2009 Campus Test Coordinator Training

1. 2009 Campus Test Coordinator Training February 11-12, 2009 Trainer – Peggy Bradfield Lamar Consolidated Independent School District

2. TAKS Training Requirements(Page 50 in Coordinator Manual)

3. What’s New for 2009? • Not Much! • The test administrator manuals have been re-designed. There is now a general test administrator manual and grade-specific test administrator directions manual. The general TA manual will arrive before the first spring test administration and is to be kept and used for the rest of the year. The grade-specific TA manuals will arrive before each test administration. • There is a slight re-design of test administrator security oaths this year. (handout)

4. The high school honor statement has been expanded to include high school TAKS-M testing. • Reading the questions and answers on TAKS-M reading tests is no longer a required standard administration but are now an available accommodation for TAKS-M reading. • TELPAS will be 100% online this year including the holistic ratings. There will be no paper TELPAS tests or answer documents this year. • TAKS-M will be included in SSI re-tests this year. What’s New for 2009?

5. Each column is an administration • Materials kept separate • May require separate trainings • Turned in separately • What happens up until testing – p. 6-7 • When materials are due to arrive • Deadline for extra materials to be ordered – email Tanya • Deadline for test administrator training • Test schedule Calendar of Events – Pages 6-9

6. What happens after testing – pages 8-9 • When scorables are due • When nonscorables are due • When compositions can be discussed • When results are due • When parents must receive results Calendar of Events, cont.

7. TAKS TAKS-A TAKS-M TELPAS STATE TESTING Campus Test Coordinator Responsibilities

8. Read the coordinator’s manual, the coordinator supplement(eoc), the accommodations manual, and the test security supplement. • Read the test specific administrator manuals. • Attend test coordinator training. • Receive and manage testing materials. • Be responsible for all secure testing materials on your campus. • Prepare answer documents for testing. Ensure that each student is slated to take the correct test. • Coordinate all campus testing logistics. • Train test administrators – agenda & sign-in sheet. • Establish and monitor testing procedures to insure test security. Campus Coordinator Responsibilities

9. You and your principal are responsible for test security on your campus. • Supervise and actively monitor testing including make-ups. • Verify appropriate score codes, test taken information codes, testing accommodations codes, and all other coding is correct on answer documents. • Mark make-ups. • Prepare and return all testing materials to the district test coordinator. (handout) • Have a partner double check your nonscorables. • Be the campus contact for all questions about testing. • Report testing irregularities and security violations immediately to the district test coordinator. Campus Coordinator Responsibilities

10. Test Security and Confidential Integrity

11. Test Security involves accounting for all secure materials before, during, and after each test administration. • Confidentiality involves protecting the contents of all tests booklets and student answer documents. Definitions

12. All testing personnel must be trained and sign an oath before handling secure test materials. • All tests must be administered in strictaccordance with the manuals. • No person may view, reveal, or discuss the contents of a test or answer document unless specifically instructed to do so by the procedures in the test administrator manuals. • No person providing an oral administration of a test may write notes, calculations, or any other marks in a test booklet or in any other location. Test Security and Confidentiality Requirements

13. Secure materials (test booklets and LAT simplification guides) may not be duplicated without specific prior approval from TEA. • Seals on test booklets may only be broken during testing sessions and only by persons authorized to do so in the instructions. • No person may answer verbally or nonverbally any question that relates to the contents of a test before, during, or after a test administration. • No person may review or discuss student responses during or after testing unless specifically authorized to do so by the procedures in the TA manuals. Test Security and Confidentiality Requirements

14. No person may change any response or instruct a student to do so. • Only students can erase stray marks on their answer documents or in their scorable test booklets. • Secure materials must be securely locked up when not in use. • Testing materials must be signed out and in daily to test administrators. • Campuses must actively monitor testing sessions and require test administrators to actively monitor during testing. Test Security and Confidentiality Requirements

15. Watching students during testing. The focus of the teacher’s attention is on the students and not elsewhere. • Walking around to better observe what students are doing. (Are students; working on correct section of test, marking answers on the answer document, not cheating, not using cell phones, not talking or communicating with other students, etc.?) What Is Active Monitoring? “Active Monitoring”

16. Working on the computer or doing email. • Reading a book, magazine, or newspaper. • Grading papers or doing lesson planning. • Leaving the room without a trained substitute test administrator in the room. • Leaving students unattended during lunch or breaks. • Reading the test over a student’s shoulder. • Checking student responses during testing. What is NOT Active Monitoring?

17. Seating Charts are required for all test administrations. Seating Charts must include: • Location of testing session (Campus, room) and a brief description of the testing area (classroom, library, broom closet, etc.) • The assessment being given including grade, subject and date. • The first and last names of the test administrator(s). • The first and last names of each student and where they were seated for testing. • If students are re-grouped during testing an additional seating chart will be needed for the new group. The new seating chart should indicate the time students were re-grouped. • Seating chart samples on our page. Seating Chart Rule

18. Students in grades 9-12 will be asked to sign an honor statement immediately prior to taking TAKS and TAKS-M assessments. The language will appear on the answer document. Sign it in pencil. By signing my name, I agree that I will not give or receive unauthorized assistance during the test. I understand that giving or receiving unauthorized assistance during the test is cheating and may result in the invalidation of my test results. • The test security supplement contains a sample letter to parents regarding the honor statement. • Test administrators are not required to check to make sure students sign their honor pledges. Honor Statements

19. Incidents resulting in a deviation from documented testing procedures are defined as testing irregularities. • Each person participating in the testing program is responsible for reporting immediately to the district testing coordinator any violation or suspected violation of test security or confidentiality, including all testing irregularities. • TEA classifies testing irregularities by type and usually only requires corrective action plans for the irregularities that are relatively minor in nature. Departures from Test Administration Procedures

20. Testing irregularities that constitute a disclosure of secure testing materials or altering student results either directly or indirectly are considered serious and may result in actions being taken against a teaching certificate or the filing of criminal charges for tampering. • Examples include; • Viewing the test before, during, or after testing unless authorized by the testing procedures. • Scoring student tests. • Discussing secure test content or student responses. • Copying secure testing materials without permission by TEA • Directly or Indirectly assisting students during testing. • Tampering with student responses on answer documents. Serious Testing Irregularities

21. Districts are required to maintain the following documentation for a period of five years. • Testing irregularity and investigation documents. • Materials inventory and extra material records. • Training agendas and sign-in sheets. • Signed security oaths for all testing personnel. • Seating Charts. • TELPAS Rating Rosters and Writing Verification Forms. • In LCISD, campuses are responsible for storing their campus testing records and maintaining them for the required five year period of time. • Organize by test administration by year. (columns) • Discuss with principal about storage place for documents. • Put previous year’s records in storage place; discard 2003 and earlier. • Testing records are based upon the calendar year and not the school year. Document Retention

22. TEA will again be conducting on-site visits to districts and campuses throughout the 2009 testing year. • TEA will use independent test monitors. • The monitors will show up unannounced. • Monitors report to the superintendent’s office first and then will go to campuses. • All campuses need to be prepared for a visit. Talk to your principal. • Verify their ID badges if they show up at your campus and then grant them access to the campus testing sites. The principal or campus testing coordinator may accompany them to show them testing sessions and answer their questions. On-Site Monitoring by TEA

23. Tests Administered for 2009 Note

24. Testing Calendar for TAKS / TAKS-A / TAKS-M

25. Test Schedule and Directions • All tests must be administered on the scheduled day. • All tests must be administered in strict accordance with the instructions contained in the test administration manuals.

26. When materials arrive on your campus, open the boxes and do an inventory check to make sure that you have everything on your packing list. If anything is missing then immediately notify the district testing coordinator. • Shipping errors can be cleared up if addressed right after we receive the materials but after testing is complete, you cannot claim that any shortage of secure testing materials is the result of a shipping error. • Order any additional materials you need by email to Tanya before the day she has to order. Receiving Materials

27. Secure testing materials must be kept under lock and key in a secure location. • A storage location is not secure if individuals who are not authorized to have access to the materials have a key to the storage location. (For example, custodians, administrators or others who may have a master key.) • Talk with your principal if you don’t have a secure storage area. Secure Storage of Testing Materials

28. There are two answer documents that are used for all TAKS, TAKS (Accommodated), TAKS-M, and LAT testing. • TAKS, TAKS (Accommodated), and TAKS LAT including both English and Spanish are on one combined answer document (per grade) • TAKS–M and TAKS-M LAT – students taking all subjects with TAKS–M, including students eligible to take TAKS–M with linguistic accommodations, will use the regular TAKS-M answer document (grades 4–11) or scorable test booklet (grade 3) • TAKS–Alt – no answer documents should be submitted for students assessed with TAKS (Alt); it is an online only system. Two Answer Documents

29. See page 161-162. Note: There are 6 different math and 6 different reading answer keys for this answer document. Note the minor change in the language taken abbreviations on the answer document this year.

30. See pages 156-160; 162; Remember there is no Spanish TAKS-M

31. Mark ONE score code for each test that is included on the answer document. (Note the “*” score code means “did not test on this answer document” for the subject indicated. For example the student split testing between TAKS and TAKS-M.) • Mark the test taken for TAKS and TAKS-A on answer documents (and the testing language for grades 3-6). • Mark one or more accommodation codes depending upon what the student receives. Use the campus special education accommodations list. Leave blank if there are no accommodations. • OA, LP, and BR testing accommodations- • Do not bubble both OA and P for an oral administration. Use only the OA bubble. • Do not bubble both LP or BR and P for a large print or Braille test administration. Use only the LP or BR bubble. Coding the Answer Documents

32. If you fail to mark a test taken information code the system will default to TAKS English, which would certainly fail the student unless they took the TAKS English test. • The test taken information code not only determines the answer key that is used to score the test but it also determines how the student results are used in accountability. (Most of TAKS Accommodated is not in state accountability this year.) • Once answer documents are submitted to Pearson we cannot correct coding errors (demographics or test taken information) for accountability. We could do a score code change request ($100 fee paid by campus) and get a correct score for the student but the original score would be the one used for accountability. Critical Accountability Issue!

33. For State Accountability Ratings • Ethnicity • Economic Disadvantaged Status • Score Code & Test Taken Information For AYP Accountability Ratings • Ethnicity • Economic Disadvantaged Status • LEP Status • Special Education Status • Score Code & Test Taken Information What Coding Affects Accountability?

34. For PBMS Accountability / Federal ProgramsCompliance • Ethnicity • Economic Disadvantaged Status • LEP Status • Migrant Status • Special Education Status • Bilingual Status • ESL Status • At Risk Status • CATE Status • Score Code What Coding Affects Accountability?

35. Everything is important since it affects something in one of the three accountability systems. • It is the responsibility of campus test coordinators to verify the demographic coding on student answer documents. • I would suggest that you use sources other than our district Discovery system to verify the coding since Discovery was the source of the coding to begin with. • See Appendix A for information on gridding, particularly the new codes for Bilingual & ESL. Verifying Coding for Accuracy

36. If the name or PEIMS ID number is incorrect then • VOID the document. • Hand grid a new answer document with all the correct information. • Place voided answer document under Void Header Sheet for return with the scorable materials. • If anything other than the name or PEIMS ID number is incorrect then • Retain the answer document • Hand grid the correct information in the appropriate field. • Do not hand grid any field other than the one(s) being corrected. Corrections to Precoded Answer Documents/Labels

37. Precoded Answer Documents • Grade 4 • Grade 5 Reading • Grade 5 Math • Grade 5 Science • Grade 6 • Grade 7 • Grade 8 Reading • Grade 8 Math • Grade 8 Science & SS • Grade 9 • Grade 10 Math, Sci, & SS • Grade 11 Math, Sci, & SS Precoded Labels • Grade 3 Reading* • Grade 3 Mathematics* • Grade 10 ELA • Grade 11 ELA • Exit Level Retests • TAKS-M All grades & subjects (You will receive a precoded TAKS-M label for every student that is special education even if they will not be taking TAKS-M) Precode Answer Documents & Labels * Precoded labels can be used on either English or Spanish scorable documents.

38. All precoded answer documents if not used must be returned under a VOID header with scorable materials. • If a precoded label is attached to an answer document and not used then it must be returned under a VOID header with scorable materials. • If a precoded label is not attached to an answer document then it is returned with the non-scorable materials. Returning Unused Precoded Labels and Answer Documents

39. Since 2009 is a designated TAKS release year, districts may retain a copy of each student’s TAKS, TAKS Accommodated, and TAKS-M compositions and/or open-ended responses for assessments administered during the 2008-2009 testing cycle (October 2008-July 2009). (Handout: See TEA update & place in DCCM on pg. 179) • Districts are NOT permitted to make copies of student’s compositions or open-ended responses for the grade 10 ELA LAT test. • LCISD will be purchasing the pdf versions of the compositions and open ended responses again this year. Duplication of Written Compositions

40. Testing Procedures

41. TAKS Testing Procedures are listed in Campus Coordinator Activity 11 on pages 173-182 of the Coordinator Manual. • You MUST read the manual! Testing Procedures This PowerPoint is not a substitute for reading the appropriate sections of the 2009 Coordinator’s Manual.

42. At least one test administrator for every 30 students. • “Testing – Do Not Disturb” signs posted on testing rooms. • Testing rooms should be quiet, well lighted, well ventilated, and comfortable. • Bulletin Boards and instructional displays covered or removed if it contains anything that might aid students during testing. • May take brief breaks in the testing room. • Do not allow students to bubble in the demographic fields on the front of the answer document. • No cell phones or other two-way telecommunication devices. Summary of Procedures

43. Provide dictionaries (English) for grade 7 writing, 9th grade reading, and grade 10-11 ELA. At least 1 for every 5 students. May provide ESL dictionaries for LEP students. • Provide graphing calculators for grades 9-11 math tests. Every student will have their own graphing calculator. • Provide a four-function, scientific, or graphing calculator for grades 10-11 science tests. At least 1 for every 5 students. • Test administrators are not allowed to require students to first mark their answers in the test booklet and then transfer them to the answer document. • Must give students state-supplied rulers. CANNOT use other rulers. Summary of Procedures

44. Students may use highlighters in non-scorable test booklets. • Must give students state-supplied math chart and science chart. • Reinforcing, reviewing, and/or distributing testing strategies during an assessment is strictly prohibited. • You cannot require students to use any particular test taking strategy. Students can use test taking strategies but you cannot require them to do so during the testing. • Lunch breaks are permitted, however students must remain as a group and be monitored by a trained test administrator so they do not discuss the test. Summary of Procedures

45. Test administrators are not allowed to answer any question relating to the content of the test itself. • Test administrators must actively monitor students during testing. • Test administrators cannot leave the room unless a trained substitute test administrator is present. • The test administrator must inspect the answer document to be sure the student bubbled in answers as instructed. • May change testing rooms as long as test security is not breached. • Immediately after each test session, the test administrator must return test materials to the campus coordinator. Summary of Procedures

46. No scratch paper for any TAKS testing (except as an accommodation or for an online test). • Students must remain seated during testing and are not allowed to talk while test booklets are open. • Students must be allowed to work at their own pace. Students may not be directed to speed up or slow down. • Students are not allowed to work on a previous section of the test or a section that has not yet been administered. • Students may not read books during breaks or between the written composition and revising and editing sections of the writing/ELA tests. Summary of Procedures

47. All TAKS tests are untimed. Each student must be allowed to have as much time as necessary to respond to every test item. • Districts are not required to test beyond the regular school hours, but they are free to do so if they so choose. • LCISD guideline for state testing – The principal along with the campus coordinator determine the ending time for testing on their campus. Summary of Procedures

48. Grade 3 Mathematics reading assistance • This is part of the standard administration for all students taking TAKS, TAKS Accommodated, and TAKS-M grade 3 mathematics. • Upon the request of the student, the test administrator may provide assistance by reading any word, phrase, or sentence of a test question or answer choice that the student is experiencing difficulty reading. • Permitted on an individual basis only for any grade 3 student who requests it. • Test administrators do not receive an additional copy of the test to provide mathematics reading assistance. • Reading the entire grade 3 math test is an oral administration. Summary of Procedures

50. Accommodations are practices and procedures that provide equitable access during instruction and assessments for students with special needs. • Accommodations are intended to reduce or even eliminate the effects of a student’s disability or limitation; however, they do not reduce learning expectations. • The accommodation must be documented in the IEP or IAP for the student and must be used in regular instruction for the student. Testing Accommodations