Looking ahead at assessments

1. Looking ahead at assessments 2013-14

2. --There will be no KAMM. If a student currently takes the Kansas Assessment of Modified Measures (KAMM) in reading and math, then the student’s IEP will indicate that he will take the general assessment. -- Students taking the alternate will take the Dynamic Learning Maps (DLM) Field Test Reading and Math. Please consult the DLM Eligibility Requirements information. -- The policy for students taking the alternate science and alternate history-government assessments in 2013-14 is yet to be determined. KSDE is investigating the possibility of piloting alternate items in both content areas.

3. Purpose of the 2013-14 Transitional Assessments in Language Arts and Mathematics • The assessments are required by the accountability waiver as approved by the United States Department of Education • The transitional assessments will provide insight for teachers and students into the Kansas College and Career Ready Standards • The transitional assessments will allow districts to use the new browser-based KITE test engine a year in advance of 2015.

4. 1. Will schools be able to utilize the transitional assessment in 2013-14 for freshmen and sophomores? Yes. Freshmen, sophomores, and juniors will be able to register and take the transitional assessments. Schools need only register them in KIDS. For accountability purposes, however, only juniors in 2014 will be used. Freshmen and sophomore scores from 2014 will not be banked for future accountability. 2. Will the existing proficiency levels (i.e., AW, AS, MS, ES, E) be applied in 2013-14 to banked scores from 2013? Yet to be determined. Transitional assessments in the 2014 will utilize 4 proficiency levels. No proficient scores from 2013 will be rendered “non proficient.” Attention will be paid also to the API index.

5. 3. How long will the 2014 transitional assessment be? Shorter,two sections rather than three. 4. If sophomores took the assessment in 2012-2013 and “passed,” do they still have to take the 2013-2014 assessment? No. Testing them again is, however, an option. All proficient scores from the “old” 2013 assessment will be used for accountability in 2014. KSDE does not have the option of using a second proficient score for accountability.

6. 5. Will there be performance based items? If so who will score them? No performance based items will contribute to the summative score on the transitional assessment in 2014. CETE is working to develop formative performance items that schools can use for professional development. 6. Can we use iPads in 2014? Decision pending until a full comparability analysis is completed on the 2012 iPad pilot. 7. How long will it take for us to receive the results in 2014? KSDE/CETE is hoping for a timely feedback, but new proficiency levels will need to be set. 8. How long will the testing window be? KSDE and CETE are working together to provide for a testing window of 12 weeks (which mirrors the SBAC plan), but the 2014 window could be as short as 7 weeks. KSDE will notify the field as soon as the date is firm.

7. Remember: Testing Technology RequirementsAn updated version of the KITE testing client will be available for installation in July. After this release the existing KCA and LCS clients will no longer be needed. The Supported Operating Systems will be:WINDOWS: XP, Vista, 7, and 8 MAC: OS X 10.5+ (Only Intel-based Macs are supported)iPad:iOS 6+ (Not including the iPad Mini)Screen Requirements: The minimum screen resolution requirement for KITE is 1024x768.

8. Test administered in 2014 • Transitional language arts • Transitional mathematics • science (delivered on the new browser-based engine) • DLM language arts • DLM mathematics • pilot history-government items • Alternate History government (yet to be determined) • Alternate science (yet to be determined) • KELPA

9. 11th Grade Assessment Scenarios School A: All 11th graders will need to be assessed with the transitional College and Career Ready State Assessments given that no sophomores were tested in 2013 as an OTL option. The school, therefore, will have no banked scores. Note: School ‘A’ will have the option of also testing freshmen and sophomores if they wish.

10. School B: No 11th graders will need to be tested with the transitional College and Career Ready State Assessments given that all 2014 11th graders were assessed in 2013 as sophomores, and all scored at least proficient. Note: School B will have the option of testing freshmen, sophomores, and juniors for instructional purposes.

11. School C: Some 11th graders will need to be assessed with the transitional College and Career Ready State Assessments given that although all 2014 juniors were tested in 2013 as sophomores only some scored at least proficient. School C will provide a second opportunity in 2014 to the non-proficient students from 2013. In this case, yes, the 2014 cohort will be comprised of scores from two different assessments. Note: School C will have the option of testing freshmen, sophomores, and juniors for instructional purposes.

12. SBAC Field Test in 2014 Schools will be selected to participate in the 2014 SBAC field test according to the “needs” of AIR’s (American Institute for Research) sample. The process of notifying schools that have been selected for the field test will identical to the process in 2013 for the piloting of items. As with the pilot, schools will have the freedom to “opt out” of the field test in order to take the state assessment if they wish. KSDE is investigating how participation and/or proficiency credit will be awarded to schools participating in the 2014 field test.