Testing Department Newsletter
August Edition
WELCOME BACK
Welcome to School Year 2020-2021! Assessment delivery is rapidly changing right now and we know this year is going to be challenging when it comes to assessment. The big picture is the importance of gathering student data for teachers in order to drive instruction and ensure student learning. Without this valuable data, teachers cannot get a clear picture of how to assist students with gaps in learning. We’re all in this together and what we want you to know is the Testing Office is here to support you through this transition to online remote assessment. We know there will be “bumps” along the way as we implement, but we want to ensure you are letting the Testing Office know what these “bumps” are so we can assist. We have modified our trainings to be online to ensure the best use of time. We are also working with vendors to ensure we have everything you need in order to be able to assess students online remotely or in person.
Meet the SAISD Testing Office
TESTING COORDINATORS *MANDATORY*
Please have this document filled out by no later than August 10th.
2020-2021 ASSESSMENTS CALENDAR
REMOTE ASSESSMENT
Circle Pre-K Assessment
Due the unique demands of the current COVID-19 status, the following are some of the reasons there will be a change to Circle Pre-K assessments;
Anticipated disruptions at BOY state-wide
Remote learning / remote assessment
Environmental Safety for ECE students / teachers
Flexibility, adjustments to traditional modes of CIA
What is Circle?
Developed by the Children’s Learning Institute (CLI) research conducted by the McGovern Medical School at the UT-Health Science Center at Houston, the CIRCLE Progress Monitoring System (formerly known as C-PALLS+), is a standardized, criterion-referenced measure for PK and is sensitive to growth in children’s skills over time. Using an early childhood-friendly, technology-driven tool, it enables a PK teacher to quickly assess student progress in a particular skill area.
The CIRCLE Progress Monitoring System:
Used in SAISD (2009-2019) for PK, Head Start, TLI, TTIPS
2017-2021 Commissioner’s List of Approved PK Progress Monitoring Instruments
Flexibility in administration, including choice of measures / timing of assessments
Testing results link to CIRCLE Activity Collection (targeted instruction of specific skills)
Aligned to TX-KEA (Kindergarten literacy & dyslexia screener)
Available in English / Spanish with no testing kits required
Offers opportunities for remote assessment administration
COVID-19 Resources for Teachers and Families
Circle Coordinator Folder
CIRCLE Assessments
CIRCLE: Direct / Observation-based Metrics
Direct Assessments (Teacher)
Rapid Letter Naming (2.5 min)
Letter-Sound Correspondence (5 min)
Phonological Awareness (6-10 min)
Rapid Vocabulary (2.5 min)
Book & Print Awareness (5 min)
Story Retell & Comprehension (10 min)
Mathematics (3-5 min)
Science (10 min)
Social Studies (8 min)
Observations-Based (Family)
Social & Emotional Development
Physical Health Development
Early Writing
Speech Production & Sentence Skills
Motivation to Read
Approaches to Learning
Important CIRCLE Dates
August 11 - SAISD Curriculum Day (3:00-4:00 p.m. via CLI Engage)
Remote Administration Training Webinar for CIRCLE Pre-K Assessment
August 17-28
CIRCLE Assessment Training for Teachers
Asynchronous, self-paced professional development via CLI Engage
4-hour training w/certificate of completion provided by CLI Engage
Beginning August 31
CIRCLE testing at pilot campuses (select PK and Head Start classes)
Testing / ECE will conduct “testing proctor check-ins” for support / troubleshooting
September 9
District-wide CIRCLE PK testing window opens for BOY
Assessment administration can be done in-person when schools open OR remotely via Zoom
October 8
District-wide CIRCLE PK testing window closes for BOY
October 26-30 (TEA Snapshot)
SAISD submits At-Risk data for PK students
MOY and EOY PK Assessment Windows
TBD by Testing Department
MAP
MAP Growth
· August 4-14 - MAP Training for Campus Testing Coordinators
· Google Classroom join code: pmzh6g6. Please be sure you have signed into Google with your SAISD credentials.
- Asynchronous, self-paced professional development via Google Classroom and NWEA online learning
- 2-hour training w/printable transcript of courses completed provided by NWEA
- MAP Growth Testing Coordinators are responsible for training campus staff
- Testing Office will conduct “live support sessions” for support /troubleshooting. Testing Coordinators can find the Zoom link in the classroom stream Google Classroom for MAP Growth
Beginning August 17
MAP Growth testing staggered start (select grade levels and classrooms will go first)
In Person small numbers may begin when campuses are ready
September 9
On campus test administration begins for BOY, recommended for grades K-2
MAP Growth assessment administration can continue to be done remotely via Zoom if needed
September 11-18
District-wide MAP Growth testing window closes for BOY on September 11
September 14-18 is the make -up window and MAP Science window for campuses who have purchased
September 18 window for all MAP assessments close
September 19 reports are ready in NWEA MAP
MAP Fluency
August 17-September 4 - MAP Training for Campus Testing Coordinators and Teachers
Google Classroom for MAP Reading Fluency for Testing Coordinators
MAP Reading Fluency Basics Training
Asynchronous, self-paced professional development via Google Classroom and NWEA online learning
2-hour training w/printable transcript of courses completed provided by NWEA
Testing Office will conduct “live support sessions” for support /troubleshooting. Testing Coordinators will be invited
Beginning August 17 (dependent on headsets)
MAP Reading Fluency testing K-3
In Person small numbers may begin when campuses are ready
September 9
On campus test administration begins for BOY, recommended for grades K-2
MAP Reading Fluency assessment administration can continue to be done remotely via Zoom if needed
September 18
District-wide MAP Reading Fluency testing window closes for BOY on September
Progress monitoring can continue for BOY until November 30
Reports are ready within minutes of testing in MAP Fluency
TSI
- Remote TSI testing through Zoom will continue. There are two Testing Coordinators in place to cover vouchers and proctor training until August 10th. Please submit a logistics plan if testing will take place prior to the start of school. Here is the link to the required form: TSI Testing Information .
- Testing Coordinators will take over TSI testing coordination at their respective campuses on the 10th of August.
- Several principals have reached out to the SAISD Testing Office in regard to TSI Testing of students on campus. Please check your email for the procedures and documents to assist with planning if this is an option that is being considered on your campus. The two acquired campus testing coordinators can assist your campus with setting up either remote assessment or training for testing students on campus. In order to sign up for testing students on your campus face to face, please see the TSI Testing Procedures document and fill in the TSI Testing Information .
TRAININGS
- At this time, all coordinators will be required to complete a Google course prior to any face to face training. A follow up mandatory training will then be held via zoom.
- All dates and times of trainings are subject to change!
REMIND
- Due to so much uncertainty during the start of the 2020-2021 school year, the Testing Office is requesting that both Principals and Coordinators please sign up for emergency notifications through the App Remind.
- Messages will only be sent in the case of a testing emergency (eg. technology issues etc.) and NOT for routine matters
- To sign up for the Remind App, please use the following link = http://rmd.me/b?rid=3149256
- Then join the Principal / Coordinator group using the following class code c6ka24d.
Accelerated Testers Waiver
- In May 2020, the Texas Education Agency (TEA) requested a waiver of the ESEA, as amended by the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), to broaden the advanced mathematics exception to include all middle school students administered the State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness (STAAR®) end-of-course (EOC) assessments in mathematics, reading/language arts, and science. The U.S. Department of Education (USDE) approved this waiver request on July 20, 2020 eliminating the need for double testing.
- Beginning in the 2020–21 school year, a middle school student, who is completing instruction in a high school course that has a corresponding EOC assessment, will be administered the corresponding EOC assessment (not the grade-level assessment). The STAAR EOC assessment may be used to fulfill the student’s graduation requirement and will be used for the campus’ and district’s accountability calculations. This waiver aligns assessment requirements with students’ instruction, where possible. As required now, students who have completed STAAR EOC assessments while in middle school must take either the ACT or the SAT once in high school to fulfill federal testing requirements.
- For example, a grade 8 student who receives instruction in Algebra I would take the Algebra I EOC and either a mathematics SAT or ACT in high school. A grade 7 student who receives instruction in Algebra I would take the Algebra I EOC in grade 7, the mathematics STAAR in grade 8, and either a mathematics SAT or ACT in high school.
Student Success Initiative (SSI)
- Due to the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, the governor and the commissioner of education waived the requirements regarding grade promotion for students in fifth and eighth grade for the 2020–21 school year. Students enrolled in grades 5 and 8 are still required to take the appropriate STAAR assessments once. Regardless of their score, retest opportunities will not be provided.
Districts are still responsible for providing accelerated instruction and supports for students that fail to perform satisfactorily on STAAR. Furthermore, although students in grades 5 and 8 will not be retained solely on the basis of STAAR results, school districts and open-enrollment charter schools will remain accountable for student performance.
As a part of this waiver, there will only be one administration of the STAAR grades 5 and 8 mathematics and reading assessments for the 2020–21 school year. This administration will be in May to coincide with the administration of other STAAR grades 3–8 assessments.
TELPAS
Principals can access the TELPAS Report Cards, campus rosters, summary reports, and data files through the TELPAS Assessment Management System. Please notify the testing department @ 210-554-2465 or e-mail TestingDept@saisd.net if you need support accessing or downloading reports.
- Note: Due to COVID closures, TELPAS report shipments will arrive in the district the week of August 10th-14th.
- The Student Portal is updated with the latest assessment information. Parents can access their child’s results using a unique access code, which can be found on any previous state assessment Report Card. Additionally, parents can view their child’s performance relative to the campus, district, and state.
- Raw score to scale score conversion tables are posted here.
Programmatic Assessments
SAT
- SAT and PSAT/NMSQT exams, at this time, are scheduled for October 14.
- SSD - Services for Students with Disabilities (Accommodation) requests for SAT and PSAT/NMSQT must be entered in the College Board SSD website by August 25, 2020. Each campus must have at least one (primary) SSD Coordinator.
- Coordinators can sign up for access here: https://accommodations.collegeboard.org/ssd-online/get-access
ACT
The ACT® District Testing program provides students the opportunity to earn college-reportable ACT scores by taking the test in their own classrooms. For the 2020-2021 school year, the ACT District Testing is scheduled for October 6. 2020 for 12th grade students.
Dates to Remember:
Test Dates for The ACT Fall 2020
- Initial Test Date: October 6, 2020
- Initial Accommodations Testing Window: October 6-9, 2020; October 12-16, 2020
- Makeup Test Date: October 20, 2020
- Makeup Accommodations Testing Window: October 20-23, 2020; October 26, 2020
- Training webinars and deadlines
- August 18, 2020 2–3 p.m.: Attend a Q&A session about accommodations and supports. Q&A Session Registration. This is a required event for both Testing Coordinator and Test Accommodation Coordinators. Please check your email for more information.
- August 20, 2020 2–3 p.m. Attend a Q&A session about test administration. Q&A Session Registration . This is a required event for both Testing Coordinator. Room Supervisors and Proctors are invited to attend. Please check your email for more information.
- August 28, 2020 Request accommodations and/or supports for eligible examinees through the Test Accessibility and Accommodations System (TAA)
- September 4, 2020 Request reconsideration of accommodations and/or supports in TAA
- October 2, 2020 Request late consideration of accommodations and/or supports for eligible examinees in TAA
AP
- On August 1, 2020, AP coordinators and campus principal will receive an email with the school's AP Registration and Ordering access code for the 2020-2021 school year. This code will be needed to complete the initial setup for the start of year. For more information regarding initial setup please visit: https://apcentral.collegeboard.org/ap-coordinators/accessing-and-using-ap-registration-and-ordering/access-and-initial-setup-ap-registration-and-ordering
Credit by Exam (CBE)
Credit-by-Exam ordering deadline for the Fall window is Friday August, 21, 2020. Please contact Shara Contreras to request an order form or for more information.
LAS - Links / Pre-LAS
- PreLAS and LAS Links training is being done via Google Classroom, and calibration in the DRC Insight Portal.
- Proctors cannot administer the test without being Calibrated and Certified.
- Please send certificates to Shara Contreras at scontreras@saisd.net and/or for information on training.
- Reminder: Pre-LAS Spanish: Testing cannot be done remotely, proctor must be present when student(s) tests.
- Remote testing information for LAS-Links & Pre-LAS English coming soon.
Testing's Mission Statement
Email: testingdept@saisd.net
Website: http://www.saisd.net/main/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=5777&Itemid=0
Location: 1700 Tampico Street, San Antonio, TX, USA
Phone: 210-554-2465