District Testing Coordinator Training

1
District Testing Coordinator Training
It is the vision of Region 8 ESC to develop a
district-wide systemic culture to sustain a
high-performing learning community.
January 2009
"It is the mission of Region 8 ESC to create
partnerships between school districts, teachers,
school board members, universities and community
colleges, community members and business leaders
to provide quality services for school
improvement that will prepare students to cope
with the challenges of the future."
2
Tiffany Easley (TAKS) District and Campus
Coordinator Manual (A) Accommodations
(B) Dyslexia Bundle (C) Online Testing
(D) Test Security (E) 1145-100 LUNCH Karen
Thompson (Assessment of English Language
Learners) LAT (F) TELPAS (G)
Welcome and Introduction
3
January 2009
Please Note This Training Does NOT Take the
Place of Reading the Appropriate Manuals.
4
Changes to Manuals
Tab A
5
January 2009
Whats new about the 2009 District and Campus
Coordinator Manual?
Telephone Assistance/Reference Sources Guide to
the 2009 Coordinator Manual Calendar of
Events TELPAS LAT Appendix
6
January 2009
Whats new about other manuals?

• TAKS General Test Administrator Manual
• TAKS program general information
• TAKS test administration calendar
• Test security and confidentiality
• Test administrator responsibilities
• Appendices
• Nine grade-specific Test Administration
  Directions
• 2009 District and Campus Coordinator Manual
  Supplement
• Guides and training tools for online testing
• Policies and processes specific to online testing
• Information for planning the world geography EOC
  field test
• Program-specific information for testing
  coordinators

7
January 2009
Policy changes for 2009
Two test administrator oaths, one following
general training and one following
administration-specific training and test
administration Extension of honor statement to
students taking TAKS-M in grades 9-11 Extension
of SSI to students taking TAKS-M reading in
grades 3, 5, and 8, and TAKS-M mathematics in
grades 5 and 8 Reading test questions and answer
choices aloud no longer required for TAKS-M
reading tests ARD committees may determine a
need for this accommodation
8
January 2009
Policy changes for 2009, continued

• Changes to TAKS-Alt assessment
• reducing number of required essence statements
  from 6 to 4
• standardizing assessment tasks with accompanying
  pre-determined criteria
• Keeping observation documentation locally
• Automating online scoring
• Shortening assessment window (January 5 April
  10, 2009)

9
January 2009
Policy changes for 2009, continued

• TELPAS
• Extension of assessment window from 4 to 5 weeks
• Administered almost exclusively online student
  information will be transmitted through an online
  process
• TELPAS Manual for Raters and Test Administrators
  replaces former separate TELPAS reading test
  administrator manual and TELPAS rater manual
• Paper test booklets and answer documents will not
  be shipped automatically district coordinators
  will order these through a special orders process

10
January 2009
Policy changes for 2009, continued

• LAT administrations of TAKS-M reading/ELA will
  occur at the time of other LAT reading/ELA
  administrations in late April
• Changes to answer documents
• The labels for the bubbles to indicate English or
  Spanish in the TEST TAKEN INFO field have been
  changed from E and S to EN and SP for
  TAKS grades 3-6 answer documents
• Additional bubble added to the LAT INFO field of
  TAKS and TAKS-M answer document for rare
  situation in which approved linguistic
  accommodations were available but none used
  (Note This bubble should NOT be marked if a
  student uses any of the approved accommodations.)

11
January 2009
Policy changes for 2009, continued
Beginning in 2009, district and campus personnel
may submit Accommodation Request Forms using an
online process Distribution schedules for TAKS
and TAKS-M manuals have been modified. TAKS
General Test Administrator Manual will be sent in
separate shipment in early January.
Grade-specific TAKS Test Administration
Directions and TAKS-M Test Administrator Manuals
will be sent in nonsecure shipment for first
spring testing administration for each respective
grade level No stand-alone field-test
administrations for TAKS or Spanish-version TAKS
or TAKS-M
12
January 2009
Useful documents on Student Assessment Website

• 2009 District and Campus
• Coordinator Manual
• 2009 District and Campus
• Coordinator Supplement
• General Test Administration Manual and
• Test Administration Directions
• 2008-2009 Test Security Supplement
• 2008-2009 Accommodations Manual
• 2008-2009 ARD Manual
• LPAC Manual
• TAKS-M, LAT and TELPAS test administrator manuals

• DBA instructions
• Online Accommodation Request Form
• Alternate Test Date Request Form
• Online Incident Report Form
• Corrective Action Plan template
• Locally Determined Disciplinary Actions Form
• Studenta e-mail
• FAQs

13
Accommodations
Tab B
14
January 2009
Key Changes to the Accommodations Manual
15

• LAT
• Detailed information regarding the LAT process
  for eligible ELLs, including those receiving
  special education services, is now available in
  section of this manual entitled Linguistically
  Accommodated Testing (LAT)
• TELPAS
• Accommodations for students taking TELPAS
  reading tests in grades 2-12 now included in
  this manual ?

16

• Reorganization and Addition of New Appendices
• Participation requirements for certain state
  assessments (Appendix A)
• Eligibility criteria for specific
  accommodations (Appendix B)
• Teacher tools that districts have the option of
  using if needed (Appendix C)
• Expanded information about the accommodation
  request process (Appendix D)
• General instructions for administering braille
  and large-print tests (Appendix E)
• List of supplemental aids allowed for TAKS
  (Accommodated) without submission and approval
  of Accommodation Request Form (Appendix F)
• New appendix regarding administering tests to
  students who are deaf or hard of hearing will be
  posted separately at a later date ?

17

• New Accommodations Policy Changes and
  Clarifications
• Policies changed and clarified as part of
  ongoing efforts to improve access to state
  assessments for all students
• Implemented with the spring 2009
  administrations
• Should result in a significant reduction of
  Accommodation Request Form submissions ?

18
January 2009
Key Changes to Accommodation Policy
19

• TELPAS Administrations
• TELPAS reading tests for grades 212 will be an
  online administration only
• An Accommodation Request Form must be submitted
  for rare instances when a paper administration
  may be necessary because an accommodation is not
  available in an online administration
• When a paper administration is approved,
  districts will follow a special orders process
  to obtain test booklets and answer documents.
  Details about this process are found in the
  Coordinator Manual and training slides for ELL
  assessments ?

p. 2 Accom. Manual
20

• Large Print Materials
• No changes to policy
• Separate eligibility page has been deleted and
  information has been included in the
  Accommodations by Category chart
• Accommodation Request Form is not required if a
  student has a visual impairment and routinely
  uses large-print materials in the classroom ?

p. 25 Accom. Manual Appendix E
21

• Reading Aloud Questions and Answers on TAKS-M
  Reading
• An accommodation beginning this year and no
  longer a required part of test administration
• Applies to Grades 3-9 Reading and the reading
  section of Grades 10 and 11 ELA
• Not necessary to convene a special ARD
  committee meeting to address this accommodation,
  but at next scheduled meeting ARD committees
  must determine whether this accommodation is
  necessary for all test questions and answer
  choices or only as needed per student request
• Accommodation Request Form is not required ?

p. 3 27 Accom. Manual
22

• Sign/Translate Directions
• Included once again as an allowable
  accommodation
• No policy changes
• Directions given orally before or after test
  may be signed to a student who is deaf or hard
  of hearing or translated into the native
  language of a student with limited English
  proficiency
• An Accommodation Request Form is not required
• Translating directions into native language of
  student is not considered an accommodation for
  an ELL taking TELPAS reading ?

p. 28 Accom. Manual
23

• Other Methods of Response
• Clarifying language included to explain role of
  scribe during different administrations
• Written composition
• Open-ended reading responses
• Computation and notes ?

p. 29 Accom Manual
24

• Spelling Assistance
• This accommodation not allowed on revising and
  editing
• This accommodation applies only to written
  composition (4 7 writing, 10 11 ELA) and
  open-ended reading responses (9 reading)
• TAKS (Accommodated) and TAKS-M
• Grade 4 word lists allowed per ARD committee
  decision and no Accommodation Request Form
  required
• Grades 7, 9, 10, 11 various types of spelling
  assistance allowed per ARD committee decision
  and no Accommodation Request Form required ?

p. 30 Accom. Manual
25

• Calculation Devices
• Specific conditions must be met
• Disability affecting math calculation, not
  reasoning
• or
• Disability affecting physical reproduction of
  numbers
• TAKS (Accommodated)
• Accommodation Request Form required for grades
  3-6 mathematics and 5 science
• ARD committee decision and no Accommodation
  Request Form required for grades 7-8
• TAKS-M
• ARD committee decision and no Accommodation
  Request Form required for 3-8 ?

p. 31 Accom Manual
26

• Supplemental Aids
• Student must be able to understand content but
  needs assistance recalling some of it
• Must be a tool cannot provide direct answers
  to the TEKS being tested
• Separate appendix lists aids that are allowable
  for eligible students for TAKS (Accommodated)
  without an Accommodation Request Form
• TAKS (Accommodated)
• Accommodation Request Form required for all
  grades if the aid is not listed in appendix of
  manual
• TAKS-M
• ARD committee decision and no Accommodation
  Request Form required for all grades ?

p. 32, Appendix F Accom Manual
27

• Manipulatives
• Assists students with visualizing abstract
  concepts
• Must serve as a tool manipulative cannot
  provide direct answers to the TEKS being tested
• List of manipulatives that are allowable for
  eligible students in the Accommodations by
  Category chart
• TAKS (Accommodated)
• Accommodation Request Form required for all
  grades if the aid is not listed in manual
• TAKS-M
• ARD committee decision and no Accommodation
  Request Form required for all grades ?

p. 32 Accom Manual
28

• Extended Time (2 days to test)
• Clarification to policy only and approved only
  for small number of students in unique
  situations
• Accommodation Request Form required for all
  students taking any assessment
• Prior to submitting an Accommodation Request
  Form, schools should consider other, less
  restrictive accommodations (e.g., individual or
  small-group administration, frequent breaks,
  dividing test into short sections, use of a
  scribe, oral administration if eligible) as well
  as the assessment the student is taking (i.e.,
  format changes, fewer items)
• If a student is approved for two-day testing,
  specific procedures must be followed in order to
  maintain test security and confidentiality ?

p. 35 Accom Manual
29
January 2009
Online Accommodations Request Process
Appendix D Accom. Manual
30

• Online Accommodation Request Form
• District testing coordinators can submit
  Accommodation Request Forms through online
  system (similar to online incident report)
• Open to all districts by December 2008 being
  piloted currently
• Intended to dramatically reduce number of faxed
  or e-mailed requests
• Paper requests can still be submitted ?

31
January 2009
Online Accommodations Request Demonstration
32
Dyslexia Bundled Accommodations
Tab C pp. 41-43 DCCM
33
Dyslexia Accommodations
January 2009

• What are the characteristics of dyslexia?
• Having severe difficulty reading words in
  isolation
• Lacking word-identification skills

34
Dyslexia Accommodations
January 2009

• What are the allowable accommodations?
• Orally reading all proper nouns associated with
  each passage before students begin individual
  reading
• Orally reading all questions and answer choices
  to students
• Extending the testing time over a two-day period

35
Dyslexia Accommodations
January 2009

• What tests can be administered using these
  accommodations?
• Grades 36 TAKS and TAKS (Accommodated) reading
  tests in English and Spanish, including all three
  SSI administrations at Grades 3 and 5
• Grades 7 and 8 TAKS and TAKS (Accommodated)
  reading tests, including all three SSI
  administrations at Grade 8

36
Dyslexia Accommodations
January 2009

• Who is eligible?
• Students not receiving special education services
  who are identified with dyslexia
• Students receiving special education services who
  are identified with dyslexia
• Students receiving special education services who
  have a severe reading disability that exhibits
  the characteristics of dyslexia

37
Dyslexia Accommodations
January 2009
Remember Students in all these eligibility
groups must routinely receive accommodations in
classroom instruction and testing that address
the difficulties they have reading words in
isolation.
38
Dyslexia Accommodations
January 2009

• Who decides which students are eligible?
• For students NOT receiving special education
  services
• The students placement committee as required by
  Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973
• A committee of knowledgeable persons as outlined
  in The Dyslexia Handbook
• All decisions must be documented in writing in
  the students official records in accordance with
  district policies and procedures.

39
Dyslexia Accommodations
January 2009

• Who decides which students are eligible?
• For students receiving special education
  services
• The students admission, review, and dismissal
  (ARD) committee
• All decisions must be documented in the
  students individualized education program (IEP)

40
Dyslexia Accommodations
January 2009

• Some important reminders
• The test administrator MUST administer the
  reading test using all three accommodations as a
  bundled package.
• Campuses should plan for students taking TAKS
  reading with the bundled accommodations to be
  tested individually or in small groups.

41
Dyslexia Accommodations
January 2009

• Some important reminders
• There are separate test administrator
  instructions and proper-nouns lists for TAKS and
  TAKS (Accommodated) for all SSI administrations
  due to the inclusion of a field-test passage on
  TAKS in March as well as differences in
  formatting between the two tests.
• Districts must ensure that the test booklet, test
  administrator instructions, and proper-nouns list
  match for students taking TAKS and for those
  taking TAKS (Accommodated).

42
Dyslexia Accommodations
January 2009

• Some important reminders
• Both students and the test administrator MUST use
  Form 1 for TAKS. There is only one form of TAKS
  (Accommodated).
• A copy of the proper nouns list applicable to
  each grade/language must be distributed to each
  student and the test administrator. Copies of
  these lists must be made using the blackline
  masters provided in each campus box.

43
Dyslexia Accommodations
January 2009

• Some important reminders
• Each question and set of answer choices may be
  read as many times as necessary but cannot be
  rephrased.
• The test administrator must keep his/her voice
  inflection neutral during the reading of test
  questions and answer choices.

44
Dyslexia Accommodations
January 2009

• Some important reminders
• The test administrator will give the test over a
  two-day period and will be provided with explicit
  information about where to stop on Day 1 and
  where to begin on Day 2.
• The test administrator must indicate that the
  student has received a dyslexia test
  administration by marking the DB bubble in the
  accommodations column on the front of the TAKS
  test booklet (grade 3) or answer document.

45
Dyslexia Accommodations
January 2009

• The 2009 Schedule for Grade 3
• March 3?4 Reading
• April 28 Mathematics
• April 29?30 First Reading Retest
• July 1?2 Second Reading Retest

46
Dyslexia Accommodations
January 2009

• The 2009 Schedule for Grade 4
• March 3 Writing
• April 28 Mathematics
• April 29?30 Reading
• Important Note Students taking the
  reading test with dyslexia bundled accommodations
  must take the mathematics test with Form 1.

47
Dyslexia Accommodations
January 2009

• The 2009 Schedule for Grade 5
• March 3?4 Reading
• April 7 Mathematics
• April 28?29 First Reading Retest
• April 30 Science
• May 19 First Mathematics Retest
• June 30 Second Mathematics Retest
• July 1?2 Second Reading Retest
• Important Note Students taking the
  April TAKS reading retest with dyslexia
  accommodations will take the first day of reading
  a day earlier than noted on the calendar. This
  change is necessary to maintain the testing
  schedule for science.

48
Dyslexia Accommodations
January 2009

• The 2009 Schedule for Grade 6
• April 28 Mathematics
• April 29?30 Reading
• Important Note Students taking the
  reading test with dyslexia bundled accommodations
  must take the mathematics test with Form 1.

49
Dyslexia Accommodations
January 2009

• The 2009 Schedule for Grade 7
• March 3 Writing
• April 28 Mathematics
• April 29?30 Reading
• Important Note Students taking the reading
  test with dyslexia bundled accommodations must
  take the mathematics test with Form 1.

50
Dyslexia Accommodations
January 2009

• The 2009 Schedule for Grade 8
• March 3?4 Reading
• April 7 Mathematics
• April 28?29 First Reading Retest
• April 30 Science
• May 1 Social Studies
• May 19 First Mathematics Retest
• June 30 Second Mathematics Retest
• July 1?2 Second Reading Retest
• Important Note Students taking the
  April TAKS reading retest with dyslexia
  accommodations will take the first day of reading
  a day earlier than noted on the calendar to
  maintain the testing schedule.

51
Dyslexia Accommodations
January 2009

• Are students who are absent eligible to take a
  make-up test?
• In March districts may administer make-ups as
  long as they maintain the ship date for scorable
  materials.
• In April districts may administer make-ups as
  long as they maintain the regular testing
  schedule and the ship date for scorable
  materials.
• For the summer administration no make-ups are
  allowed.

52
Online Testing
Tab D pp. 14 18 DCCM
53
March Exit Level RetestsTAKS Exit Level
Mathematics Retest March 4, 2009TAKS Exit
Level Science Retest March 5, 2009TAKS Exit
Level Social Studies Retest March 6,
2009April Exit Level RetestsTAKS Exit Level
ELA Retest April 28, 2009TAKS Exit Level
Mathematics Retest April 29, 2009TAKS Exit
Level Science Retest April 30, 2009TAKS Exit
Level Social Studies Retest May 1,
2009End-of-Course AssessmentsPhysics and World
Geography Field Tests May 422, 2009Algebra
I, Geometry, Biology, Chemistry, and U.S. History
May 1129, 2009July Exit Level RetestsTAKS
Exit Level ELA Retest July 14, 2009TAKS
Exit Level Mathematics Retest July 15,
2009TAKS Exit Level Science Retest July 16,
2009TAKS Exit Level Social Studies Retest
July 17, 2009October Exit Level
RetestsTAKS Exit Level ELA Retest October
20, 2009TAKS Exit Level Mathematics Retest
October 21, 2009TAKS Exit Level Science
Retest October 22, 2009TAKS Exit Level
Social Studies Retest October 23, 2009
54
Online Testing
January 2009
January 29 TETN Session 34754 Online Testing
Overview 130-330 Feb. 4 TETN Session
43498 TELPAS Electronic Submission 130-33
0
55
Security and Integrity of Testing Programs
Tab E
56
Overview
January 2009

• General Security Information
• Whats New in 2009
• Training Reminders
• Testing Irregularities
• Reporting Irregularities

57
General Security Information
January 2009

• Texas Education Code (TEC) Chapter 39, Subchapter
  B
• Texas Administrative Code (TAC) 19 Subchapter
  101, Assessment
• Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974
  (FERPA)
• Texas Penal Code 37.10 - Tampering

58
Whats New in 2009?
January 2009
14-point Security Plan

• Honor statements extended to include
• TAKS-M testers, grades 9 through 11
• Model policy statement
• On-site monitoring

59
Whats New in 2009?
January 2009

• Test Security Supplement
• Includes model policy statement
• Updated to reflect changes in policies and to
  include suggestions from focus group
• Updated to include additional ideas for avoiding
  and addressing common irregularities
• Test administrator oaths
• One to be signed following general training
• Second to be signed following administration-speci
  fic training and after test administration.
  Special section for test administrators who gave
  an oral administration

60
Whats New in 2009?
January 2009
New Language in the Coordinator and Test
Administrator Manuals

• Since 2009 is a designated release year,
  districts may retain a copy of each students
  TAKS and TAKS (Accommodated) composition and/or
  open-ended reading responses for assessments
  administered during the 2008-2009 testing cycle
  (October 2008 through July 2009).
• Test administrators, technology staff, and other
  school personnel who will be present in the
  testing room must sign an oath for each
  administration.

61
Whats New in 2009?
January 2009
New Language in the Coordinator and/or Test
Administrator Manuals

• Document retention - Districts are required to
  maintain the following documents for a period of
  five years following a test administration
• testing irregularity and investigation
  documentation
• inventory and shipping records
• signed security oaths for all testing personnel
  (with the exception of the district testing
  coordinator and superintendent / chief
  administrative officer oaths that are mailed to
  the states testing contractor)
• seating charts

62
Training Reminders
January 2009
What should I emphasize in my training regarding
test security?
63
Training Reminders
January 2009
Before test administration

• Emphasize importance of training and reading
  manuals
• Account for all test materials
• Ensure proper storage of materials
• Verify accuracy of student information
• Verify testing requirements for students
  receiving special education services

64
Training Reminders
January 2009
During test administration

• Ensure each student receives the correct
  assessment and testing materials
• Emphasize and verify active monitoring
• Ensure all testing personnel understand that they
  may NOT
• provide assistance
• view the tests without authorization
• discuss confidential student information
• check for strategies

65
Training Reminders
January 2009
After test administration

• No unauthorized viewing (TEA may permit)
• No scoring of student responses
• No discussion of confidential student information
• No erasing stray marks or darkening response
  ovals
• Account for all test materials

66
Training Reminders
January 2009
Potential pitfalls to avoid

• Assigning untrained staff to administer and/or
  monitor tests
• Failing to inventory test materials
• Having insufficient test booklets and/or test
  administrator manuals
• Not accounting for all test booklets and answer
  documents each day

67
Training Reminders
January 2009
More pitfalls to avoid

• Assigning a student the incorrect assessment
• Failing to give appropriate accommodation(s)
• Improper (or nonexistent) monitoring
• Failing to remind students to record their
  responses and/or failing to verify that students
  have bubbled their answers
• Leaving secure materials unattended

68
Training Reminders
January 2009
Even more pitfalls to avoid

• Improper boxing and labeling of test materials
  for return to Pearson
• Late return of test materials

69
Testing Irregularities
January 2009
If something is going to go wrong, whats it
likely to be?
70
Testing Irregularities
January 2009
Most common irregularities in 2008

• Wrong test administered
• Blank answer document accepted
• Eligible student not tested
• Wrong test form issued
• Failed to detect/prevent improper student
  behavior
• Unauthorized viewing
• Exempt or ineligible student tested
• Unmonitored or improperly secured test materials
• See Common Testing Irregularities handout

71
Testing Irregularities
January 2009
Potential Referral to Educator Certification and
Standards

• Viewing a test before, during, or after an
  assessment
• Hand-scoring student tests
• Discussing secure test content or student
  responses
• Copying secure materials

REMINDER These incidents must be reported to
TEA immediately.
72
Testing Irregularities
January 2009
Potential Referral to Educator Certification and
Standards (cont.)

• Any Action that Directly or Indirectly Assists
  Students with Responses
• Clarifying or translating writing prompt or test
  items (except for LAT administrations)
• Gesturing, pointing, or demonstrating correct
  responses
• Changing student responses
• Providing answers to test questions

REMINDER However well intentioned, these
actions are never allowable or appropriate.
73
Reporting Irregularities
January 2009
Notify the Security Task Force immediately if you
become aware of the following types of
irregularities

• Teacher/test administrator intervention or
  assistance
• Unauthorized viewing, scoring, discussing, or
  duplication of secure material

74
Testing Irregularities
January 2009
Preventing Testing Irregularities

• Train carefully
• Allow adequate time for training
• Issue manuals before training
• Train as many staff as possible
• Monitor observe during testing
• Practice good inventory control at all levels
• Be available for questions

Refer to the 2009 Test Security Supplement for
more tips on preventing testing irregularities.
75
Reporting Irregularities
January 2009
Collecting Documentation

• All irregularities require the following
  documentation to be submitted
• Incident report (via the Online Incident
  Reporting Process)
• Signed statement(s) from individuals involved
  (preferably typed)

NOTE Do not use the Student Assessment Incident
Report Form to submit statements from individuals
involved.
76
Reporting Irregularities
January 2009
Collecting Documentation (cont.)

• As of spring 2008, districts were required to
  report disciplinary actions taken locally against
  educators and/or students
• The Corrective Action Plan should be used to
  report disciplinary actions taken against
  educators
• The Locally Determined Disciplinary Actions Form
  should be used to report disciplinary actions
  taken against students for cheating

77
Reporting Irregularities
January 2009
Common Reporting Errors

• Not contacting TEA when uncertain about how to
  handle an incident
• Not gathering enough information to clearly
  determine what has happened
• Submitting incomplete documentation no incident
  report or statements
• Not submitting the appropriate documentation
  within the requested timeframe

78
Reporting Irregularities
January 2009
Submission of Information
Incident reports may be submitted to TEA online
using following URL
http//www.tea.state.tx.us/student.assessment/admi
n/incidents/online/
For detailed information about using the online
submission process, please refer to the 2009 Test
Security Supplement.
79
Questions Regarding Test Security?
January 2009
80
Accountability Update
81
January 2009
Assessment of English Language Learners
Tab F
82
Linguistically AccommodatedTesting (LAT)

• Grades 38 and 10
• Mathematics
• Reading and ELA
• Grades 5, 8, and 10
• Science

83
Background
January 2009

• LAT involves providing linguistic accommodations
  during TAKS testing to increase test validity for
  recent immigrants learning English
• LAT is used to fulfill federal NCLB requirements
  for testing recent immigrant ELLs who are
  LEP-exempt under Texas law in grades and subjects
  used in AYP calculations
• Though LAT science is required under NCLB,
  science results are not currently required for
  any students for federal AYP accountability

84
LAT Changes
January 2009

• Only a few minor changes since last year

85
Changes
January 2009

• LAT Information in Manuals
• No LAT appendix in coordinator manual. LAT
  planning information is still included, but LAT
  accommodations are detailed in 20082009
  Accommodations Manual
• LAT test administrator manual continues to
  include detailed LAT information

86
Changes
January 2009

• LAT INFO Area on Answer Document
• New Accommodations Available But None Used
  bubble added to LAT INFO area
• Addresses rare situation in which student is
  provided with but does not use LAT accommodations
• Bubble is needed to appropriately report student
  as having participated in LAT administration
• Bubble should not be marked if student uses at
  least one approved LAT accommodation

87
Changes for LAT TAKSM
January 2009

• LAT Scheduling for TAKSM
• LAT administrations of TAKSM will occur at time
  of other LAT administrations
• Therefore, the following LAT TAKSM
  administrations will occur in late April rather
  than March
• reading for grades 3, 5, and 8
• ELA for grade 10

88
Changes for LAT TAKSM
January 2009

• Reading Aloud Test Questions
• Reading aloud questions and answer choices on
  TAKSM reading tests is no longer a standard test
  administration procedure
• Reading aloud test questions is a LAT
  accommodation for reading. Therefore, LPAC and
  ARD committee will decide whether to provide this
  as a LAT accommodation

89
Changes for LAT TAKSM
January 2009

• Dictionary Use
• Dictionaries no longer permitted on revising and
  editing section of grade 10 TAKSM ELA
• Dictionaries are not an allowable LAT
  accommodation for the revising and editing
  section of ELA. Consequently, dictionaries are no
  longer allowable for this section of LAT TAKSM
  grade 10 ELA

90
February 12 LAT TETN
January 2009

• When February 12, 315 to 500 pm
• Purpose To provide review of LAT procedures and
  information for testing coordinators to use in
  training LAT test administrators
• Content To include examples and scenarios and
  how to apply various linguistic accommodations
  opportunity for Q and A

91
January 2009
Review of LAT Administration Procedures
92
Basic Understandings
January 2009

• LAT involves
• grades 3?8 and 10 only
• math, science, and reading/ELA only
• only ELLs who are LEP-exempt under state law

93
LAT Reporting
January 2009

• LAT results are not used for state reporting and
  state accountability purposes
• Students are considered LEP-exempt in campus and
  district summary reports, and in state
  accountability system
• Student-level LAT results are provided

94
Eligibility Differences
January 2009

• Eligibility criteria for math/science vs.
  reading/ELA are slightly different for 1st year
  LEP-exempt immigrants
• LAT math and science
• Given to all LEP-exempt students whether it is
  their 1st, 2nd, or 3rd school year in the U.S.
• LAT reading and ELA
• Given to 2nd and 3rd year LEP-exempt immigrants
• not given to 1st year LEP-exempt immigrants

95
AYP Inclusion
January 2009
Subject Test School Yr. in U.S. AYP Participation AYP Performance
Math LAT 1st ?
Math LAT 2nd and 3rd ? ?
Reading and ELA TELPAS Reading 1st ?
Reading and ELA LAT 2nd and 3rd ? ?
not evaluated for AYP For reading/ELA,
1st-year LEP-exempt immigrants are counted as
participants in AYP through TELPAS reading tests
96
What about LEP-exempt recent immigrants served by
special education?
January 2009

• These students take
• LAT administrations of TAKS, which include LAT
  administrations of TAKS (Accommodated)
• LAT administrations of TAKSM
• ARD committee in conjunction with LPAC determines
  which LAT assessment is appropriate
• This group of students is very small few
  students served by special education are recent
  immigrants

97
What about LAT and TAKSAlt?
January 2009

• There are no LEP exemptions from TAKSAlt
  therefore no LAT
• These provisions arent necessary because of
  design of TAKSAlt
• Observational assessments can be developed using
  any language or other communication method
  routinely used by TAKSAlt student

98
What about LAT and TAKS (Accommodated)?
January 2009

• LEP-exempt recent immigrants served by special
  education take LAT form of TAKS if TAKS
  (Accommodated) is appropriate test form
• Important These students MUST NOT take TAKS
  (Accommodated) form
• Format accommodations on TAKS (Accommodated) form
  are used on LAT form of TAKS
• Students taking LAT form of TAKS receive LAT
  accommodations and special needs accommodations
  allowable with TAKS (Accommodated)

99
LAT Indirect Support Accommodations
January 2009
Math/Science Reading/ELA
Clarification of test directions ? ?
Breaks at request of student ? ?
Testing over 2 days ?
These accommodations are built into testing
procedures for all LAT students
100
2-Day LAT Reading/ELA Administrations
January 2009

• Directions in administrator manual indicate where
  in test booklet to stop at the end of Day 1

101
LAT Math and Science Direct Support Accommodations
January 2009

• Linguistic simplification
• Oral translation
• Reading assistance
• Bilingual dictionary
• Bilingual glossary
• English and Spanish test side by side

See slides at end on key procedural differences
for LAT administrations of TAKSM
102
LAT Reading Direct Support Accommodations
January 2009

• Bilingual dictionary
• English dictionary
• Reading aloud word or phrase
• Reading aloud entire test item
• Oral translation word or phrase
• Clarification word or phrase

Not all of these are allowable for LAT
administrations of writing sections of grade 10
ELA. See manuals for details
103
LAT Schedule
January 2009
Date LAT Test Grades
Mon, Apr 6 Math 5 and 8
Mon, Apr 27 Math 3, 4, 6, 7, 10
Tues, Apr 28 Reading/ELA (Day 1) 38 and 10
Wed, Apr 29 Reading/ELA (Day 2) 38 and 10
Fri, May 1 Science 5, 8, 10
104
Submitting March Answer Documents
January 2009

• For Gr. 3, 5, 8, and 10 reading/ELA, students
  take LAT administrations in April rather than
  March, which gives them additional time to learn
  English
• IMPORTANT L score code must be marked on
  answer documents of these students in March to
  indicate they are LEP-exempt
• Based on this information, precoded materials are
  provided for these students for April LAT
  administration
• For other LAT grades, precoded materials are
  generated through normal process

105
LAT Test Booklets
January 2009

• LAT test booklets are separate forms of TAKS.
  Test booklet covers say LAT
• There is one form of each test
• Remember, TAKS (Accommodated) students who are
  LEP-exempt use LAT form, not TAKS (Accommodated)
  form
• LAT tests cannot be interchanged with TAKS tests
  to resolve booklet shortages
• For LAT administrations of TAKSM, the TAKSM
  test booklet is used. Booklet cover does not say
  LAT

106
Answer Documents
January 2009

• TAKS and TAKSM answer documents are used for LAT
  administrations

Exception A separate LAT answer document is used
for LAT grade 10 ELA
107
Answer Documents
January 2009

• L (LEP-exempt) score code and LAT information
  in LAT INFO and LAT FORM fields MUST be completed
  to indicate LAT administration

108
Answer Documents
January 2009

• Important reminders
• The S score code must NEVER be filled in for
  students taking a LAT test
• The L score code must ALWAYS be filled in for
  LAT administrations ? no exceptions

Emphasize in training
109
Administrator Manuals
January 2009

• One LAT test administrator manual encompasses all
  LAT administrations, with exception of TAKSM

See slides at end on key differences for LAT
TAKSM
110
Secure Linguistic Simplification Guides (LSGs)
January 2009

• Produced for LAT administrations of TAKS math and
  science
• Printed by grade and subject
• No guides for LAT reading/ELA
• May be viewed only during test administration

111
Examples and Scenarios to Use in LAT Training
January 2009

• LAT test administrator manual contains example
  test questions and student scenarios to use in
  LAT test administrator training for TAKS
• Examples and scenarios illustrate ways to apply
  LAT accommodations appropriately during testing

112
Planning for LAT Administrations
January 2009

• Planning for LAT involves
• determining and documenting accommodations
• determining need for individual vs. small group
  LAT administrations
• identifying and training appropriate LAT test
  administrators
• identifying test locations

113
Training LAT Test Administrators
January 2009
LAT test administrators must be trained on
contents of LAT test administrator manual
114
LAT Administration Directions for TAKS
January 2009

• LAT administration directions read aloud to
  students on day of testing are worded more simply
  than TAKS directions
• For all grades, LAT administration directions are
  provided in English and Spanish
• As with TELPAS reading tests, LAT test
  administrators may further simplify directions as
  needed

115
LAT Administration Directions
January 2009

• LAT tests are shorter than TAKS tests because
  there are no embedded field-test items
• Because TAKS answer documents are used for LAT
  administrations in grades 48 and 10 (grade 10
  ELA excluded), students will not use all spaces
  on answer document

116
LAT Administration Directions
January 2009
To address this situation, administration
directions instruct test administrators to say,
for example
Stop when you get to the last page of your
booklet. Your last test question is NUMBER 43.
This is where your test ends. You will not use
all the circles on your answer document.
Number varies by grade and subject
117
Returning Materials
January 2009

• LAT materials are shipped back with regular
  materials
• With the exception of Gr. 10 ELA LAT, answer
  documents for LAT do not need to be submitted
  under separate headers
• For Gr. 10 ELA LAT, a separate header and
  separate ADPL are needed to expedite processing
  because of short timeline for scoring written
  composition and open-ended reading questions

118
Key Procedural Differencesfor LAT
Administrations of TAKSM
January 2009

• 2-day LAT administration of TAKSM reading/ELA is
  optional. LPAC and ARD committee decide in
  advance whether student should complete test in 1
  or 2 days
• Linguistic simplification is allowed, but
  linguistic simplification guides (LSGs) are not
  available. Test administrators follow guidelines
  to make appropriate linguistic simplifications

119
Key Procedural Differencesfor LAT
Administrations of TAKSM
January 2009

• For TAKSM, regular booklet is used. LAT does
  not appear on cover
• TAKSM answer document is used for LAT
  administrations of TAKSM
• TAKSM test booklets and answer documents have
  same number of test questions
• Braille versions of TAKSM are available

120
Key Procedural Differencesfor LAT
Administrations of TAKSM
January 2009

• Spanish versions of TAKSM are not available
• Accordingly, Spanish LAT versions of TAKSM are
  not available, nor is accommodation of using
  English and Spanish tests side by side
• Test administrators use TAKSM manual, which
  contains a LAT appendix examples and scenarios
  to aid in training test administrators are in LAT
  appendix

121
Texas English Language Proficiency Assessment
System (TELPAS)
Tab G
122
Background
January 2009

• TELPAS assesses English language proficiency of
  K12 ELLs in these domains
• Listening
• Speaking
• Reading
• Writing
• TELPAS consists of a multiple-choice reading test
  for grades 212 and holistically rated
  assessments for remaining grades and domains

123
Key Changes
January 2009

• TELPAS assessment window expanded to 5 weeks this
  year
• TELPAS accommodations (for students with special
  needs) are in 2008-2009 Accommodations Manual
• Grades 212 reading tests to be given online no
  paper-based testing except under rare
  circumstances approved by TEA
• New online process for submitting holistic
  ratings and all other TELPAS student data

124
Manual Changes
January 2009

• Coordinator manual contains more complete online
  information for TELPAS
• No separate General Guide to Online Testing
• Manual contains coordinator users guide for
  monitoring online training and qualification
• New combined rater and reading test administrator
  (TA) manual
• Manual contains rater users guide for online
  training and qualification

125
Manual Changes
January 2009

• Administration manuals do not include
  instructions for paper-based testing
• Supplemental instructions for paper testing to be
  posted on TEA Student Assessment site by end of
  January (go to Test Administration Manuals in
  A to Z Directory)
• No supplemental instructions to be shipped

126
Shipments of Materials
January 2009

• No shipment of secure materials
• Nonsecure shipment contains only TELPAS rater/TA
  manual (to arrive 1/51/9)
• Other nonsecure materials to be posted online
• Oaths for district coordinators and
  superintendents
• Standard and optional reports lists
• Optional Reports Order Form

127
Dates for Training on Administration Procedures
January 2009
Test Administration Training For Date
District Coordinators By 1/9
Campus Coordinators Holistic by 1/23 Reading by 3/2
Raters By 1/30
Reading Test Administrators By 3/6
Testing window is March 9April 10
128
January 2009

• Paper-Based Testing

129
2009 Paper-Based Administrations
January 2009

• No test booklets or answer documents to be
  shipped automatically
• TEA approval process to be used to authorize rare
  paper-based administrations
• Once approved, special order process to be
  followed (not normal additional order process)
• Two main categories of rare circumstances
• Unavailable accommodations
• Unavoidable technological problems
• Other types of rare circumstances to be handled
  same way

130
2009 Paper-Based Administrations
January 2009

• Unavailable Accommodations
• Student may need accommodation not available with
  online testing
• In such instances, Accommodation Request Form to
  be submitted by district coordinator to request
  paper testing
• Request to include specific circumstances,
  accommodation, and need
• At least 2 weeks needed for TEA to process
  request about 1 additional week for ordering and
  shipping once approved

131
2009 Paper-Based Administrations
January 2009

• Unavoidable Technological Problems
• Examples certain natural disasters and network
  problems that cant be resolved during testing
  window
• eMeasurement Technical Support to be contacted
  first TEA to be contacted afterward if
  authorization for paper administration needed
• Upon approval from TEA, district coordinator to
  receive instructions for completing special order
  process
• About 1 week needed for shipping once ordered

132
2009 Paper-Based Administrations
January 2009

• Other Rare Circumstances
• Examples situations involving homebound
  students, incarcerated students, childrens
  shelters
• District coordinator to e-mail specifics to TEA
  at ELL.tests_at_tea.state.tx.us in time to allow 2
  weeks for approval and 1 week for ordering and
  shipping
• Upon approval from TEA, district coordinator to
  receive instructions for completing special order
  process

133
2009 Paper-Based Administrations
January 2009

• Keep in Mind
• Paper testing wont be approved on basis that
  student
• knows very little English
• has limited exposure to computers

134
Tips
January 2009

• ELLs should become familiar with reading on
  computers during instruction
• TELPAS tutorials are available to familiarize
  students with TELPAS reading test software
  tutorials contain a few sample items
• Online administration previews are also available
  to increase familiarity
• Grades 312 previews contain entire released 2006
  RPTE tests
• Grade 2 preview contains approximately 20 TELPAS
  reading sample questions
• Tutorials and previews may be accessed from
  online testing Resources page at
  http//www.etesttx.com/resources 

135
2009 Paper-Based Administrations
January 2009

• Holistic Ratings and Other Student Data
• For paper administrations, all student
  information, including holistic ratings, to be
  submitted on paper answer document (or scorable
  test booklet)

136
January 2009

• Online Testing Technology

137
Online Testing Resources
January 2009

• Upcoming slides cover new and key aspects of
  online technology, but there is much more to know
• Key guides
• District and Campus Coordinator Manual
• Technical Users Guide
• TELPAS Manual for Raters and Test Administrators
• Key tutorials for online testing
• Texas Online Testing Training Course
• Best Practices and Deployment for Online Testing
• TELPAS Electronic Submission System Tutorial
• See page 227 of Coordinator Manual for
  comprehensive list of online testing resources

138
Technical Users Guide
January 2009

• Texas State Assessments Technical Users Guide is
  a key resource
• A web document only (not shipped)
• Accessible at http//www.etesttx.com/techguide/
• Updated version to be posted in December
• Contains technical information for setting up and
  managing online test sessions
• Should be used in combination with coordinator
  manual and TELPAS rater/TA manual
• Certain technical information is more detailed in
  users guide

139
eMeasurement System Access
January 2009

• All staff accessing online testing system must be
  issued login IDs and passwords
• District coordinators determine how to assign
  staffs organizational access and hierarchy
• Staff can be given access to perform only certain
  functions
• General information about this is in Coordinator
  Manual (see page 223)
• Specifics are in Technical Users Guide
• Testing coordinators are responsible for
  maintaining and removing user access

140
(No Transcript)
141
January 2009

• New TELPAS Electronic Submission Process

142
New Process
January 2009

• To be used to submit all information previously
  contained on paper answer documents
• student identification, demographic, and
  program information
• holistic ratings
• do not score information
• rater information
• testing accommodation categories

143
3 Key Screens
January 2009

• Information submitted through secure eMeasurement
  System, same system used to manage other online
  test information
• 3 screens for entering/verifying student data
• Two screens where data will be entered/verified
• Edit Student screen
• Student Test Details screen
• Third screen where key data for each student will
  be verified as complete
• TELPAS Student Status screen

144
January 2009

• 1. Edit Student Screen

145
1. Edit Student screen is where student
identification, demographic, and program
information is found. See next slide for details
on verifying and updating information.
146
Student Identification, Demographic, and Program
Information
January 2009

• At least 2 weeks before testing window, districts
  to receive electronic (PDF) TELPAS Student List
  of students loaded in eMeasurement System
• Data loaded reflects option districts selected in
  fall (October PEIMS vs. district-supplied file)
• Campus lists can be sent to campus coordinators
• Lists to be verified against current information
  to update data if needed and add any new
  enrollees
• Changes and additions to be entered on Edit
  Student screen of eMeasurement System
• Instructions for adding students and updating
  data to accompany TELPAS Student List

147
Edit Student Screen
January 2009

• TELPAS rater/TA manual does not contain
  instructions for entering or verifying
  information on this screen
• Campuses to give raters and TAs separate
  instructions if they want them to assist in this
  process
• The separate instructions accompany the TELPAS
  Student List

Reminder This screen contains student
identification, demographic, and program
information
148
January 2009

• 2. Student Test Details Screen

149
2. Student Test Details screen is where holistic
ratings, do not score designations, rater
information, and accommodation categories are
entered. The primary areas of focus for users are
Test Administration Data section and buttons at
bottom of screen (see boxed area).
150
There are no longer separate Score Code and
Holistic Rating (HR) fields. All selections for
each language domain are together. Listening
selections are shown here. After selections are
made, user clicks Apply.
151
Mark Test Complete Button on Student Test Details
Screen
January 2009

• Individuals entering ratings and rater
  information must not click Mark Test Complete
  button
• It is to be used only for grades 212 reading
  test and only if students test should not be
  scored (absent, ARD decision, etc.)
• If button is selected, student cannot take
  reading test and Pearson will need to be
  contacted
• See following screenshot for prompt that appears
  when button is clicked

152
(No Transcript)
153
Access to Mark Test Complete Button
January 2009

• As indicated on earlier slide, testing
  coordinator can restrict access users have to
  functions within online system
• A coordinator may, for example, choose not to
  give raters access to Mark Test Complete button
• Button will not appear on screen so raters will
  not be able to click it inadvertently

154
Controlling Access
January 2009
Leaving box unchecked restricts access
155
Is there a score code to enter for students who
take the 212 reading test?
January 2009

• No
• Reading field on Student Test Details screen will
  simply be left in Select position, which is the
  default setting
• This position is shown on next slide

156
(No Transcript)
157
Do Not Score Codes for Grades 212 Reading
January 2009

• Absent
• Second Semester Immigrant Non-English Reader
• ARD Decision
• TEA-Approved Paper Administration
• Other

These are the selections in the Reading drop-down
menu for grades 212 reading test
158
Student Test Details Screen
January 2009

• TELPAS manual for raters does contain
  instructions for this