High Stakes Testing and Accommodations: What you can and can’t do

1. High Stakes Testing and Accommodations: What you can and can’t do Mary Lewis Systems Solutions Manager November, 2013

2. Agenda • What is High-Stakes Testing? • Is WorkKeys high-stakes testing? • High-stakes test administration • Testing Accommodations • WorkKeys Internet Version • WorkKeys Paper and Pencil Testing • Resources

3. What is High-Stakes Testing? Wikipedia says: • “A high-stakes test is a test with important consequences for the test-taker.” Glossary of Education Reform says: • “What distinguishes a high-stakes test from a low-stakes test is not its form (how the test is designed) but its function (how the results are used).” WiseGEEK.org says: • “When the outcome of a standardized test is used as the sole determining factor for making a major decision, it is known as high-stakes testing.”

4. Is WorkKeys High-Stakes Testing? High school testing Entrance into training programs Requested by employer Required by employer (meet a job profile) On-the-job training Performance evaluations/promotions Career planning

5. Administering High-Stakes Tests • Constant human monitoring is required • Room requirements • Unauthorized items • Discussion of test items is not allowed • Fairness and expense • Personnel • 1 per 25 • No self-administration • Handle disruptions/security

6. Staffing Roles/Requirements May have one or more persons Multiple roles Standardized testing requires Training is critical Same procedures for every test

7. Handling tests Only authorized personnel Check-in within 24 hours Reseal cartons (save cartons) Secure storage Test day security Only testing staff handle materials Never unattended Keep track of books Adhere to room requirements – spacing, etc.

8. Equipment • No. 2 pencils (no mechanical pencils or ink pens) • Listening, Writing, and Business Writing require blue or black ink pens • Pencil Sharpener • Two timepieces • Permissible calculators (www.actstudent.org) • CD player for Listening and Writing tests • VCR or DVD player, TV monitor, and sound system for Teamwork and Observation

9. Test day security • Identify examinees • Create a roster • Direct examinees to seats • Check expiration date on test booklets • No accessories at desk • No material goes out of the test room • No material or phones during breaks

10. What you can do….. • Prevent loss • Standardized procedures • Avoid conflicts of interest • Cooperation in investigations • Examinee confidentiality – including scores • Equal and respectful treatment • Notify ACT of any administrator changes • Immediately notify ACT of a security breach! • Report Irregularities

11. Administrator Resources – Testing Irregularity Reporthttp://www.act.org/workkeys/forms/cbt.html

12. What you can’t do…. • Allowexaminees to have cell phones while testing and during breaks • Allow examinees to test unproctored • Answer questions about test items – even if they insist there is a problem with a question • View test items • Talk on the phone – unless calling ACT for assistance • Read or do anything other than walk around the room • Allow accommodations for ESL/ELL

13. What the examinee does…. • All examinees sign a security statement: • Pnp – printed on answer document • WKIV – agreement appears online • Examinee refuses to sign or agree • No testing

14. Testing Accommodations • Responsibilities of the Test Supervisor: • Examinee awareness • Staffing • Post-test reporting of accommodations to ACT • Select allowances for ESL/ELL: • Word-to-word foreign language glossary • Examinee must supply the glossary

15. Testing Accommodations Documentation guidelines: States the specific disability No older than three years* Describes the presenting problem(s) Describes the comprehensive assessment Describes functional limitations or impairment Describes specific recommended accommodations Establishes the professional credentials of the evaluator

16. Administrator Resources – Report of Accommodated Assessmentshttp://www.act.org/workkeys-private/manuals/AccommodatedAssessments2010.pdf

17. Testing Accommodations • WKIV allows extended time - only • P/P and WKIV timing options are: • Standard time x 1.5 • Standard time x 2.0 • Standard time x 3.0

18. Testing Accommodations Available • Available accommodations from ACT: • Material provided by ACT includes: • Braille test booklets • Audio DVDs • Open caption videotapes • Reader scripts and DVDs • Large-print test booklets and answer documents

19. Local Testing Accommodations • Some accommodations do not require documentation or coding: • Enhanced Lighting • Special tables or chairs • Separate room • Signal start and end of test

20. Testing Accommodations • WorkKeys-Ineligible Accommodations • Testing aides • Translation or interpretation of test items • Dictionaries with word definitions • Manipulatives or arithmetic tables • Eligibility for the NCRC • Scores on assessments for examinees using non-WorkKeys eligible accommodations will not be considered eligible for the NCRC

21. Accommodations Chart

22. Resources

23. Training Program Overview • Follow the training program • http://www.act.org/workkeys-private/admintraining/ • Training Program tab • Principles of High-Stakes Testing; WorkKeys Internet Version Test Administration and User Guide (“User’s Guide”); Quick Start Guides • Reference site • www.act.org/workkeys-private/reference/ • Notices • Administrator Resources • Verify the status of the WKIV system • Chat live!

24. Resources • WorkKeys Contact Center: • 800-WORKKEY (967-5539) • workkeys@act.org • Hours: • Monday – Friday (except holidays): 7:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m. (Central time) • Saturday (except holiday weekends): 8:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. (Central time)