Assessment Newsletter (Volume 10, Issue 12)

Wyoming Department of Education sent this bulletin at 10/21/2022 11:43 AM MDT

Update from the Wyoming Department of Education  |  view online |  website

WDE Assessment Updates

10/21/2022  |  Volume 10, Issue 12

ACT and WORKKEYS

WDE Released Grad Class Information for 2022

  • On October 14, 2022 ACT and the Wyoming Department of Education (WDE) released the annual report, The Condition of College & Career Readiness for 2022.
  • Wyoming state law requires all grade 11 students to take the ACT. Wyoming’s ACT graduating class data is based on students’ results from their last test taken before graduation.
  • Wyoming is among only six states that have participation results for 100% of graduating seniors. 
  • The Wyoming Readiness Report and ACT Profile Report can be found here.

Accommodations Changes for Spring 2023

In the current Accessibility and Supports Guide, some supports were changed from “Designated Supports” to “Accommodation” status. Accommodations require ACT authorization. ACT has provided the rationale for changing these supports to Accommodations:

  • Answer/custom masking, answer eliminator, and highlighter for paper testing.
    • These supports introduce something new to the test environment, such as a highlighter, note card, etc. for paper-based testing.
    • These supports are built into TestNav for online testing, so they are universally available to all students testing online.
  • Sign language interpreter for verbal instructions for paper and online testing.
    • This support introduces an additional person to the testing environment.
  • Testing over multiple days for online testing.
    • This is a correction of an error in prior years’ Accessibility Supports Guides. All changes to test timing, including testing over multiple days with standard time or with extra time, must be authorized by ACT prior to delivery.

These changes will be communicated in the What’s New document published for spring 2023 testing.

Spring 2023 ACT Accommodations Training Webinar

  • From 3-4:30 p.m. on November 10, 2022. 
  • Participants will learn about administering the statewide ACT with accommodations and English Learner (EL) supports.
  • This Q&A session will provide training related to the Test Accessibility and Accommodations System (TAA) and requesting accommodations/supports for the ACT. 
  • ACT will answer general questions related to accommodations and EL supports.
  • Register here. 

WorkKeys Schedule of Events for Spring 2023 Posted

  • The spring Schedule of Events for WorkKeys is now posted on the ACT Wyoming Portal.
  • It contains all dates and deadlines for spring WorkKeys testing.
  • A schedule of events is available for Online and Paper testing.

For more information, contact Michelle Carroll, WDE Assessment Consultant, at 307-777-3618 or michelle.carroll@wyo.gov.

ACCESS/ALT-ACCESS

Bias, Sensitivity, and Content (BSC) Review Committee

  • WIDA is recruiting kindergarten educators to participate in a review committee in Washington, D.C. April 25-26, 2023.
  • The BSC committee will review ACCESS assessment items to ensure that Kindergarten ACCESS is an accurate and appropriate assessment that is fair and unbiased for a diverse population of test takers.
  • To sign up to participate, complete the interest survey by November 1, 2022.

For more information about EL assessments, contact Cat Palmer, WDE Assessment Supervisor, at 307-777-8568 or catherine.palmer@wyo.gov.

WY-ALT

Alternate Test Administration Training Registration

  • The spring 2023 WY-ALT TA Training Registration is now available. 
  • The registration site will remain open until Tuesday, January 10, 2023.
  • No additional requests for registration will be taken after registration closes. 
  • The WDE recommends having at least one staff member trained, per campus, to administer the WY-ALT assessment to prepare for a possible late enrollment of an ALT test taker.
  • All spring 2023 Alternate Assessment Test Administrators (ALT-TAs) must attend a WY-ALT training this year. Additionally, all spring 2023 ALT-TAs must complete the online Test Administrator Certification Course.

For more information about WY-ALT assessments, contact Cat Palmer, WDE Assessment Supervisor, at 307-777-8568 or catherine.palmer@wyo.gov.

WY-TOPP

Centralized Reporting

  • Interim assessment results are available in Centralized Reporting. 
  • The Centralized Reporting Guide is available to help users navigate all of the reports and tools available in this system. 
  • Interim assessment results are meant to be used to direct school and district programming and curriculum decisions for the current school year.

For more information, contact Becca Velikaneye, WDE Assessment Consultant, at 307-777-6804 or rebecca.velikaneye@wyo.gov.

SY 2022-23 IMPORTANT UPCOMING DATES

  • September 12-November 18: WorkKeys Fall Window (optional).
  • September 13-June 15: WY-TOPP Modulars (optional).
  • October 18-21, 24-28: Fall Senior Retake Accommodated Paper Test Window.
  • October 20-21: WY-TOPP Writing Scoring 2-Day Workshop (Riverton).
  • October 25-27: Senior Retake Online Standard and Accommodated Window.
  • October 27: WY-TOPP Writing Scoring Workshop Webinar - Summary Results.
  • November 8: ACCESS for ELLS Technology Coordinator Support for Test Administrators Webinar.
  • November 10: ACT Accommodations Online Training.
  • November 14: ACT TAA Site Open for Spring 2023 Testing Accommodations Requests.
  • November 15: Kindergarten ACCESS for ELLs for New Test Administrators Webinar.
  • November 17: ACCESS Online - Managing Students in WIDA AMS Webinar.
  • November 22: ALT-ACCESS for ELLS for New Test Administrators Webinar.
  • November 29: ACCESS for ELLs Online Test Administrator Training.
  • November 30: ACCESS for ELLs Test Coordinator Training.
  • December 6: ACCESS Online - Managing Test Sessions Webinar.
  • December 8: ACCESS/ALT-ACCESS/K-ACCESS - Managing Paper Test Materials Webinar.
  • December 13: ACCESS/ALT-ACCESS/K-ACCESS - Managing Students in WIDA AMS Webinar.
  • December 15: Winter Quarterly EL and Title III Webinar.
  • January 4-February 17: ACCESS/ALT-ACCESS Additional Test Materials Ordering Window.
  • January 5: ACCESS/ALT-ACCESS Technology Troubleshooting Webinar.
  • January 10: WY-ALT Test Administrator Training Registration Deadline.
  • January 10-February 2: WY-TOPP Interim Winter (optional).
  • January 11: Assessment Literacy PD Meeting 2.
  • January 17-February 24: ACCESS and ALT-ACCESS Assessment Window.
  • January 19, 23, 26: WY-ALT Test Administrator Training.
  • January 24: ACCESS/ALT-ACCESS/K-ACCESS- Returning Paper Materials Webinar.
  • January 26: ACCESS/ALT-ACCESS Online - Monitoring Completion for Test Coordinators Webinar.
  • February 3: ACT Deadline for Submitting Accommodations Requests for Spring Testing.
  • February 7: ALT-ACCESS Field Test Materials Arrive in Districts.
  • February 14-April 20: ALT-ACCESS Field Test Assessment Window.
  • February 28-April 7: WY-ALT Assessment Window.
  • March 7: ACCESS/ALT-ACCESS - Post Testing Data Validation Webinar.
  • March 14: ACCESS/ALT-ACCESS - Interpreting Score Reports Webinar.
  • March 16: Spring Quarterly EL and Title III Webinar.
  • March 28: ACT Test Opportunity 1 Paper.
  • March 28-30 & April 4-6: ACT Online Standard and Accommodated Window.
  • March 28-31 & April 3-7: ACT Accommodated Paper Window.
  • April 11: ACT Test Opportunity 2 Paper.
  • April 11-13, 18-20: ACT Online Standard and Accommodated Window.
  • April 11-14, 17-21: ACT Accommodated Paper Window.
  • April 11-May 5: WY-TOPP Interim Spring (optional) Assessment Window.
  • April 11-May 5: WY-TOPP Summative Assessment Window.
  • April 17-28: WorkKeys Spring Window (optional).
  • April 25: ACT Test Opportunity 3 Paper - Emergency Window.
  • April 25-27, May 2-4: ACT Online Standard and Accommodated Window.
  • April 25-28, May 2-5: ACT Accommodated Paper Window.
  • May 9: ACCESS for ELLs Interpreting Score Reports Webinar.
  • May 10: Assessment Literacy PD Meeting 3.
  • May 18: Summer Quarterly EL and Title III Webinar.