Training Module I: Standards-Based Accountability Assessments 2014-2015 Transcript Slide # Slide 1 Slide 2 Slide 3 Slide 4 Slide 5 Slide 6 Slide 7 Description Welcome to the Minnesota Assessments Training Module I: Standards-Based Accountability Assessments. Welcome to the Minnesota Assessments Training Module I: Standards-Based Accountability Assessments. Navigation View the diagram for detailed descriptions of the training interface. Select Play when you are ready to begin the course. Resources A transcript of this presentation is available on PearsonAccess under Resources, MDE Training. The Procedures Manual for the Minnesota Assessments is your primary reference for all information related to assessments and their administration. We will refer to it throughout this training module. An electronic copy of the current edition of the manual can be found on PearsonAccess under Resources, Manuals. Next, we ll learn more about what content will be covered in the training. Standards-Based Accountability Assessments Standards-Based Accountability Assessments Minnesota Assessments There are three different groups of assessments in the Minnesota Assessments system Standards-Based Accountability Assessments, English Language Proficiency Assessments and Career and College Assessments. Which test students take depends on their grade level, English learner (EL) status, and Special Education status. Training Module I will cover the Standards-Based Accountability Assessments. A brief overview of English Language Proficiency Assessments, including references to other resources, will be provided at the end of this module. Training Module II will address the Career and College Assessments. The goal of this module is to provide district staff with an overview of the required Standards-Based Accountability Assessments administered annually. This overview includes information about the assessments, subjects covered and grades tested, testing windows, and available accommodations. Participation in Statewide Assessments The Standards-Based Accountability Assessments are required to be administered to students in grades 3 through 12. Although all students enrolled in Minnesota public schools must participate in the statewide assessments, their grade level, EL status, and Special Education status may affect how they test.
Slide 8 Slide 9 Slide 10 Slide 11 The Standards-Based Accountability Assessments Administration Details The Standards-Based Accountability Assessments required by the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) are administered statewide to all students in grades 3 through 8 in both mathematics and reading, to students in grade 10 in reading, and to students in grade 11 in mathematics. The results from these Standards-Based Accountability Assessments are used to calculate Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) and Multiple Measurement Ratings (MMR) for Minnesota schools and districts. The science assessments are administered statewide to all students in grades 5, 8, and high school. These assessments are required by the ESEA but are not used to calculate AYP or MMR for Minnesota schools and districts. This chart shows the subjects required by the ESEA to be assessed and the assessments that can be given to fulfill the requirement. The majority of students will take the MCA. Students with significant cognitive disabilities that meet eligibility requirements may be administered the MTAS. The MCAs are administered online only. The year of the academic standards that the tests are aligned to is indicated in the last column. New-to-Country Students Generally, new-to-country English learners may, but are not required to, take a Standards- Based Accountability reading assessment. New-to-country English learners are students who are first enrolled in a U.S. school within 12 months of when the accountability tests are administered. Reading is the only Standards-Based Accountability subject where new-to-country students are not required to take the assessment. Refer to the Procedures Manual for detailed information about the participation of new-tocountry students. Standards-Based Accountability Assessments In the following slides, we will discuss the details of each assessment and subject. Slide 12 Reading MCA Administration Details (Grades 3-8 and 10) For 2014 2015, the Reading MCA for grades 3 through 8 and 10 is an online administration only. Paper accommodations are available for students that require them. Slide 13 Reading MCA Scheduling The testing window for the Reading MCA begins in March and ends in May. Students can test only one time per subject within this spring testing window and that score is used for accountability purposes. The district determines the testing schedule within the district. Scheduling may be arranged around computer availability and class periods. The testing schedule can be set separately for each school in the district. Slide 14 The Reading MCA Test Administration The Reading MCA allows students to exit their assessment and return to complete it later. Student responses are saved in the system, so the student will be brought back to the page last viewed before exiting. The Reading MCA is divided into sections by passage and its associated items. Each passage begins with a title page, and students will know they have completed all items for the passage when they reach the review screen for the section. If students will not complete the entire test, they must complete a section, review the items, and select Next Section to go to the next section before exiting. Students must exit the test on the title page for the next passage
Slide 15 Reading MCA Item Types Slide 16 Slide 17 Slide 18 Slide 19 There are both multiple-choice and technology-enhanced item types in the Reading MCA, including interactive technology-enhanced items with computer capabilities to manipulate reading content, such as demonstrating a sequence of actions or events, making connections between a cause and its effect, and choosing supporting details of a main idea. Reading MCA Online Tools There are online tools available for students in the Reading MCA. All tools appear in the toolbar above each item at the top of the screen. Reading MCA Accessibility Options There are also accessibility options available for students in the Reading MCA. A student tutorial is available that shows students how to navigate through the test, how to use the online tools and the accessibility panel, and how to answer different kinds of test questions. Reading MCA Accommodations For students needing accommodations, districts can order three types of accommodated test materials for the Reading MCA: regular print test books, 18- or 24-point large print test books, and braille test books. These accommodated test materials can only be ordered if the student s Individualized Education Program (IEP) or 504 plan specifies them. The student will answer directly into the regular print, large print, or braille test book and district staff must enter the student s responses into the data entry form in TestNav during the testing window. Slide 20 Mathematics MCA Administration Details (Grades 3-8 and 11) For 2014 2015, the Mathematics MCA for grades 3 through 8 and 11 is an online administration only. Paper accommodations are available for students that require them. Slide 21 Mathematics MCA Scheduling The testing window for the Mathematics MCA begins in March and ends in May. Students can test only one time per subject within this spring testing window and that score is used for accountability purposes. Slide 22 The district determines the testing schedule within the district. Scheduling may be arranged around computer availability and class periods. The testing schedule can be set separately for each school in the district. Mathematics MCA Test Administration The Mathematics MCA allows students to exit their assessment and return to complete it later. Student responses are saved in the system, so the student will be brought back to the page last viewed before exiting. The grades 3-8 Mathematics MCA is divided into four sections. Students will know they have completed all items in a section when they reach the review screen. If students will not complete the entire test, they must complete a section, review the items, and select Next to go to the next section before exiting. Students must exit the test on the first item in the next section. The grade 11 Mathematics MCA is divided into six sections. Each section begins with a title page, and students will know they have completed all items for the section when they reach the review screen. If students will not complete the entire test, they must complete a section, review the items, and select Next Section to go to the next section before exiting. Students must exit the test on the title page for the next section.
Slide 23 Slide 24 Slide 25 Slide 26 Slide 27 Slide 28 Slide 29 Slide 30 Mathematics MCA Text-to-Speech There is text-to-speech available in all of the Mathematics MCA forms. Text-to-speech is computer-generated audio and students select what they want read, such as the question and answer options or a specific section of the text. Students must have headphones in order to listen to the text-to-speech. Mathematics MCA Item Types There are both multiple-choice and technology-enhanced item types in the Mathematics MCA, including interactive technology-enhanced items with computer capabilities such as graphing lines, plotting points, filling in equations with mathematical signs and numbers, and identifying geometric shapes. Mathematics MCA Online Tools There are online tools available for students in the Mathematics MCA. All tools appear in the toolbar above each item at the top of the screen. Mathematics MCA Accessibility Options There are also accessibility options available for students in the Mathematics MCA. A student tutorial is available that shows students how to navigate through the test, how to use the online tools and the accessibility panel, and how to answer different kinds of test questions. Mathematics MCA Accommodations For students needing accommodations, districts can order four types of accommodated test materials for the Mathematics MCA: mathematics scripts, regular print test books, 18- or 24-point large print test books, and braille test books. These accommodated test materials can be ordered for students with an IEP or 504 plan, or for English learners. The script can only be used in conjunction with a regular print test book or large print or braille test book. The student answers directly into a regular print, large print, or braille test book, and district staff must enter the student s responses into the data entry form in TestNav during the testing window. The Mathematics MCA also has accommodated text-to-speech available. The accommodated text-to-speech provides computer-generated audio for charts and graphs in addition to the question and answer options that are provided for regular text-to-speech. The accommodated text-to-speech is accessed the same way as the regular text-tospeech. The accommodated text-to-speech can be a heavy language load that may be beneficial for a limited number of students with an IEP or 504 plan, or for English learners. Because only a few students typically need the accommodated text-to-speech or mathematics script, the default should be the regular text-to-speech. MTAS Administration Details The MTAS is an alternate assessment based on alternate achievement standards. Students may take the MTAS in place of the MCA to fulfill the ESEA requirement. An MTAS assessment is available for the same grades and subjects as the MCA. The high school Science MTAS should be administered in the year that the student receives instruction in Life Science. The IEP team determines the most appropriate year for a student to take the high school Science MTAS. MTAS Eligibility Requirements Students with an IEP must meet specific alternate assessment eligibility requirements in order to participate in the MTAS. IEP teams will determine which students will participate in the MTAS. The Eligibility Requirements for the Minnesota Test of Academic Skills (MTAS) are posted to the MDE website. IEP teams annually determine which students will participate in the MTAS based on the student meeting all of the eligibility requirements.
Slide 31 Slide 32 Slide 33 Slide 34 Slide 35 Slide 36 Slide 37 MTAS Scheduling The testing window for the MTAS begins in March and ends in May. MTAS tasks can be administered any time within the window. Testing schedules can be set on an individual basis. Administration of the tasks must be completed and scores must be entered by district staff into the MTAS Score Entry tab in PearsonAccess before the end of the MTAS testing window. MTAS Test Administrators MTAS Test Administrators must be trained each year they administer the MTAS. The Minnesota Department of Education annually provides online training for MTAS Test Administrators. MTAS Test Administrators, usually teachers or other district staff familiar with the student, administer the MTAS tasks one-on-one and then score the student responses to the tasks. Information about administering and scoring the MTAS assessment is part of the training required for MTAS Test Administrators. MTAS Administration Materials MTAS administration materials provided for the one-on-one administration include the Task Administration Manual, Presentation Pages, and Response Option Cards that incorporate pictures, symbols, or objects. All of these materials are used to administer the MTAS to students. There are no accommodated test materials available for the MTAS, but adaptations to meet individual student needs are allowed. See the Task Administration Manual for further information. MTAS Score Entry Once MTAS Test Administrators have administered the tasks and scored the student s responses, they must then enter the student s scores online into the MTAS Score Entry tab in PearsonAccess. Some districts choose to enter the MTAS scores centrally; in this situation, Test Administrators record scores on paper for district staff to enter into the MTAS Score Entry tab in PearsonAccess. All MTAS scores must be entered before the end of the MTAS testing window. Science MCA Administration Details (Grades 5, 8, and High School) For 2014 2015, the Science MCA for grades 5, 8, and high school is an online administration only. Paper accommodations are available for students that require them. Districts decide which high school students take the science assessment based on the year in which they complete their Biology or Life Science coursework. Science MCA Scheduling The testing window for the online Science MCA begins in March and ends in May. Please note: the Science MCA testing window ends one week later than the other online testing windows. Students can test only one time per subject within this spring testing window. The district determines the testing schedule within the district. Scheduling may be arranged around computer availability and class periods. The testing schedule can be set separately for each school in the district. For the high school Science MCA, scheduling can also be based on coursework completion, meaning that high school students who completed their Life Science course in the fall can test at the beginning of the testing window, while students completing their Life Science course in the spring can test near the end of the window.
Slide 38 Slide 39 Slide 40 Slide 41 Slide 42 Slide 43 Slide 44 Science MCA Test Administration The Science MCA allows students to exit their assessment and return to complete it later. Student responses are saved in the system, so the student will be brought back to the page last viewed before exiting. The Science MCA is divided into two sections containing multiple scenarios. Each scenario begins with a title page, and students will know they have completed all items and scenarios for first section when they reach the review screen. If students will not complete the entire test, they must complete the first section, review the items, and select Next Section to go to the second section. Students must exit the test on the title page of the first scenario in the second section. Science MCA Text-to-Speech There is text-to-speech available in all of the Science MCA forms. Text-to-speech is computer-generated audio and students select what they want read, such as the scene, question and answer options, or a specific section of the text. Students must have headphones in order to listen to the text-to-speech. Science MCA Item Types There are both multiple-choice and technology-enhanced item types in the Science MCA, including interactive technology-enhanced items with computer capabilities such as creating a graph, clicking on a hot spot, or dragging images or words into designated response areas. The Science MCA also incorporates simulations. Simulations are scenarios that have one or more scenes that require students to manipulate variables and then view the results of that simulated situation. Science MCA Online Tools There are online tools available for students in the Science MCA. All tools appear in the toolbar above each item at the top of the screen. Science MCA Accessibility Options There are also accessibility options available for students in the Science MCA. A student tutorial is available that shows students how to navigate through the test, how to use the online tools and the accessibility panel, and how to answer different kinds of test questions. Science MCA Accommodations For students needing accommodations, districts can order three types of accommodated test materials for the Science MCA: science scripts, 18- or 24-point large print test books, and braille test books. These accommodated test materials can be ordered for students with an IEP or 504 plan, or for English learners. The script can be used in conjunction with the online test or in conjunction with large print or braille test books. The student answers directly into a large print or braille test book, and district staff must enter the student s responses into the data entry form in TestNav during the testing window. The Science MCA also has accommodated text-to-speech available. The accommodated text-to-speech provides computer-generated audio for charts and graphs in addition to the question and answer options that are provided for regular text-to-speech. The accommodated text-to-speech is accessed the same way as the regular text-to-speech. The accommodated text-to-speech can be a heavy language load that may be beneficial for a limited number of students with an IEP or 504 plan, or for English learners. Because only a few students typically need the accommodated text-to-speech or science script, the default should be the regular text-to-speech
Slide 45 Slide 46 Slide 47 Slide 48 Slide 49 Slide 50 Slide 51 Slide 52 Summary: Standards-Based Accountability Assessments This is the end of the Standards-Based Accountability Assessments section. The Standards-Based Accountability overview provided information about both the MCA and MTAS assessments, but it is important to remember that every student takes only one accountability test for math and one accountability test for reading. They also only take one test for science depending on their grade. The decision about which assessment is administered to a student is made on an individual basis in the district. OLPA Administration Details An optional assessment, OLPA, is also available in reading for students in grades 3 through 8 and 10 and in mathematics for students in grades 3 through 8. It provides a riskfree environment for students to familiarize themselves with online testing. The OLPA uses Minnesota-specific items and, for mathematics, the same adaptive algorithm that is used for the Mathematics MCA. For reading, there is one testing opportunity available per student. For mathematics, there are two optional testing opportunities available per student. All districts may participate in OLPA. Participating in OLPA is a district decision and OLPA test scores cannot be used for accountability. If students participate in OLPA, they still need to take the Standards-Based Accountability Assessments in the spring. English Language Proficiency Assessments ESEA requires that all students identified as English learners in MARSS be assessed annually for English language proficiency in reading, writing, listening, and speaking. The English Language Proficiency Assessments are administered statewide to all English learners enrolled in Minnesota public schools. The assessments are used to calculate Annual Measureable Achievement Objectives (AMAO) and to generate Title III funding for districts. English learners take the English Language Proficiency Assessments in addition to the Standards-Based Accountability Assessments. WIDA Consortium and ACCESS for ELLS Minnesota is a part of the World-Class Instructional Design and Assessment (WIDA) Consortium. As a member of the WIDA Consortium, Minnesota districts administer either the ACCESS for ELLs or the Alternate ACCESS for ELLs to all English learners. The ACCESS for ELLs is administered in grades K through 12. The Alternate ACCESS for ELLs, available for students with the most significant cognitive disabilities, is administered in grades 1 through 12. ACCESS and Alternate ACCESS for ELLS Resources Information about English Language Development Standards, ACCESS for ELLs, Alternate ACCESS for ELLs, or other WIDA resources can be found on the WIDA website. ACCESS for ELLs and Alternate ACCESS for ELLs Test Administrators must complete the online Test Administrator Trainings that are found on the WIDA website. Test materials for the ACCESS for ELLs and Alternate ACCESS for ELLs are provided by MetriTech. Information and resources about ordering, receiving, or shipping test materials can be found on the MetriTech website.
Slide 53 Slide 54 Slide 55 MDE Assessment Contacts and Resources Here are the MDE assessment contacts. Districts can call or email the person representing their area code with any test administration or policy questions. For general program questions, send an email to mde.testing@state.mn.us. The division fax number is also included for faxing information to MDE. MDE sends a weekly Assessment Update email to districts that contains pertinent assessment information for the upcoming weeks. Pearson Contacts and Resources Pearson is the vendor for the Standards-Based Accountability Assessments. Call or email Pearson with any questions you may have about their systems, online test administration or set up, or test materials and test materials shipments. Visit PearsonAccess for resources. This is the end of the training. This is the end of the training.