GRADE-LEVEL ASSESSMENTS

1. GRADE-LEVEL ASSESSMENTS 2019-2020 DESE Assessment

3. Versions • Version 1 – Posted 8/28/19

4. Grade-Level and Content Tested • All Missouri students in grades 3-8 • English Language Arts (ELA) in grades 3-8 • 4 Sessions – Grades 4 and 8 • 3 Sessions – Grades 3, 5, 6, 7 • Math in grades 3 through 8 • 3 Sessions • Science in grades 5 and 8 • 2 Sessions

5. English Learner (EL) Students • English Learner (EL) Students who have been in the U.S. for less than 12 cumulative months at the time of the test administration may be exempt from ELA assessments. • Please indicate this in eDIRECT • All Applications > Student Management > Manage Students. • Once a student is selected, go to Testing Codes, check “Yes” in the box representing EL in the U.S. less than 12 cumulative months, under GL ELA. • Validate April Core Data to reflect the status of their EL students. • EL students must participate in all other required assessments (Math & Science) regardless of their time in the U.S.

6. Other Populations • Students eligible for MAP-A do not take the MAP Grade-Level Assessment. • The Test Coordinators Manual covers other special populations.

7. Testing Windows • Districts now submit their entire district testing window instead of content based windows. The submitted windows are used for scoring capacity planning purposed only. Districts have the flexibility to modify their submitted window without informing DESE or DRC of any changes.

8. Universal Tools & Accommodations • Universal Tools are available to all students taking Grade-Level assessments, unless otherwise noted. • Accommodations must appear in an Individualized Education Plan (IEP) or 504 plan. • Someuniversal tools and accommodations are only for use by English Learners (ELs). • EL students are those marked LEP-RCV in Core Data

9. Universal Tools and Accommodations • Some universal tools and all accommodations need to be marked in eDIRECT prior to the assessment. • Complete descriptions and codes for tools and accommodations are available on the DESE Grade-Level website, under the Resources tab, and in the Test Coordinators and Examiners Manuals. • Please carefully review the tools and accommodations procedures. • Test Examiner must be aware of the tools that have been specified for each student.

10. Grade-Level Read Aloud • Read Aloud of all directions and items in any subject, except ELA reading passages, is available as a universal tool in 4 ways: • Text-To-Speech • Human Reader • Assistive Technology • Native Language • Read Aloud of an ELA reading passage requires an IEP or 504. • Any Read Aloud tool must be marked in eDIRECT before testing.

11. Grade-Level Read Aloud • Decision to read aloud should be made by educators who work with the student on a regular basis and believe it is necessary. • DESE does not recommend the use of Read Aloud for students who do not use it as part of their everyday learning in the classroom. • The use of Read Aloud for some students can prove distracting and become a hindrance to student performance. • Read Aloud of ELA Listening items will require the download of a script. • Listening items also have Closed Captioning and ASL video for the deaf/hard of hearing student.

12. Invalidations • Use of these accommodations will cause an invalidation in the content area and the Student will receive a Lowest Obtainable Scale Score (LOSS). • Use of a Calculator on Non-Calculator Allowed Items in Grade 3 • Use of a Multiplication Table in Grade 3 • Use of Read Aloud for ELA Reading Passages in Grades 3-5 (Except for Blind Students who cannot yet read Braille) • Using of one of these accommodations, even if required in an IEP/504 plan, will cause an invalidation as use of that accommodation changes the construct of the item being assessed.

13. Paper/Pencil Editions • Paper/Pencil edition of the test is available for: • Students with an IEP that says the student should take the Paper Based Assessment. • Students who are testing out-of-district. • Homebound students who cannot come to school to test. • For EL Translation when the translator needs to translate prior to assessing the student due to technical language. • Use Accommodation code A102 for those with an IEP. • Use code S112 for other scenarios. • $15 charge for use of a paper/pencil test without an IEP.

14. Special Considerations • Paper/Pencil, Braille, or Large Print assessments must be marked in eDIRECT prior to testing. • Braille and Large Print need to be ordered by January 31. • Additional materials ordering window: March 18 to May 11. • Paper/Pencil must be downloaded by the DTC via eDIRECT and printed locally prior to testing. • All accommodations should also be entered prior to testing.

15. Test Tickets – Student Information • If a student is not listed: • Add student manually • Mark accommodations • Assign student to a test session • Login information will be generated • Make sure the test tickets have the correct Student Name and Test Session. • If issues arise, the Test Examiner should contact the STC or DTC who can contact DRC’s MAP Service Line at 800-544-9868.

16. Test Tickets – Tools/Accommodations • Even when marked in eDIRECT, not all tools/accommodations will be displayed on test tickets. The tools/accommodations that are displayed are shown in section 8.4 in the Test Coordinators Manual.

17. Blueprints • Blueprints serve as a guide for test construction. • Arranged by content areas and grades (e.g. ELA Grade 3). • Reporting Category • Strand/Domain • Cluster/Theme/Big Idea • Point Range • Range of Emphasis • Found on the Grade-Level website, under the Resources tab, and in the LEA Guide To The Missouri Assessment Program.

18. Timing Guidelines - Grades 3-4

19. Timing Guidelines - Grades 5-6

20. Timing Guidelines - Grades 7-8

21. Online Tools Training (OTTs) • OTTs give users the ability to use the tools available in the INSIGHT testing platform on a variety of item types. Using the OTTs will allow users to become comfortable with using the built in system tools prior to the summative assessment. The OTTs are accessible at any time with no limits on usage. • NOTE: The OTTs are only accessible via Google Chrome. • https://wbte.drcedirect.com/MO/portals/mo

22. Test Tutorials • Test Tutorials allow users to watch recorded videos that demonstrate the features of INSIGHT and the tools that will be used for the operational assessments. Test Tutorials are available for all subjects and are divided by content into two categories: • General testing topics include tutorials on topics such as testing basics, using the help feature and finishing the test. • Advanced Tools show grade and include tutorials on topics such as highlighting, using a ruler, graphing and more. • Available on eDirect under All Application > Test Tutorials - https://www.drcedirect.com/all/eca-portal-v2-ui/#/login/MO

23. Practice Form • The practice form mirrors the operational assessment and gives users the ability to see the types of items that will be on the assessment and, if taking the practice test online, become comfortable with answering items within the INSIGHT testing platform. • Available in the INSIGHT platform

24. eDirect/Insight • eDirect Administration site: • https://mo.drcedirect.com • Ensure that proper staff have accounts. • Which may include: District IT Staff, STCs, and Test Examiners • District IT staff should log in and download the latest version of the INSIGHT platform and run workstation readiness tests.

25. Required/Allowed Materials • A workstation with Internet access, a monitor, a mouse, and a keyboard for each student, OR a tablet device with Internet access if a student will be testing on a tablet. Devices must have INSIGHT properly loaded and certified. • Student Test Tickets provide the secure login credentials (i.e., username and password) required for a student to use the testing software. • Writer’s Checklists are available in the INSIGHT platform during the writing prompt in ELA session 1, grades 4 and 8, for students to access. Mathematics Reference Sheets and the Periodic Table of Elements are available in the INSIGHT platform at the appropriate grades for students to access. Physical copies may also be given to students. They may be copied from the appendices of the manuals. The Writer’s Checklist and Math/Science reference sheets can also be printed from the Documents page of eDIRECT at https://mo.drcedirect.com. • During online testing, all students may have access to a printed list of the keyboard shortcuts and icons available in INSIGHT. The list may be printed from the appendices of the manuals. The list of keyboard shortcuts and icons can also be printed from the Documents page of eDIRECT at https://mo.drcedirect.com.

26. Dictionary/Thesaurus/Grammar Handbook • A physical English dictionary, physical thesaurus and physical grammar handbook may only be used on ELA, session 1 of grades 4 and 8 (the writing prompt). If the grammar handbook is electronic, it may not connect to the internet. The grammar handbook must be one that is published—it cannot be a district, school or classroom created handbook. • An electronic English dictionary and thesaurus is available in the INSIGHT platform to use on the writing prompt in session 1 of grades 4 and 8. • English Learners (EL) may have access to a physical bilingual dictionary for use only on ELA, session 1 of grades 4 and 8 (the writing prompt). If the bilingual dictionary is electronic, it may not connect to the internet.

27. Calculators • A physical calculator can be accessed for calculator-allowed items for the Mathematics and Science assessments. For sessions that allow use of a calculator, an electronic calculator is available in the INSIGHT platform. • For all sessions in grade 8 Science and for sessions 2 and 3 in grades 7 & 8 Mathematics assessments, a scientific calculator with exponents, trigonometry, and logarithmic functionalities is permitted. • Test Examiners are responsible for ensuring and verifying that any calculator with the ability to store functions and equations, e.g., a scientific calculator, has the memory cleared before and after each Mathematics assessment. • Calculators cannot have Internet connectivity or be able to connect to anyone inside or outside the classroom during testing. • Students cannot use a calculator on a laptop or other portable computer, pocket organizer, cell phone, watch, device with a typewriter-style keyboard, electronic writing pad, or pen-input device unless a particular assistive device is required for a student and is specified on his or her IEP. No calculators with QWERTY keyboards are allowed.

28. Prohibited Materials • Electronic devices, including any portable device that can connect to the internet or to anyone inside or outside of the classroom, must not be accessible during the testing sessions. Such items include, but are not limited to: • cellular/mobile phones • smart watches • electronic music players • digital cameras • handheld scanners • portable gaming devices • any device that can connect to the internet

29. Cell Phone/Smart Watch Policy • As part of your board approved assessment plan, each district shall have a cell phone/smart watch policy in place that ensures both test security and test validity. The policy should address both students and Test Examiners. Each classroom is expected to follow the district policy. • Some students use their phone to track medical issues, such as blood pressure, heart rate and blood sugar. If the student uses their phone for a medical issue, they can have it in the testing room, but it should be held on to by the Test Examiner or a test proctor and not by the student. The phone should also be setup to not disturb other students by making noise for phone calls, text messages or other non-medical alerts.

30. Moving Students: Disruption or Illness • Student may need to move during testing because of disruption or illness. • Pause and Exit the test. • Escort the student to a new location. • Login the student to a new workstation using the same test ticket.

31. Technical Issues • In the event of a technical issue (i.e., power outage, loss of internet connection, or network failure), students will be logged out and the test will automatically be paused. • Student’s submitted responses will not be lost. • The system will save up to the last completed item. • Every time students move to the next item, their responses will be saved. • It will not save partial or incomplete responses. • Students will need to log in again when they resume testing.

32. Invalidations • Tests are not invalidated because of: • Students behavior • Judgment of student effort • Only invalidated because of cheating. • Only the DTC can invalidate a test. • Should be done as soon as possible while the circumstances are fresh in your mind. • A letter signed by the superintendent is faxed to DESE. • Follow the instructions from the TCM, section 10.3

33. After Testing • DTC responsibilities: • 100% return of all Paper/Pencil, Braille and Large Print assessments. • DRC will audit the returned shipments • Use the online Materials Accountability Form • Available online in eDIRECT • Securely destroy immediately • Test Tickets • Scratch paper

34. Shipping • Paper/Pencil, Large Print and Braille test books and materials must be shipped back to DRC. • Deadline to schedule pickups is May 26. • Materials must be picked up by May 29.

35. dese.mo.gov/college-career-readiness/assessment (573) 751-3545 assessment@dese.mo.gov