Campus Test Coordinator Training March 2010

1. Campus Test Coordinator TrainingMarch 2010 North East ISD Testing Services

2. March CTC Training This CTC Training covers the following test administrations: • Grade 4 & 7 writing • Grade 9 reading • Grade 10 and primary exit ELA • March Exit retests (online & paper) • First administration of grade 5 & 8 math and reading in April

3. Please Note: This Training Does NOT Take the Place of Reading the Appropriate Manuals!

4. Campus Test Coordinators must have read the DDCM for 2010 prior to coming to training this spring • CTCs must read all Test Administrations Manuals prior to testing and contact Testing Services if there are any questions • The Answer Document Breeze presentations are mandatory training for CTCs

5. CTC Oaths • Pick up a CTC Oath today (HS Jan Field Test Campuses already turned one in) • Complete the first portion and turn it in at the March scorable check in; don’t complete the bottom • Testing will return it to you at the end of the year to complete

6. Train Your Principal! • CTCs must train your principals using the CTC training prior to training your test administrators for each test administration • Principals must be kept in the loop and be aware of what is happening and is given information about what campus decisions must be made prior to campus training • Be aware that State Monitors will meet with campus principals and ask about the campus test plan, training, oaths, security measures and the organization plan for testing.

7. What’s New This Year… • Grades 5 and 8 Mathematics and Reading • Combined into one administration beginning in 2010 • First administration in early April • Retest administrations in May and June • Student Success Initiative (SSI) • As modified in 2009, the SSI grade advancement requirements apply only to the TAKS math and reading tests at grades 5 and 8 • Advance to the next grade level only by passing these tests or by unanimous decision of the grade placement committee (GPC) that the student is likely to perform at grade level after accelerated instruction • Students in grade 3 no longer required to pass the TAKS reading test to be promoted to grade 4

8. March Exit Level Retest • To accommodate election polling on Tuesday, March 2, 2010, the social studies section of the March exit level retest will be administered on Monday, March 1; no testing is scheduled for March 2. • Optional Web-based Test Administrator Training Modules • Online test administrator procedures training modules • Supplement mandatory training; optional, but recommended • Take in either a group or individual setting • Three modules • Active monitoring • Distribution of test materials • Proper handling of secure materials

9. October 2010 TAKS Exit Level Retest • Information about October 2010 TAKS XL retest administration not included in 2010 coordinator manual • Supplement will be distributed prior to the administration • TAAS • Due to legislation passed in June 2009, TAAS will no longer be administered • Former TAAS and TEAMS examinees now required to take TAKS XL tests • Equivalent TAKS scores will be matched to TAAS or TEAMS passing standards

10. Policy Regarding Composition Retention and Duplication • Districts may retain a copy of each student’s composition and/or open-ended responses for the following TAKS administrations, including TAKS (Accommodated) in March: • grade 4 writing (English and Spanish) • grade 7 writing • grade 9 reading • the primary form of grade 10 ELA (NOT the make-up form) • exit level ELA Districts may NOT make copies of compositions or open-ended responses from TAKS-M tests or any other writing, reading, or ELA tests or field tests.

11. Copying Test Materials • Secure test materials may not be duplicated except for compositions & open ended responses. • Copying should be done by test administrators and should be monitored • Bad copies should be shredded • Copies must be locked up ASAP • Ask data processor for labels with student names • Principals may not make copies of secure test materials if a student draws an obscene picture or writes something against school policy. • EMBARGO DATE: March 22, 2010

12. What’s new about manuals? • TAKS General Test Administrator Manual • TAKS program general information • TAKS test administration calendar • Test security and confidentiality • Test administrator responsibilities • Appendices • Nine grade-specific Test Administration Directions • 2009 District and Campus Coordinator Manual Supplement • Guides and training tools for online testing • Policies and processes specific to online testing • Information for planning the world geography EOC field test • Program-specific information for testing coordinators

13. Available Online READ IT! You are responsible for the information contained inside

14. What is Test Security & Confidential Integrity? • Test Security- Accounting for ALL secure materials before, during and after test administration • Each campus has a packing list that lists all secure materials and security numbers. • Use the Materials Control Forms in order to keep track of secure test booklets and manuals. • Confidential Integrity- Involves protecting the contents of the test booklets, answer documents and other materials containing student information • All testing personnel must be trained and sign an oath before handling test materials • No person may view the contents of test booklets or answer documents before, during or after testing until tests are released to public unless instructed to do so by the manual

15. Breeze Presentations on Security for 2010 • This year Test Security Training will be done through mandatory Breeze presentations • Test Administrators must complete the breeze presentations and print out & sign the security oath prior to attending the campus face to face test administration training • CTCs must collect a security oath and a test administration oath for each test administrator

16. Reporting Irregularities Common Reporting Errors- 1. Not contacting Testing Services when a suspected incident has occurred or when CTC is uncertain about how to handle an incident. 2. Not gathering enough information to clearly determine what has happened. 3. Submitting incomplete documentation – reporting the irregularity via the phone without submitting documentation. 4. Not submitting the appropriate documentation within the requested timeframe- by check in time of scorables.

17. Preparing for Testing

18. Organize Testing Rooms • Have a plan for testing • Individual • Small group • Condensing rooms • Late arrivals • Determine which staff will be trained • It’s best to over train in case of emergencies • Only contract employees should be TAs

19. Dyslexia Bundled Accommodations • Train DBA Test Administrators yearly • Interactive Training available this year • Available for students who qualify at • Grades 3-8 TAKS Reading (all 3 administrations) • Grades 3-8 TAKS-A Reading (all 3 administrations) • This includes tests in English, tests in Spanish, and all SSI administrations. • There is not DBA for TAKS-M Reading • There is no DBA for subjects other than reading

20. DBA Reminders… • There are separate test administrator instructions and proper-nouns lists for TAKS and TAKS (Accommodated) for all SSI administrations due to the inclusion of a field-test passage on TAKS in March as well as differences in formatting between the two tests. • Campuses must ensure that the test booklet, test administrator instructions, and proper-nouns list match for students taking TAKS and for those taking TAKS (Accommodated).

21. DBA Reminders… • Both students and the test administrator MUST use Form 1. (This has been the most pervasive test administration problem the past two years.) • Not using a form 1 results in an incident report • A copy of the proper nouns list applicable to each grade/language must be distributed to each student and the test administrator. Copies of these lists must be made using the blackline masters provided in each campus box. • All campuses will get the blackline master in the coordinators packet

22. DBA Reminders… • The test administrator will give the test over a two-day period and will be provided with explicit information about where to stop on Day 1 and where to begin on Day 2. • The test administrator must indicate that the student has received a dyslexia test administration by marking the DB bubble in the accommodations column on the front of the TAKS test booklet (grade 3) or answer document.

23. Who is Testing? Important • Determine who is taking which test. • Does your campus have any homebound students? • Keep current up to date lists • Make sure that special ed and ELL staff have reviewed and approved list used for testing days • Give copy of roster to your principal prior to check in of materials • Double check list the day prior to testing and get appropriate signatures

24. Testing Dates for March 2010 • March 1, 2010- TAKS Exit Retest Social Studies • March 2, 2010- NO TESTING • March 3, 2010- Grade 4 & 7 Writing, Grade 9 Reading, Grade 10 and Primary Exit ELA, ELA Exit Retest • March 4, 2010- TAKS Exit Retest Math • March 5, 2010- TAKS Grade 10 ELA Makeup, TAKS Exit Retest Science

25. First Administration of Grade 5 & 8 in April • April 6, 2010- Grade 5 & 8 Math • April 7, 2010- Grade 5 & 8 Reading • DBA Day 1- April 7th • DBA Day 2- April 8th • Makeup testing for math and reading may continue until Friday, April 9th(No Sat. makeups) • No LAT Testing for grades 5 & 8 during 1st administration!

26. Are Students Who Are Absent Eligible to Take a Make-up Test? • In March, only grade 10 ELA will makeup testing for students absent • The state makeup day is Friday, March 5, 2010 • Remember, we make up reading & math for grades 3-8 & 10 • No Saturday makeup for grade 5 & 8 first administration of reading and math

27. TAKS Exit Retesters • TAKS Exit- Students who have not yet met their graduation requirement or passed all sections of the exit must take retest unless exempted by an ARD committee. • TAKS-M students who failed to meet the standard on the grade 11 test do not retest in March. • TAKS-A Retesters- It is an ARD decision whether or not they retest in March

28. Things to Remember… • TAKS-A is paper pencil only • TAKS-M has no retests only primary admin. • We cannot send in A/D to “ARD” exempt students from TAKS-M

29. Who Takes the Exit Retest? • Any enrolled 12th grade student who has not yet passed all exit tests will take the test • Students who have previously failed to meet the exit TAKS/TAKS-A standard • Students absent for previous TAKS/TAKS-A Exit • Students that will graduate in August 2010 who have not yet taken TAKS/TAKS-AExit

30. March Exit Retest Online • March Exit Retest Online campuses will have electronic rosters that include only failures and absences from the October 2009 • Eligible students who enrolled after the October administration must be manually put into the online system • Test Sessions must be set up by 4 pm on Wednesday, Feb. 24th so that Testing Services can load student tests • The TestNav version used in October must be uninstalled and a newer version installed for March Exit retest, TELPAS reading and EOC online testing • CSC is taking care of the installation • The online spreadsheets that are due this week will be used for Testing Services and the Computer Service Center Planning

31. Online Testing Carrels • Testing carrels will be handled by Testing Services • Contact Polo Baez with a request • Campuses must pick them up from the warehouse and bring them back as soon as testing has ended • Campuses will sign for the carrels • It is the CTCs job to make sure that online testing is secure and confidential

32. Resources for Online Testing • 2010 DCCM Supplement • Online TAKS Exit Retest TA Manual • General Security Manual • Charts & Graph Paper • Charts must not have rulers; use online chart only • Each student needs a copy of each for the appropriate test

33. New Enrollees • Use your Campus Test Plan • NEISD does not turn students away who are able to enroll on the day of state assessments • Any student who is enrolled on your campus on the day of the test must take to test or be counted absent • Have a plan how to handle newly enrolled special education and ELL students

34. Check Shipment of Materials • Open the boxes as soon as you get them and check to see if the contents match the packing slip • If you are missing materials notify district office ASAP or within 48 hours • If you wait and don’t report missing test materials your campus may not get the materials you need in time for testing

35. Additional Materials • Campuses are emailed Campus Material Lists with a NEISD Additional Materials Order Form with directions and a deadline • Deadline for March testing is Feb. 12, 2010 by 4 p.m. • Please, one order per campus • Do not alter form to suit your needs

36. TAKS Materials That Need to Be Provided for Testing • Answer document for each enrolled student • At least one dictionary or dictionary/thesaurus per five students at allowable grades • Grade 7 writing • Grade 9 reading • Grade 10 English Language Arts • Exit Level English Language Arts

37. Math test administrations graphing calculator for each student Grade 9 math Grade 10 math Exit Level math Science test administrations 4-function, scientific, or graphing One per five students Grade 10 science Exit Level science TAKS Materials Cont.TAKS Exit RETESTERSCalculators –Make sure that TA’s are taught how to clear the memory of all calculators and that you have batteries

38. TAKS Materials Cont. • State-supplied mathematics charts • all grades • State-supplied science chart with ruler • Exit Level science • Know the difference between the paper pencil charts and the online testing charts

39. Post signs at entrance to school, so that all visitor know testing is going on Post “Do Not Disturb Signs” on each classroom door when testing begins Make sure TAs know to take sign down when testing is completed Signs help monitors Let Visitors Know You Are Testing

40. Posters, Charts & Instructional Aids • Any posters, charts or visual aids in the content area being tested must be taken down or covered in testing rooms & hallways (anywhere a student might walk during the testing day) • Administrator should check classes and hallways prior to the day of testing to see that each class is prepared • District Monitors will be checking for instructional aids and will inform the CTC or principal

41. Computers Off • After attendance is taken all testing room computers must be turned off • Use Campus Test Plan for communication with TA and CTC • Hall Monitors must be actively monitoring and cannot grade papers, work on laptops or read. Full attention must be given to monitoring • Classrooms and offices not involved with testing students may have computers on

42. Unauthorized Devices • Check for unauthorized devices in the testing room, such as calculator watches, PDAs, and phones with cameras • Students should be asked to put backpacks, bags and purses in secure place in classroom away from desks • NEISD does not allow the use of cell phones by students during testing • Students still testing should not be allowed to use phone in testing room, in hallways, bathrooms or at lunch. • Monitor & Test Administrators must be on the lookout for unauthorized devices and if found should contact CTC & /or principal ASAP.

43. Students Caught With Cell Phones • Each campus is required to have a cell phone policy that is provided to staff and students prior to testing • A campus administrator must be called if a student is caught with a cell phone in a testing room, hallway or restroom. The administrator must check to see if the student used the phone to provide testing information via text, picture or phone call • Due to student privacy concerns administrators may only check information on the student cell phone that corresponds to testing date. Administrators may not check ALL messages, picture etc. as students have a right to privacy for any information other than what was sent during testing • If a student is caught with a cell phone and it is determined that cheating has occurred the student must have his/her test “O” coded and a report must be filed with TEA • If it is determined that cheating has not occurred then the campus must discipline the student and a list of such occurrences with what disciplinary actions were taken must be given to Testing at check in of scorables

44. Time • Students who arrive late must have adequate time to complete the test. The CTC and principal must make decision . • Students who come in late may begin testing if they have not had contact with someone who has already completed testing. • Campuses must have a plan for handling late arrivals • Remember, NEISD tests until 7 p.m. if necessary • Contact Testing Services by the end of school if still testing • Testing will need a contact number to reach CTC after the school day

45. Test Instructions • All tests must be administered in strict accordance with the instructions contained in the administration manuals. • All test administrators should have security and test administration manuals during testing • Instructions must be read verbatim! • CTCs must have a plan for inventorying manuals • This year we have a shortage and campuses are asked to only order what they need keep track of them as you will only get each set of manuals once

46. Special Situations • Defective booklets should be replaced with the same form if possible by the campus coordinator. • Students who can’t write due to a broken hand, arm etc. may dictate their answers and compositions. • Scribing: • Student dictates the composition to TA • TA writes down what student is dictating without capitalization or punctuation only asking for the spelling of words that are not age appropriate such as the “Labrador” instead of “dog”. • After the TA is finished she should let student review the composition to add/change. TA should make changes as directed and let student review to make sure student is satisfied with the composition.

47. If A Student Needs To Leave The Room For An Emergency • The Campus Test Plan asks CTCs to review evacuating students during testing • Campuses may have test administrators who are testing in rooms they are not familiar with and may not know how to evacuate with students during an emergency • Make sure that test administrators know not to pick up tests or testing materials • CTC or principal must call Laura Witte as soon as it is safe to report emergency and TEA will be contacted

48. Condensing Room Forms • Condensing Room Forms are not optional. • If campuses reach a point during test where the students still testing are of a number they can be redirected to a Condensing Room(s) with proper monitoring a Condensing Room Form must be used to track students and test materials. • The testing home room test administrator must complete the form including the names of the students still testing with test booklet information. The form is given to a trained test administrator who has been assigned to pick up the students from the home testing room • Test administrators must not leave the testing room with students still testing unless they have been given a directive from the CTC or campus principal • Studentsbeing moved to a condensing location must not have access to any materials that could aid them during the test or be allowed to access a phone unless the use of the phone is monitored by the CTC or an administrator

49. Special Supervision • Brief breaks in the testing room are allowed. Test booklets must be closed and students must not discuss the test • Students who are not finished by lunch must be supervised and not allowed to discuss the test. Answer sheets should be placed in the test booklets and must be locked up • Students who have not completed testing are not allowed to leave campus for lunch or eat lunch with parents; they must be supervised by a Test Administrator Let Parents know about this ahead of time

50. Test AdministratorResponsibilities