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Spring 2013 Computer-Based Testing Training Materials. Grades 6, 7, 9, and 10 FCAT 2.0 Reading Grade 5 FCAT 2.0 Mathematics FCAT 2.0 Reading Retake FCAT Mathematics Retake. Overview.
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Spring 2013Computer-Based TestingTraining Materials Grades 6, 7, 9, and 10 FCAT 2.0 Reading Grade 5 FCAT 2.0 Mathematics FCAT 2.0 Reading Retake FCAT Mathematics Retake
Overview These training materials are designed to highlight important information for computer-based test administrations. Not all information from the test administration manual is included in this presentation, so it is imperative that district and school staff read and familiarize themselves with all information in the manual in addition to using these training materials.
Overview • These training materials are based on the Spring 2013 Computer-Based Reading and Mathematics Test Administration Manual (Spring 2013 CBT Manual). • There are separate training materials for FCAT 2.0 Writing and the paper-based Spring 2013 Reading, Mathematics, and Science Tests. • Training materials are available in PearsonAccess under the Support tab.
Overview • These training materials should be used in conjunction with the Spring 2013 Reading, Mathematics, and Science training materials for paper-based tests to ensure that all general information regarding test administration policies and procedures is covered.
Glossary of Terms PearsonAccesswww.pearsonaccess.com/fl • A website used for almost all test preparation (e.g., PreID), setup, administration, and reporting tasks. • Requires a username and password. • Verify that you are working in the correct test administration each time you log in. • Links to support materials: www.FLAssessments.com/SpringRMS • PearsonAccess will timeout after 14 minutes of inactivity.
Glossary of Terms PearsonAccess Training Center • Accessed from the Training Center tab on PearsonAccess Home page. • Provides an opportunity to • Practice PearsonAccess tasks. • Manage the Infrastructure Trial in preparation for testing. • Requires a username and password.
Glossary of Terms Proctor Caching • Proctor Caching is a process of loading or “caching” test content locally on a computer at the school level. • Does not require a separate caching server and can run on any workstation on the network that meets minimum requirements. • Proctor Caching software is provided by Pearson. • Reduces test delays due to network congestion. • Provides students with a more seamless testing experience. • Requiredfor all FCAT/FCAT 2.0/EOC computer-based testing in Florida.
Glossary of Terms Note: This is the URL used for testing this Spring; it is different from the URL used for the Infrastructure Trial. TestNav 6.9 (TestNav) • Platform for Florida’s high-stakes computer-based statewide assessments. • Software application installed either on a file server or on each computer that will be used for testing.
Glossary of Terms TestHear 2.1.0.7 (TestHear) • Platform used to deliver accommodated forms (e.g., large print, zoom, color contrast, screen reader, assistive devices) for Florida’s high-stakes computer-based statewide assessments. • Software application installed on each computer that will be used to test students who require computer-based accommodations. • TestHear will operate on Windows PC workstations and on Macintosh workstations that have Mac OS 10.5 or later installed and are running Windows (e.g., via Boot Camp). • TestHear will not work on Mac OS X 10.4 or on Macs that cannot also run Windows.
Glossary of Terms ePAT • Electronic Practice Assessment Tool • Provides students an opportunity to practice using the computer-based platform prior to testing. • Available for download at www.FLAssessments.com/ePATs. • Download ePAT launcher separately from practice test content. • Accommodated ePATs are also available. Launcher is bundled with the practice test content for accommodated forms. • Scripts and instructions for downloading ePATs are under the Resources tab.
Pearson Support and PearsonAccess Contacting Pearson Support • Phone Number: 1-877-847-3043 • E-mail: Florida@support.pearson.com Appendix C in the Spring 2012 CBT Manual provides the following information: • PearsonAccess • User Accounts • Instructions for setting up user accounts are posted on PearsonAccess. • Browser requirements • Logging in for the first time • Resetting passwords • Training Center • Test Setup Exercise
CBT Daily AdministrationSchedule Retakes (April 8-19): FCAT 2.0 Reading and FCAT Mathematics • FCAT 2.0 Reading Retake and FCAT Mathematics Retake are computer-based tests. • FCAT 2.0 Reading Retake—administered in two sessions over two days. Students may have up to half the length of a typical school day to complete each session. • FCAT Mathematics Retake—administeredin a single test session. Students may have up to the length of a typical school day to complete the test. • CBT sessions AND paper-based tests (accommodations only) may be scheduled during the entire Retake window; however, schools within a district must adhere to the same testing schedule.
CBT Daily AdministrationSchedule Week 1 (April 15-19): Grades 7 and 10 Reading • Grades 7 and 10 Reading are computer-based tests and will be administered in two 70-minute sessions over two days. • Week 1 make-up testing may continue through April 24, as needed.
CBT Daily AdministrationSchedule Week 2 (April 22-26): Grade 5 Mathematics, Grades 6 and 9 Reading • Grade 5 Mathematics and Grades 6 and 9 Reading are computer-based tests and will be administered in two 70 minute sessions over two days. • Week 2 make-up testing may continue through April 30, as needed.
What’s New Electronic Devices • School personnel must ensure that students do not have access to their cell phones or other electronic devices at any time during testing, including breaks (restroom breaks, etc.). • If a student is found to be in possession of ANY electronic devices during testing or during a break within a session, his or her test must be invalidated. • Students and parents/guardians must be made aware of this policy prior to testing.
What’s New Testing Rules Acknowledgment • Prior to testing, students must listen to the testing rules read by the test administrator and then click a checkbox (TestNav) or circle (TestHear) next to a Testing Rules Acknowledgment that reads: “I understand the testing rules that were just read to me. If I do not follow these rules, my test score may be invalidated.” • If a student does not click the box at the beginning of Session 1 of a test, the test administrator should contact the school assessment coordinator.
What’s New Test Materials Chain of Custody Form • Schools are required to maintain a Test Materials Chain of Custody Form (available in PearsonAccess and in Appendix E of the Spring 2013 CBT Manual). • Record accurate information on the form, including the dates activities are completed, the names of the persons performing activities involving the materials, and information about the locked storage room. • Retain electronic or hard copies of completed forms after materials are packaged for pickup, and email or return the originals to the district assessment coordinator.
What’s New Reference Sheets • Mathematics reference sheets are provided in an online format only for the Grade 5 FCAT 2.0 Mathematics test and the FCAT Mathematics Retake. • Schools may provide hardcopy reference sheets to students. Any hardcopy reference sheets must be photocopies of the reference sheet in Appendix E of the Spring 2013 CBT Manual (also available at www.FLAssessments.com/SpringRMS). • Each photocopied reference sheet must be carefully checked against the original to ensure all content is copied and that it is clear and easy to read.
What’s New CBT Worksheets • For each FCAT 2.0 Reading computer-based test session, CBT Worksheets may be provided for students if they prefer to make handwritten notes instead of using the notepad tool in the CBT platform. • The worksheet is an 8 ½ × 11 page (located in Appendix E and posted to PearsonAccess) that may be copied and distributed to students at the beginning of a test session. • Students will receive a new worksheet for Session 2.
What’s New Handheld Calculators • After participating in an FCAT Mathematics Retake practice test, a student may request an approved four-function calculator for use on the day of testing. Test administrators should have a supply of handheld four-function calculators for these students. • TestHear does not include a four-function calculator tool in the CBT platform. Students taking an accommodated CBT form of the FCAT Mathematics Retake MUST be provided with a handheld four-function calculator to use during the test, as indicated in the administration script. • Students taking the Grade 5 Mathematics test may not use a calculator.
What’s New Technology Coordinator Guide • Information and instructions for technology coordinators to follow before, during, and after testing are now provided in a separate online Spring 2013 Technology Coordinator Guide. • Technology coordinators must familiarize themselves with all information in this guide prior to the test administration. • The Technology Coordinator Guide is available at www.FLAssessments.com/SpringRMS.
What’s New CBT Training Resources • A new website has been created to compile several resources for computer-based testing. The site includes information about test setup, best practices, and training resources. • This site is located at www.FLAssessments.com/CBTTrainingResources.
What’s New Accommodations • Paper-based large print test materials are available as a unique accommodation for students who have a documented inability access large print accommodations on computer-based tests. • Other paper-based test materials (regular print, braille, Reading Passage Booklets) are available to eligible students who have such accommodations indicated on an IEP or Section 504 plan. • Although Reading Passage Booklets are included in the category of paper-based accommodations, eligible students who require them will test on the computer.
What’s New TestHear 2.1.0.7 • A new version of TestHear was released prior to the Fall 2012 Retake administration. Schools that downloaded this updated version of TestHear do not need to download it again for the Spring CBT administration. • Any schools that did not administer TestHear accommodated forms of the Fall 2012 Retakes or Winter 2012 EOC Assessments will need to download the newest version of the TestHear software and TestHear ePATs prior to administering an accommodated form of any CBT assessment. • The newest version of TestHear is available at www.FLAssessments.com/Downloads.
What’s New ePATS • The computer-based practice tests, also called ePATs, and scripts for administering ePATs are posted at www.FLAssessments.com/ePATs for school staff, as well as students and their parents/guardians, to access at their convenience. • Students should be made aware that they can access ePATs on their own at this location. • The ePAT scripts are no longer included in the test administration manual. • Schools must administer the appropriate practice test(s) to all students to be tested using the ePAT scripts; however, if a student has previously participated in an ePAT for the grade level and subject test he or she will take, the student is not required to participate in an ePAT session.
What’s New Updates to Student Information • A new process has been established to allow incorrect student profiles added to PearsonAccess via the Create New Student Wizard to be updated before or after testing. • The District Assessment Coordinator can submit a request by calling Pearson support at 877-847-3043.
What’s New Seal Codes • Students participating in Grade 5 Mathematics, Grade 6, 7, 9, or 10 Reading, or the Reading Retake must enter a seal code to open Session 2 on Day 2 of testing. • Students are not able to return to Session 1 once they have accessed Session 2. Students will log in using the same Student Authorization Ticket for both test sessions. • Seal codes are secure information and must not be provided to students prior to the beginning of Session 2, as indicated in the administration script.
What’s New Test Group Code • Schools must use one unique four-digit test group code for both sessions of each subject test for students in each testing room. For instance, the group of students taking Grade 7 Reading in Mrs. Smith’s computer lab will use the same test group code for Session 1 and Session 2. • If students are absent for a test session, a different unique code must be used for each make-up session.
Reminders Test Administrator Policies • ALL test administrators must be certified educators. • In addition to signing a security agreement, test administrators are required to sign a Test Administrator Prohibited Activities Agreement. • Test administrators must NOT administer the FCAT/FCAT 2.0 to their family members. Students related to their assigned test administrator should be reassigned to an alternate test administrator. • Under NO circumstances may a student’s parent/guardian be present in that student’s testing room.
Reminders Seating Charts • Test administrators are required to maintain an accurate seating chart for each group of students in their rooms during testing. • All seating charts must indicate the front and back of the room, as well as the direction the students are facing. • If the seating configuration changes during testing, a new seating chart must be created.
Reminders Leaving Campus • If a student begins a session and leaves campus without finishing (due to an appointment, illness, etc.), he or she will NOT be allowed to complete that session. • No exceptions will be made once the student leaves the school’s campus, so parents/guardians and students must be made aware of this policy.
Reminders Marking Tests Complete Student tests should only be Marked Complete in one of the following circumstances: A student had to leave the test (e.g., cheating, illness) and will not finish the test. (After being marked complete, school personnel will invalidate the test.) A student finished the test but exited instead of submitting the test and the test should be scored. A student completed Session 1 and never started Session 2. As otherwise directed by FDOE or Pearson after a technical difficulty or other extenuating circumstance. * FOR FCAT 2.0 TESTS, DO NOT MARK TESTS COMPLETE OR STOP THE SESSION IN PEARSONACCESS AFTER DAY 1.
Reminders Resources • The following resources for this administration can be found at www.FLAssessments.com/SpringRMS: • Test administration manuals • Training materials • Technology coordinator guide • Forms to report missing materials and test irregularities/security breaches • Student tutorials • Test Administrator Prohibited Activities Agreement • Test Materials Chain of Custody Form • FCAT/FCAT 2.0 Test Administration and Security Agreement • Reference sheets • Parent/Guardian letters • Comment forms • Blank Administration Record/Security Checklist • Security Log • Materials Return List • Braille Scripts
Reminders Test Security Policies and Procedures Per Florida State Board of Education Rule 6A-10.042, FAC, and Test Security Statute, s. 1008.24, F.S. (see Appendix B), district and school personnel are required to maintain test security before, during, and after testing. Please remember that inappropriate actions can result in student or classroom invalidation and/or loss of teaching certification. All school personnel, including itinerant teachers and proctors, must receive thorough training in test administration and security policies and procedures, familiarize themselves with all relevant content of the test administration manual(s), read the Statute and Rule in Appendix B, and then sign an FCAT/FCAT 2.0 Test Administration and Security Agreement. All test administrators must be certified educators and must sign the Test Administrator Prohibited Activities Agreement. School assessment coordinators must maintain an accurate Test Materials Chain of Custody Form.
Students to be Tested In general, all Florida public school students enrolled in tested grade levels (Grades 3–10) participate in the FCAT/FCAT 2.0, per Section 1008.22(3)(c)8, Florida Statutes (F.S.). Students must take the test(s) appropriate for the grade level in which they are enrolled.
Students to be Tested FCAT 2.0 Reading Retake • For students who entered Grade 9 in the 2009-2010 school year or after and are pursuing a standard Florida high school diploma, earning a passing score on the Grade 10 FCAT 2.0 Reading test is a graduation requirement. • The following students are eligible to participate in this administration of the FCAT 2.0 Reading Retake: • Retained Grade 10 or Grades 11-12 regular high school students who have not yet earned a passing score. • Students who enrolled in Grade 9 prior to the 2009-2010 school year but have not yet passed the Grade 10 FCAT Reading. (Because the FCAT Reading Retake is no longer offered, these students will participate in the FCAT 2.0 Reading Retake.)
Students to Be Tested FCAT Mathematics Retake • For students who entered Grade 9 in the 2009-2010 school year or earlier and are pursuing a standard Florida high school diploma, earning a passing score on the Grade 10 FCAT Mathematics test is a graduation requirement. • Regular high school and adult students who have not yet earned a passing score on the Grade 10 FCAT Mathematics are eligible to participate in this administration of the FCAT Mathematics Retake. • Students who entered Grade 9 in the 2010-2011 school year or after do NOT take an FCAT/FCAT 2.0 Mathematics test.
Students to Be Tested Retakes • Students participating in Retake administrations should only take the subject test(s) they have not yet passed. • Students who have received a GED diploma are not eligible to participate in FCAT/FCAT 2.0 administrations. • Students enrolled in grade levels below Grade 10 MAY NOT participate in Retake administrations.
Students to be Tested Special Program Students • Make arrangements to test special program students (Home Education, Virtual School, McKay Scholarship, FTC Scholarship). • Ensure that these students are tested under the correct school number, according to the chart on page 6 of the manual.
Students to be Tested English Language Learners (ELLs) • Per the Department’s Bureau of Student Achievement through Language Acquisition, all ELLs are expected to participate in statewide assessments. • If an ELL has been receiving services in an English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) program operated in accordance with an approved ELL plan for one year or less AND a majority of the student’s ELL committee determines that it is appropriate, the ELL may be exempt from this FCAT 2.0 Reading administration. • Exempt ELLs must participate in the English proficiency assessment or they will be counted as “not assessed” and this will impact the participation rate calculation. • All ELLs are expected to participate in the FCAT 2.0 Mathematics and Science tests no matter how long these students have been receiving services.
Students to be Tested Students With Disabilities • All students with disabilities participate in the statewide assessment program by taking one of the following: • FCAT/FCAT 2.0 without accommodations, • FCAT/FCAT 2.0 with accommodations, or • Florida Alternate Assessment. • All determinations regarding participation in the statewide assessment program must be documented in the student’s IEP or Section 504 plan. • See Appendix A of the manual for information regarding accommodations.
Proctors • When testing a large group of students, proctors must be assigned to the room. Refer to the table below for the required number of proctors. *It is strongly recommended that a proctor be assigned to rooms with 25 or fewer students whenever possible.
Missing Materials • Schools must investigate ANY report of missing materials and report missing secure materials to the district assessment coordinator immediately. • Within 30 calendar days of the incident, a written report must be submitted to the FDOE. The report must include: • The nature of the situation • The time and place of the occurrence • The names of the persons involved • A description of the communication between the district assessment coordinator’s office and school personnel • How the incident was resolved • What steps are being implemented to avoid the future losses • A form to report missing materials can be found at www.FLAssessments.com/SpringRMS.
Test Irregularities/Security Breaches • Test administrators should report any test irregularities (e.g., disruptive students) and possible security breaches to the school assessment coordinator immediately. • The school assessment coordinator should communicate with the district assessment coordinator regarding possible test invalidations. • Within 10 calendar days of the incident, a written report must be submitted to the FDOE. The report must include: • The nature of the situation • The time and place of the occurrence • The names of the persons involved • A description of the communication between the district assessment coordinator’s office and school personnel • How the incident was resolved • What steps are being taken to avoid future test irregularities or security breaches • A form to report test irregularities and security breaches can be found at www.FLAssessments.com/SpringRMS.
Test Invalidation District assessment coordinators should advise schools of the appropriate course of action if invalidation is being considered. Remember that the purpose of invalidation is to identify when the validity of test results has been compromised. If a situation listed in the “Test Invalidation” section on pages 18-19 of the manual occurs, test administrators should discuss the situation with the school assessment coordinator, and the situation should be investigated immediately.
Test AdministratorBefore Testing • Read the test administration manual. • Read the Test Security Policies and Procedures and sign the FCAT/FCAT 2.0 CBT Administration and Security Agreement. • Read and sign the Test Administrator Prohibited Activities Agreement. • Establish an appropriate setting for test administration and remove or cover any unauthorized aids in the testing room. • Prepare and receive all materials needed for test administration. • Ensure that your students and their parents/guardians understand the testing policies prior to the first day of testing. • If you are administering tests to students who require special accommodations, become familiar with the accommodations and discuss with your school coordinator how accommodations will be provided. • Ensure that you are familiar with how to open TestNav or TestHear to the login screen for each student computer prior to testing.
Test AdministratorBefore Testing Testing Location • Tests should be administered in a room that has comfortable seating, good lighting, adequate ventilation, and sufficient workspace. • Students must not be able to easily view other students’ computer screens or test materials. During the practice test, check the configuration of your testing room to make sure you will be able to provide a secure environment during testing. If necessary, use visual blocks. • Post the sign that reads TESTING—Please Do Not Disturb and display starting and stopping times as soon as testing begins. • Students must not have access to any unauthorized aids. Discuss any concerns with your school assessment coordinator.
Test AdministratorBefore Testing Testing Location (cont.) • When you arrive on the day of testing, open each student workstation in the testing room to the student login screen as indicated in the script, but do not log in for students. • Display the student comment form URL, or create shortcuts on student workstations to ensure each student is able to complete the form after testing. • Ensure that you have a way to contact the technology coordinator or the school assessment coordinator without leaving the room unattended.
Test AdministratorBefore Testing Spring 2013 CBT Manual • You will need the Spring 2013 Computer-Based Reading and Mathematics Test Administration Manual to read the test administration scripts to students. • When testing students who are allowed certain accommodations, you may need to modify the scripts. It is especially important that you review the scripts BEFORE testing begins to determine the necessary modifications. Do not interpret this as permission to paraphrase test items. • Scripts and instructions for administration of accommodated computer-based test forms (large print, color contrast, zoom, screen reader, assistive devices) are provided in Appendix A.