate. Slides 31 and 32 provide information on how to identify students with missing course assignments, as well as the process ISBE will follow to default those students onto the ISA roster. Please contact Dan Brown at dabrown@isbe.net if you have questions.
  • 2018 data have posted to the ISA site under the Illinois Science Assessment Results area.
  • KNOWN ISSUE:  When running the updated Windows SEB v2.2.2 for the 2019 ISA, some districts have reported an error that appears when starting the ISA test. The issue is showing as a pop up warning that states there is an "unresponsive script related to the following url: https://breaktechisbetoolbar.spee...m.net/v209/texthelpmain.js​," this warning appears AFTER entering the access code, confirming the student and test name, and starting the test. Item 1 does not appear, and eventually the "unresponsive script" message appears. The solution is to install the 2018 SEB.​​
  • The ISA page was updated Friday, February 8, 2019.
    • Document and Resources updated
    • Assessment Technology Requirements updated
    • SEB installs are posted - except for IPad (coming soon)​
  • ​Test Window: March 1 – April 30, 2019
​

ACCESS​

  • New Webinar:​​ Central Office Service (COS) Transition
    This fall, WIDA and DRC will transition from the Testing Site Manager (TSM) to Central Office Service (COS) to manage testing for ACCESS for ELLs Online and WIDA Screener Online. We encourage test coordinators and district and school technology personnel to join us for any of these upcoming webinars, to learn more about the transition to Central Office Service.
    • Monday, April 8 at 10:00am CT
    • Wednesday, June 12 at 10:00am CT
    • Thursday, August 1 at 10:00am CT
    ​Login information is located on the Q&A WIDA Webinar Schedule and on the 2018-2019 Q&A Webinars for Technology Coordinators schedule. If you are unable to join us, a webinar recording will be posted to the Webinar Recordings page of the WIDA Secure Portal, and linked to on WIDA AMS.​
  • ACCESS & Screener Updated System Requirements
    The Supported System Requirements for ACCESS for ELLs and Screener have been posted to WIDA AMS.  These system requirements are valid for February-April 2019.  A link to the updated system requirements will also be available behind the Technology Coordinators tile in the WIDA Secure Portal.
  • June Writing Academy ​
    Registration is open for the Writing with Multilingual Learners in the Elementary Grades Academy, in Rosemont, Illinois from June 18-19. Academy details and registration link can be found on the U.S.-Based Professional Learning page of the WIDA website.​
  • 2019 WIDA Annual Conference Registration Opens April 1st!
    ​Beautiful fall foliage, a thriving arts community, vibrant and diverse neighborhoods, and a renowned restaurant scene. These are just a few of the many reasons that Providence, Rhode Island is the perfect location for the WIDA Annual Conference which takes place October 15-18, 2019. With so many things to do, your conference experience is sure to be one that you won't forget! Start planning your trip now!​
  • New Release of ACCESS Percentile Growth Charts
    A new edition of the ACCESS Percentile Growth Charts is now available on the Dashboard of the WIDA Secure Portal. The Dashboard is available to District Coordinator account holders. Look for a link at the bottom of the My Portal main page. The login for the Dashboard is the same as for the Portal.
  • Kindergarten Field Test
    WIDA is looking for schools to administer the new Kindergarten Screener to at least 20 students during one or two field testing windows throughout 2019 and early 2020. Kindergarten Screener Field Test flyer
    There are two field test windows.
    • Field Test Window 1: July 29, 2019 through October 4, 2019 for incoming kindergarten and first grade students
    • Field Test Window 2: January 6, 2020 through February 28, 2020 for currently enrolled kindergarten students
    • WIDA will provide all test materials and will work with each field test site to make test administration arrangements.
    • The Kindergarten Screener is delivered individually, on paper.
    • Allow one hour for testing each child. It takes approximately 45 minutes to administer all four language domains.
    • Katie Stenz, kstenz@wisc.edu, 608-263-4444​
  • Administrator Academy: Leading Schools for Multilingual Learner Achievement
    Registration is now open for the WIDA Administrator Academy on June 25-27, 2019 in St. Louis, MO. Academy details and registration link can be found on the U.S.-Based Professional Learning page of the WIDA website.

DLM​

  • Test window:
    The testing window is now open.​
  • Student Uploads
    Students who were not uploaded prior to the data lockdown must be uploaded through a batch upload.  The district test coordinator must request a student upload template. Once this is completed, then the template is submitted through “Send ISBE a File". Information regarding the upload back to the state will be provided to the district test coordinator at the time of the request for the template.
  • Rosters
    Rosters are to be created for English language arts, mathematics and science.
    Students in grades 3-11 will be placed on an English language arts and mathematics roster. Students in grades 5, 8, and 11 only will be placed on a science rosters. Social studies and other are not to be created for any student. Teachers need to verify that all students are placed on a teacher's roster for ELA, math, and science, if appropriate.​
  • Required Training
    Teachers must print out their certificate to ensure that the required training is completed.  Training must be completed in order to complete the First Contact Survey.  Information on how to retrieve your username and password for Moodle can be found on page 6 of the “Guide to DLM Required Test Administrator Training" manual.
  • Professional Development
    DLM will be offering professional development webinars for English Language Arts and mathematics. The third webinar is schedule on March 20, 2019 at 3:30 and it will cover the topic of writing with alternate pencils and DLM core vocabulary and communication. For the best viewing experience, please do not use Chromebooks or the Android app (for Skype for Business). The webinar information is found below:
    https://meet.ku.edu/dlm/BMR1C6ZC
    Number: +1 (785) 864-4545
    Conference ID: 7358027
  • Future Professional Development webinar
    Tuesday, April 16, 2019
    Topics Covered:  Algebraic Thinking and Patterns and Sequence​
  • Recruitment
    DLM is seeking volunteers to participate in events such as testlet development, testlet review, score validation of writing testlets. In previous years, DLM staff had sent out many surveys to complete as part of recruitment.  There is only one survey to take and it takes approximately ten minutes to complete as part of the recruitment process.
    Take the survey now!​
  • DLM Manuals and Resources​ ​​​