North Carolina EXPLORE and PLAN Test Administration Training September 11, 2012

1. North Carolina EXPLORE and PLAN Test Administration Training September 11, 2012

2. Carol Clark Senior Coordinator Contract Operations Management ACT, Inc. Iowa City, Iowa 52243 carol.clark@act.org

3. Serves as the entry measure of academic progress toward college and career readiness when used with PLAN and the ACT Designed to help 8th and 9thgrade students Curriculum-based achievement test that measures college readiness Assesses academic progress Helps students understand and begin to explore the wide range of career options open to them Career Interest Inventory and educational/career plans collected

4. Provides a midpoint assessment of academic progress toward college and career readiness when used with EXPLORE and the ACT Designed to help 10th grade students Curriculum-based achievement test that measures college readiness Most powerful predictor of performance on the ACT Used for course placement including dual-enrollment/rigorous courses Career Interest Inventory and educational/career plans collected

5. The testing window for EXPLORE and PLAN: October 1 – October 31, 2012 Answer Document Return Deadline (ADRD) November 16, 2012 Important Dates

6. 1 or 2 day administration: Student Information & noncognitive sections always first Four academic tests performed second In no case should the academic portion of the exam be administered prior to the noncognitive components 2012 Test Administration

7. EXPLORE Test Standard Time English 30 minutes (no break) Mathematics 30 minutes (10-minute break) Reading 30 minutes (no break) Science 30 minutes Students Must Complete All Sections

8. PLAN Test Standard Time English 30 minutes (no break) Mathematics 40 minutes (10-minute break) Reading 20 minutes (no break) Science 25 minutes Students Must Complete All Sections

9. Score Scales Relationship 40 36 32 35 30 25 25 20 English Math Reading Science Writing English Math Reading Science English Math Reading Science 15 10 5 0 EXPLORE 8th/9th Grade PLAN 10th grade ACT 11th/12th grade

10. Who may test? State provides school eligibility to ACT. EXPLORE = 8th grade, PLAN = 10th grade State affiliated public schools When can I test? Testing window: October 1 – 31, 2012 Schools determine test date within the test window Testing can be given anytime during the day Who orders? State submits eligibility list to ACT Supplemental and accommodated orders placed by district PLAN and EXPLORE for North Carolina

11. TEST ADMINISTRATION POLICIES

12. Standard Testing Requirements • Apply to all days of testing • Facilities • Personnel • Security • Exact Timing • Test Day Documentation

13. Selecting / Preparing Rooms • Desks & surfaces • Students face same direction • Adequate spacing • Bulletin boards • Comfortable temperature and lighting • Limited distractions • Materials provided by school • Extra #2 pencils, pencil sharpener, calculators, Supply of scratch paper,audio CD or cassette player

14. Standard-Time Testing Staff Roles • Test Supervisors • Room Supervisors • One for each room • Proctors – assist room supervisor • A proctor may be used in addition to the room supervisor in rooms with 10 or more examinees. • A Proctor must be used if a room has 26 or more examinees • Reader and Gridder

15. Training Testing Staff • Staff must read the Supervisor’s Manual • Train testing staff prior to test day • Policies and requirements • Pre-test duties • Test-day assignments • Attentiveness during testing • Post-test activities • Conduct a brief training session on test day

16. Attentiveness During Testing • Read only the appropriate Supervisor’s Manual or Administration Instructions • Walk around room • Discourage prohibited behavior • Answer questions about testing procedures • Must not engage in non-test related activities: • No grading papers • No reading books • No talking casually • No using computer • No eating or drinking in the test room

17. PRE-TEST ACTIVITIES

18. Testing Materials • Check all materials upon arrival • Report shortages or evidence of tampering • Contact ACT Customer Service at 877-789-2925 • Securely store test materials

19. Testing Materials (cont’d) What materials do I receive? • Supervisor’s Manual • “Why Take EXPLORE or PLAN?” handouts • “Instructions for Completing Your Answer Folder” • Test booklets • Answer folders • School header • Return envelopes • School posters Materials are shipped two weeks prior to the testing window

20. Pre-Test Activity • Read the Supervisor’s Manual • Determine test date • Test Supervisor identifies: Room Supervisor, Proctors and trains staff • Reserve test rooms • Determine when to complete non-test sections • Determine if testing one or two days? • Will sort codes be used? • Will supplemental local items be administered?

21. Pre-ID Barcode Labels • Optional tool to save administration time and ensure accuracy • Order by downloading the Pre-ID order form and template at www.act.org/education/order/preid • Apply to page 1 of the answer folder prior to test day • Pre-ID labels will be shipped separately from test materials • Make certain pre-ID barcode label corresponds to correct student (e.g., double-check labels for twins, students with the same/similar first and last names)

22. Determine 1-Day or 2-Day Administration • 1-Day Administration • Student Information components of the test must be administered first, followed by the four academic tests • 2-Day Administration • Student Information components of the test are administered on Day 1. Academic tests administered on Day 2

23. Pre-test Session: Non-test Portions • Only students may complete the non-test portions of the answer document (not staff) • Pre-test session must be held before academic test portion • Include all students in this session, including any with accommodations • Verbatim instructions

24. Choose a Testing Option • Determine which administration option will be used to present instructions for student information prior to test day: • Option 1: TS reads all directions aloud to students as they follow along • Option 2: Students read most of the directions themselves • Option 3: Test supervisor reads directions for Pre-ID label users aloud to students as they follow along

25. Prior to Testing • Check-in and Secure test materials • Distribute copies of Why Take PLAN or EXPLORE? to students • Remind students • Bring 2 - #2 pencils and erasers • Bring permitted calculator • Bring Student ID • DO NOT bring cell phone or any electronic devices

26. Test Day Pre-planning • Select testing rooms • Organize answer documents • Assign and train staff • Authorized Room Supervisors should prepare test day materials – other trained staff may help • Practice verbal instructions • Give student reminders

27. TEST DAY

28. Avoiding the Pitfalls • Arrange test room seating appropriately • Administer tests in proper sequence • Ensure full amount of time is allowed for each test • Room Supervisor frequently circulates through the testing room to ensure students are working on the correct exam and discourage inappropriate behavior • Do not leave testing room unattended

29. Test Day: Briefing Session • Room Supervisors and Proctors • Arrive at least 30 minutes prior to student check-in • Review procedures • Last-minute details • Test Supervisor hand-deliver test materials to Room Supervisor(s)

30. Admitting Students • Direct students to seats • Alphabetical • Left / right and front / back • No late arrivals • No cell phones or other electronic devices

31. Permitted Calculators • Details on permitted calculators at http://www.actstudent.org/faq/answers/calculator.html • Prohibited features - see website • Check at the door upon students entering the room and periodically during Test 2 – Mathematics • Permitted calculator is ultimately the student’sresponsibility • If school provides students calculators – distribute before testing begins as students are being admitted to the test room

32. Exact Timing of Tests • Use more than one timepiece (not a cell phone) • Time each room individually • No “central” timing • Provide 5-minute remaining reminders • You may post Start and Stop times and or time allowed for each test on the board. • Record times in the Supervisor’s Manuals

33. Break(s) Between Tests • There are no break(s) identified during the exam • Break(s) are at the discretion of the testing location • Suggested Breaks: • 1-Day administration • 5-10 min break prior to the start of Test 1 • 5-10 min break between Tests 2 and 3 • 2-Day administration • 5-10 min break between Tests 2 and 3

34. Irregularities • Document irregularities using the Testing Irregularity Report (TIR) in the back of the Supervisors Manual • Retain TIR’s and voided answer documents until results are received and returned to students • Copy TIR’s involving defective materials, challenged test items or timing errors and forward to ACT

35. Types of Irregularities • Defective materials • Examinee illnesses • Mistimed tests • Marking or reading in future section of answer folder or test booklet • Student challenge of testing items • Irrational behavior • Unauthorized testing aids • Voiding answer folders

36. POST-TEST

37. Post-Test: Test Room Documentation Room Supervisors Responsibilities • Account for all test booklets, answer folders and scratch paper before dismissing students • Verify you have an answer folder for each student who tested • Check answer folders to ensure correctly marked and student information is entered on the folder • Secure testing materials

38. Post-Test: Test-Day Documentation Test Supervisor • Account for all materials returned by each Room Supervisor • Complete Testing Irregularity Reports for all irregularities • Schedule and administer makeup testing • Securely store used test books to be returned to students with score reports • Destroy unused answer folders • Complete School Header • Fill in accommodation codes • Keep copies for your files of all forms and reports mailed to ACT

39. Returning Test Materials • ADRD November 16, 2012 • Return answer folders (standard, makeup, and special testing) together, to ACT immediately after your last testing session. • Keep test booklets for return to students for review once score reports arrive • Use the prepaid, pre-addressed mailing envelop(s) provided with your order or box large amounts of answer documents to the address below: • EXPLORE (or PLAN)Scoring Service2727 Scott Blvd. P.O. Box 4026 Iowa City, IA 52243-4026

40. Packing Test Materials Follow the instructions for packing order listed in the back of the Test Supervisors Manual: • School Header – top (one per grade) • Testing Irregularity Reports (only those reporting defective material or testing challenges) • Test Supervisor’s Comment Forms • Answer Folders • Class Group Header • EXPLORE only (optional) • Answer Folders

41. Shipping Test Materials • ACT provides a UPS return mailing label • If your school has regular pickup, leave packages in a supervised secure area of the school • Do Not call UPS if they do not make regular stops at your location • Take sealed packages to a staffed UPS drop-off location • Make note of the drop-off location and time • Do not leave packages at an unattended drop-off location

42. Other Test Materials • Keep voided answer folders for your records • Destroy used answer folders • Used text books should be stored and returned to students with score reports • Securely store unused test books. Provide to staff when reviewing the item-response data in reporting • Return Braille test forms after test results have been reviewed with students • All other material should be securely destroyed

43. ACCOMMODATIONS

44. Test Accommodations • We will discuss: • Approval/Eligibility • Accommodation Options • Accommodated Material • Ordering Materials • Administration procedures • Return of materials

45. Accommodations Approval • Accommodations are a local (school) decision • No approval is needed from ACT • Suggestions include: • Current documented disability within the last three years • Supported by Individual Education Plan (IEP) or 504 plan • Align to what student is granted in regular classroom

46. Accommodation Options • Audio CD or Braille test book • Reader (with use of reader’s script) • Scribe to record student responses • Additional breaks with standard time • Separate test sessions • Testing over multiple days • Extended time to complete each test • Sign language interpreter

47. Accommodated Material The following accommodated testing material is available from ACT: • Large print package • Braille Booklet • Audio CD • Reader’s Script

48. Ordering Accommodated Material • ACT provided order form by district testing coordinators. Emailed or faxed to ACT • Test materials are shipped to arrive in schools by indicated “need by date” • Order Deadline: September 5, 2012

49. Accommodations Testing • Administer at a time mutually convenient for student and test supervisor • As close as possible to the date administered to other students • Extended time, reader and marker assisted students should be tested individually in a separate room. One per student • Students using audio cassette or CD can test as a group provided they have individual ear phones and can progress on their own • Administer tests in proper sequence – never unattended

50. Accommodations Testing (cont’d) • If separate sessions/days, must complete each test (Test 1, Test 2, etc.) in a single session • When using Large-print response worksheet, item responses must be transferred by staff to the standard answer folder for scoring • Mark the one accommodation code that best describes the accommodation on the back of the answer folder