Getting Ready for the District Choice State Testing (DCST) Administration of the ACT

1. Getting Ready for the District ChoiceState Testing (DCST) Administrationof the ACT Presented by: Sean Moore and Kevin Rauch

2. Agenda • What’s new for DCST • DCST Overview • Test Center Establishment • Standard Testing Requirements • Testing with Accommodations • Test Administration Training/Staff Responsibilities • Ordering & Return of Materials • Getting Started Now – Review of dates and documents you must complete and return to ACT • Resources

3. What’s new • TWO TEST DATE OFFERINGS • March Test Dates • Initial test date – March 20 • Makeup test date – April 3 • Accommodations Testing Window – March 20 – April 3 OR

4. What’s new • TWO TEST DATE OFFERINGS • April Test Dates • Initial test date – April 24 • Makeup test date – May 8 • Accommodations Testing Window April 24 – May 8 • The district will select one test date for all schools in the district.

5. What’s new • Pre–ID Bar Code Labels – Optional Service • Districts may now provide ACT with an electronic file containing student information including the student’s state assigned ID. • The file must be in the format prescribed by ACT. (See Attachment D) • The deadlines for submitting your Pre-ID bar code label file varies based on your test date choice. (See Attachment D)

6. What’s new • Pre-ID Bar Code Labels – Optional Service • Record your district’s interest in using this new service in the District Info tab of Attachment A • ACT will produce the labels to be placed on the individual student’s answer folder to assist with the collection of data and management of the student record. • The State Assigned ID will be reported in the District Student Data File.

7. The DCSTAdministration of the ACT

8. DCST Administration of the ACT • District selects one of two test options • The ACT, or The ACT Plus Writing • The decision applies to all schools district-wide – and cannot be changed • English 75 items 45 min • Mathematics 60 items 60 min • Reading 40 items 35 min • Science 40 items 35 min • Writing30 min

9. DCST Administration of the ACT • Weekday, school based administration • All grade 11 students at participating schools take the test • All schools must test their own students • Scores for students testing with Standard Time or ACT Approved Accommodations are accepted by ALL universities/colleges and for NCAA initial eligibility • Testing with State Allowed Accommodations does not result in college reportable scores

10. DCST Administration of the ACT • Only schools meeting The ACT for State Testing Standard Testing Requirementsare eligible to serve as test sites • District notifies schools regarding participation in DCST • Schools communicate to Students Early— • No refunds for students already registered for a National ACT Test Date

11. DCST Administration of the ACT • No “Registration” for DCST • Estimated Enrollment during Establishment • Enrollment Confirmation Form • Pre-test session held before test day • ACT fee waivers may not be used • Technology requirements document posted to District Choice State Testing website: http://www.act.org/aap/dcst/

12. DCST Test SiteEstablishment Process

13. DCST Test Site Establishment • Establishment Packets shipped to High School Principals • In early August for schools testing in March • In September for schools testing in April • Envelope for Principal • Envelopes for appointed testing personnel in the principal’s mailing • Courtesy copy Establishment Packet mailed to District Assessment Coordinators

14. DCST Test Site Establishment • Principals – Review key documents • Checklist of Dates • Testing Staff Qualifications and Responsibilities • Summary of Test AdministrationPolicies for the ACT • Standard Testing Requirements

15. DCST Test Site Establishment Principal’s Responsibilities: • Consider staffing requirements and appoint testing staff • Test Supervisor • Back-up Test Supervisor • Test Accommodations Coordinator (TAC) • Select staff who will be available for the entire school year • Complete Online School Information/Appointment of Testing Staff Form

16. DCST Test Site Establishment • Required Online Test Site Establishment Forms: • Principals – Appointment of Testing Staff/School Information Form • Test Supervisors - ACT State Testing Test Supervisor and Facilities Profile • Back-up Test Supervisors - ACT State Testing Back-up Test Supervisor Profile • Test Accommodations Coordinators - ACT State Testing Test Accommodations Coordinator Profile

17. Standard Testing Requirements

18. Standard Testing Requirements • Apply to both initial and makeup tests • Facilities • Personnel • Security • Exact timing of tests • Documentation of test day procedures • Other test administration requirements

19. Facilities

20. Facilities • Choice of test rooms for standard time administration • Well lit, comfortable temperature, quiet atmosphere • Comfortable seating for 25-30 students • Prefer no more than 100 students per room for manageable security

21. Facilities • Freedom from distractions • Only persons assisting with that day’s administration may be in the room • Turn off bells and public address systems • Uninterrupted testing period required • 3 ½ hours of testing time for The ACT • Requires about 4 ½ hours of staff time for pre- and post test responsibilities • 4 hours testing time for the ACT Plus Writing • Requires about 5 hours of staff time for pre- and post test responsibilities

22. Facilities • Freedom from distractions • Separate testing rooms from regularschool activities • Away from noisy locations • Quiet wing of the high school – preferred • Local decision to have 11th grade only in session on test day

23. Off-site Testing • May request off-site testing location if unable to meet Standard Testing Requirements for facilities • Consider off-site for initial test date and/or makeup test date • Each off-site location must be approved by ACT • Community college, church or otherpublic facility, private facility • Off-site Request Form on DCST website: www.act.org/aap/dcst • Receipt deadline December 16, 2011

24. Personnel

25. Personnel • Test Supervisors, Back-Up Test Supervisors, and Test Accommodations Coordinators have access to secure test materials prior to testing • Avoid the appearance of a conflict of interest, and protect relatives (children, stepchildren, grandchildren, nieces, nephews, siblings, in-laws, spouses, and persons under your guardianship) from allegations of impropriety

26. Personnel • Test Supervisors & Back-up Test Supervisors maynot be related to any examinee taking the DCST administration of the ACT in 2012 anywhere in your state • Test Accommodations Coordinators maynot be related to any examinee testing with accommodations taking the DCST administration of the ACT in 2012 anywhere in your state • Room supervisors & proctors maynotassist in a room where any relative is being tested

27. Personnel • Testing staff must not engage in ACT test preparation activities during current year for commercial gain • May be part of testing staff only if: • Test preparation- part of regularjob responsibilities • Not employed by a commercial enterprise • Must not be enrolled in high school

28. Personnel • Each school is responsible for testing their own students • A person may not serve as a Test Supervisor, Backup Test Supervisor or Test Accommodations Coordinator at more than one school

29. Security

30. Security • Constant security of materials • Receive and store secure materials • Receipt, check-in, and verification of test booklets by serial numbers • Restricted access at all times—documented “chain of custody”

31. Security • Constant security of materials • Test materials must not be transferred or shared between schools • This applies to all schools • Schools within the same building • Multiple schools testing at same off-site location • Answer documents must not be returned to students after test responses are gridded

32. Security • All test sites must test on designated test days only • Testing must be the first activity of the morning for all students • Students’ schedules must be adjusted • All Room Supervisors must begin reading the Verbal Instructions no later than 9:00 a.m. • Bus schedules must be adjusted

33. Security Proper identification of students by Room Supervisor Direct consultation with ACT to handle administration irregularities Immediate and complete return of all materials to ACT

34. Test Administration Requirements

35. Test Administration Requirements Accurate completion of documentation including Roster, Seating Diagram, Test Booklet Count Form, and Time Verification Form returned for each room Briefing Session 30 min. prior to test Staff must be attentive to their testing responsibilities during the administration Tests must be administered in the order listed: Test 1 (first), Test 2 (second)…

36. Test Day Observers

37. Test Day Observers • Only those directly involved in testingmay be in testing area • Unannounced Authorized Observers • ACT • Unauthorized Observers • Media • Test prep companies • Parents • School board members • District personnel

38. Testing withAccommodations

39. Testing withAccommodations TAC Training • Fall mailing: • ACT-Approved or State-Allowed Accommodations Request Forms • Examples of available accommodations • Extended Time, Testing over Multiple Days • Alternate Formats (Large Print, Reader’s Script) • Test Administration Training • In November/December for March districts • In January for April districts

40. Testing withAccommodations ACT-Approved Accommodations Professionally diagnosed disabilities, current IEP or 504 documentation College Reportable Scores ACT will review all ACT-Approved Accommodations requests If approved: Student specific test materials Detailed testing instructions

41. Testing withAccommodations State-Allowed Accommodations School approved accommodations NOT college reportable ACT will review and process all completeState-Allowed Accommodations requests If complete orders are placed: Student specific test materials Detailed testing instructions

42. Testing with Accommodations • ACT Approved request deadlines • March districts – December 16, 2011 • April districts – January 27, 2012 • State Allowed order deadline • March districts – February 3, 2012 • April districts – March 9, 2012

43. Test Administration Training

44. Test Administration Training • November/December for March districts --- OR --- • January for April districts • REQUIREDfor ALL Newly appointed Test Supervisors, Back-up Test Supervisors and Test Accommodations Coordinators • District Personnel may attend • If the staff at a school (TS, Backup TS, Test Accommodations Coordinator)has not been trained – we will NOT ship test materials to the school

45. Test Administration Training • Training will cover: • an ACT overview • standardized procedures • test administration policies • test accommodation administration policies • return of materials • questions

46. Following Test Administration Training • Testing staff must read and be familiar with the Supervisor’s Manual • The Test Supervisor will organize an in-school session for all Grade 11 students to complete all pre-test information sections of the answer folder (before test day)

47. Following Test Administration Training • The Test Supervisor and Test Accommodations Coordinator will: • Select Room Supervisors and Proctors • Conduct a required local training session for all testing staff before testing (a separate training session is required for all staff who will be supporting students testing with accommodations conducted by the TAC at each school) • Distribute a complete copy of the appropriate Supervisor’s Manual to each Room Supervisor

48. Ordering & Return of Materials

49. Ordering Materials • Enrollment provided on Appointment of Testing Staff/School Information Form completed by Principal • Confirmation of enrollment on Confirmation Form submitted by Test Supervisor in • January for schools testing in March • February for schools testing in April • Contact ACT to order additional materials • After the Initial Test Date, order makeup materials by 5 pm CT, the day after the Initial day of testing for the Makeup Test Date

50. Non-secure Shipment • To arrive • Early February for March testers • Mid March for the April testers • To Test Supervisor • Supervisor’s Manual • Taking the ACT for State Testing • Answer documents (blank) • Someone must be at the school to receive this shipment