Grades 3-8 Summer Testing Meeting

1. Grades 3-8Summer Testing Meeting

2. Testing Dates and Times

3. Purposes of Testing • August tests are for promotion only! • Some students’ promotion criteria requires that they must achieve at or above level 2 on designated standardized assessments in grades 3-8; this test is used as the august measure. • Test students only in the area that they did not meet the promotional cut score i.e. a student who did not meet the cut score in ELA and met the cut score in math should be tested in ELA ONLY. • Tests cannot be used for score improvement. • Scores will not be used to improve a school’s NCLB Accountability or DOE Progress reports. • Results will not be reported to the nySTART. • Results will not appear on middle school or high school application forms.

4. Testing General Education Students with Standard Promotion Criteria - Grades 3 – 8

5. Testing Students with Non-Standard Promotion Criteria • Most students whose promotion criteria is one other than standard (MOD, MLT, EXM) may not be required to pass the Citywide Test for promotion purposes, however all students should be provided with the opportunity to meet the highest promotion standard possible • Students who took the 2011 NYS ELA and/or math test and did not meet the promotional cut score should take the Citywide Test in the needed subject(s)

6. Testing Grade 8 ELL Students ELLs in grade 8 enrolled in an ELSS for fewer than two years and Students with Interrupted Formal Education (SIFE - ML8 – promotion criteria): • NO testing ELLs in grade 8 enrolled in an ELSS for at least two years but fewer than four years (MT8 – promotion criteria): • Did not meet promotional cut score on the 2011 NYS ELA and/or math exam

7. Do Not Test • Students who achieved the promotional cut score on both tests. • Students already promoted. • Students who were not required to take the 2011 NYS test (e.g., ELL students exempt from taking the NYS ELA exam)

8. Preparing for testing • Identify all students who will be tested. • Determine ELL accommodations and Special Education modifications, if any, for students taking exams. • Plan for room and proctoring assignments. • Review non-secure teacher directions with proctors. • Review proctoring procedures. • Notify parents/guardians about the testing.

9. Delivery of Materials • Monday, August 1 – Wednesday, August 3 • Answer documents from DAPS • ELA & Math: English, Braille, LP and translated (for Math only) Check materials immediately after receiving them to ensure that enough has been delivered. DO NOT BREAK ANY SHRINKWRAPS BEFORE THE MORNING OF THE TEST!

10. Requesting Additional Materials • Extratest booklets can be picked up from the Borough Assessment Office. See DAPS Memorandum #14, 2010-2011- Attachment #1 for a list of borough offices. • Use the order form given out with the meeting’s materials. • Tests can only be picked up on the morning of administration after 7:00am. • Tests cannot be copied or picked up from another school building.

11. Answer Documents • Use pre-slugged answer documents if at all possible. • A preslugged grid may only be used by the child whose name is on the grid. • If a blank answer grid is used for students without pre-slugs the following information must be BUBBLED : • Last name, first name • NYC 9 digit student ID number • Date of birth • Sex • Grade (must be bubbled on pre-slugs as well!) • Borough/District/School number/Class (Use summer school site not home school) • The “O” that is just below the “grade” bubble.

12. NEW for 2011 Math answer documents only! Form A,B or C must be bubbled on the student answer side.

13. Special Codes • Home Instruction – Tests administered by a DOE teacher to a student that does not attend school due to a medical issue. • 75M501 (Manhattan), 75X502 (Bronx), 75K503 (Brooklyn ), 75Q504 (Queens), and 75R505 (Staten Island) • 999 – Class Code • Home School – Students who are taught at home by a parent. • Home District/Borough/444 - School • 888 – Class Code

14. Day of Testing • Tests are distributed and teachers sign the Test Material Security Form. Use a new form each day. Found in the DAPS Summer School Memo, Attachment # 2.

15. During the test • Administrators are circulating throughout the building to ensure that proper test practices are followed: • Rooms are prepared appropriately: door windows are not covered, word or math walls were removed or hidden and the time has been written on the board and time left regularly updated. • Proctors are walking around their classrooms withoutpencils or erasers in their hands. • For the math test only: Proctors remind students to bubble in form A, B or C.

16. After the Test • Procedures for returning tests are followed. Students may not, under any circumstances, bring testing materials to the classrooms or testing control center. • Proctors sign the Test Material Security form when they return the tests. • Test coordinators and helpers prepare the answer documents for return to the Borough Assessment Office for scanning before 1 PM.

17. Returning Answer Documents • Use the checklist each day to help with packaging • Answer documents are due by 1 PM each day to yourBorough Assessment Office. See DAPS Memorandum #14, 2010-2011- Attachment #1 for a list of borough offices. • Documents are scanned while you wait. If there are problems with your grids you will be asked to correct the problems immediately. • People dropping off may have to wait up to one hour for the scanning process to complete. • Bring a completed receipt everyday.

18. Test Booklet Pickup • All test booklets must be accounted for. • Repack them in their original boxes. • Affix labels to the top of the box. • Store them securely near the principal’s office. • All exam booklets will be picked up on August 11 by UPS for return to Pearson. • DO NOT send answer documents to Pearson!

19. Problems • Any problems or irregularities must be reported to your BAID immediately. See DAPS Memorandum #14, 2010-2011- Attachment #1 for a list of BAIDS. • Do not contact the NYS Education Department about problems because this is not a New York State test.

20. FAQs • Do we test non-public school students and walk-ins? • Not usually but they must be accompanied by a parent, have id and proof must be presented that they need the test, i.e. principal letter, report card, etc. BUT, when in doubt, give the test! • Can pens be used? • No, all work must be done in pencil. Have a supply of #2 pencils available on test day for the students. • Is scrap paper allowed? • Scrap paper is allowed for the math test. Be sure it is collected after the test. • Can calculators be used? • No, calculators are not permitted.

21. FAQs • Does the school need to supply rulers? • Rulers will be included with the delivery of math test booklets. • What if a child gets sick during the test? • Stop the exam and record where the child stopped and the time remaining. Allow the child to continue the test during make up from the point the test was stopped and with the remaining time. • Why are people being asked to wait while the exams are scanned.? • Test results will be available 2 days after the tests are scanned. To do this any errors must be corrected immediately and the tests rescanned. • Waiting can be reduced dramatically if the biographical information is bubbled in properly on the answer documents. Special attention should be paid to hand bubbled grids. • When and where will the results be available? • The results for ELA and math will be available on Thursday morning, August 11th and make-up results will be available on Thursday afternoon.

22. Borough Assessment Implementation Directors