Virginia Standards of Learning Test Data for Practitioners

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VirginiaStandards of Learning Test Data for
Practitioners
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What should we be doing with our student-level
data to ensure accuracy?

• VERIFY the accuracy of the student-level data
  provided (Pre-ATP)
• CONFIRM the record changes have been completed
  (Post ATP)

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How should we complete these steps?

• 1. VERIFY the accuracy of the student-level data
  provided (Pre-ATP)
• Use the two separate data sets for each group of
  tests (paper/pencil online data)
• Preliminary Student-level Data CD-ROM (sent from
  HAI)
• Electronic Online Student Data File (downloaded
  from eMS)
• Open the data files to verify questionable data
  fields
• Most commonly changed fields
• Potential problematic areas as identified by the
  division

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How should we complete these steps?

• 2. CONFIRM the record changes have beencompleted
  (Post ATP)
• Use the final data set for each group of tests
• Final Student-level Data CD-ROM (sent from HAI)
• Final CD contains online and paper records
• Open the data files to confirm the accuracy of
  all record changes that were submitted
• Report any discrepancies immediately to VDOE

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What are the file formats and the record layouts?

• Format is a fixed-length or fixed-width text
  file
• Same format for paper/pencil and online tests
• Record layout may vary by test administration
• Different layout for different types of SOL
  tests(EOC vs Gr 3, 5, and 8 vs Content Specific
  History, etc)
• Record Layouts available athttp//www.pen.k12.va
  .us/VDOE/Technology/soltech/RecordLayout/

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Cracking a student-level data file

• Have the record layout document available
• Have the student-level data files available
• Open Microsoft Excel
• From inside Excel, go to File, Open
• Navigate to the location where the data file is
  stored

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Must select File Type of All Files
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Find the filename (.txt or .dat) and select to
open
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Select Fixed-width and click Nextgt
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Refer to the record layout to create desired
column breaks.
Scroll to the right to set all desired breaks and
click Nextgt
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Optional Format columns (i.e. birthday,
etc)Click Finish
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To complete the file

• Insert a row at the top
• Type in column headers (based on the columns
  created when opening the file)
• Save the file as File Type Microsoft Excel
  Workbook
• Sort the file as needed

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Things to Remember

• Record layout will be republished for each test
  administration (Fall, Spring, Summer)
• Different record layouts for different tests and
  different data types
• EOC, Grades 3, 5, 8, Writing, etc
• Student level data, summary data, etc
• Data is sensitive, confidential student data
• Consider which data files (Preliminary or Final)
  are best to use

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• Other options?
• Questions??