Getting Ready for the District Choice State Testing (DCST) Administration of the ACT Presented by: Diane Peden

2 DCST Overview Test Center Establishment Standard Testing Requirements Test Day Observers Testing with Accommodations Test Administration Training/Staff Responsibilities Ordering & Return of Materials Getting Started Now Resources Agenda

3 The DCST Administration of the ACT

4 DCST Administration of the ACT District selects one of two test options The ACT, or The ACT Plus Writing The decision is then district wide English75 items45 min Math60 items60 min Reading40 items35 min Science40 items35 min Writing30 min

5 DCST Administration of the ACT All grade 11 students at participating schools take the test Weekday, school based administration Accepted for admission at ALL universities/colleges No “Registration” for DCST Establish as a testing site Enrollment Confirmation Form Pre-test session held before test day ACT fee waivers may not be used

6 DCST Administration of the ACT April 28, 2010 – initial test day May 12, 2010 – makeup test day April 28nd- May 12th – accommodations testing window

7 DCST Test Site Establishment Process

8 DCST Test Site Establishment Establishment Packets mailed in the fall Sent to High School Principals Envelopes for appointed testing personnel Courtesy copy sent to District Assessment Coordinators Principals – Review key documents Testing Staff Qualifications and Responsibilities Summary of Test Administration Policies for the ACT Standard Testing Requirements

9 DCST Test Site Establishment Principal’s Responsibilities: Consider staffing requirements and appoint testing staff Share establishment information with appointed testing staff Complete and return School Info./ Appointment of Testing Staff Form Plan testing rooms/facilities

10 DCST Test Site Establishment September 25, 2009 receipt deadline— Test Site Establishment Documents: Principals – Appointment of Testing Staff/ School Information Form Test Supervisors - ACT State Testing 2010 Test Supervisor and Facilities Profile Back-up Test Supervisors - ACT State Testing 2010 Back-up Test Supervisor Profile Test Accommodations Coordinators - ACT State Testing 2010 Test Accommodations Coordinator Profile

11 Standard Testing Requirements

12 Standard Testing Requirements Apply to both initial and makeup tests Facilities Personnel Security Exact timing of tests Documentation of test day procedures Other test administration requirements

13 Facilities

14 Facilities Choice of test rooms for standard time administration Well lit, comfortable temperature, quiet atmosphere Comfortable seating for examinees Prefer no more than 100 examinees per room for manageable security

15 Facilities Adequate writing surfaces Must accommodate both test booklet and answer folder No lapboards permitted; temporary surfaces resting on chair arms must be reviewed and approved by ACT prior to use

16 Facilities Seating arrangements (requirements apply equally to tables and desks) Minimum of 3 feet apart side-to-side Minimum of 3 feet apart head-to-head All students must face the same direction, directly behind one another Seats must be assigned by testing staff as students enter room

17 Facilities Freedom from distractions Only persons assisting with that day’s administration may be in the room Turn off bells and public address systems Uninterrupted testing period required 3 ½ hours The ACT 4 hours The ACT Plus Writing

18 Facilities Freedom from distractions Separate testing rooms from regular school activities Away from noisy locations Quiet wing of the high school – preferred Local decision to have 11 th grade only in session on test day

19 Off-site Testing May request off-site testing location if unable to meet Standard Testing Requirements for facilities Consider off-site for initial test date and/or makeup test date Each off-site location must be approved by ACT Community college, church or other public facility, private facility Off-site Request Form on DCST website: Receipt deadline December 18, 2009

20 Personnel

21 Personnel Test Supervisors, Back-Up Test Supervisors, and Test Accommodations Coordinators have access to secure test materials prior to testing Avoid the appearance of a conflict of interest, and protect relatives (children, stepchildren, grandchildren, nieces, nephews, siblings, in-laws, spouses, and persons under your guardianship) from allegations of impropriety

22 Personnel Test Supervisors & Back-up Test Supervisors may not be related to any examinee taking the DCST administration of the ACT in anywhere in your state Test Accommodations Coordinators may not be related to any examinee testing with accommodations taking the DCST administration of the ACT in anywhere in your state Room supervisors & proctors may not assist in a room where any relative is being tested

23 Personnel Coach must not be a Test Accommodations Coordinator Testing staff must not engage in ACT test preparation activities during current year for commercial gain May be part of testing staff only if: Test preparation- part of regular job responsibilities Not employed by a commercial enterprise Must not be enrolled in high school

24 Security

25 Security Constant security of materials Receive and store secure materials Receipt, check-in, and verification of test booklets by serial numbers Restricted access at all times— documented “chain of custody”

26 Security Constant security of materials Test materials must not be transferred or shared between schools This applies to all schools Schools within the same building Multiple schools testing at same off-site location Answer folders not returned to students after test responses are gridded Immediate and complete return of all materials to ACT

27 Security All test sites must test on designated test days Testing must be the first activity of the morning for all students Schedules must be adjusted All Room Supervisors must begin reading the Verbal Instructions no later than 9:00 a.m. Bus schedules must be adjusted

28 Security Proper identification of examinees by Room Supervisor Direct consultation with ACT to handle administration irregularities

29 Exact Timing

30 Exact Timing More than one timepiece must be used in each room to ensure accurate timing Time remaining may not be posted Announcement of five minutes remaining must be read verbatim from the Supervisor’s Manual Timing and administration must be monitored in each individual room— not from a central location

31 Documentation

32 Documentation Testing Staff List returned with answer folders Roster, Seating Diagram, Test Booklet Count Form, and Time Verification Form returned for each room Supervisor’s Report Form completed accurately placed on top of answer folders to be scored Testing Irregularity Report Form(s) returned with voided answer folders

33 Other Test Administration Requirements

34 Other Test Administration Requirements Standard time rosters must list all students expected to test—not just those who are present Briefing Session 30 min. prior to test No food or drink permitted in testing rooms—this applies to both staff and examinees Tests must be administered in the order listed: Test 1 (first), Test 2 (second)…

35 Test Day Observers

36 Test Day Observers Only those directly involved in testing may be in testing area Unannounced Authorized Observers ACT Unauthorized Observers Media Test prep companies Parents School board members District personnel

37 Testing with Accommodations

38 Testing with Accommodations TAC Training— Early fall mailing: Accommodations training DVD ACT-Approved or State-Allowed Accommodations Request Forms Examples of available accommodations Extended Time, Testing over Multiple Days Alternate Formats (Large Print, Reader’s Script) Late January/early February Test Administration Training

39 Testing with Accommodations ACT-Approved Accommodations Professionally diagnosed disabilities, current IEP or 504 documentation College Reportable Scores Request Deadline – February 1, 2010 ACT will review all ACT-Approved Accommodations requests If approved: Student specific test materials Detailed testing instructions

40 Testing with Accommodations State-Allowed Accommodations School approved accommodations NOT college reportable Order Deadline – March 5, 2010 ACT will review and approve all complete State-Allowed Accommodations requests If complete orders are placed: Student specific test materials Detailed testing instructions

41 Test Administration Training

42 Test Administration Training Late January/early February REQUIRED for ALL Test Supervisors, Back-up Test Supervisors and Test Accommodations Coordinators District Personnel may attend If your school staff (TS, Backup TS, Test Accommodations Coordinator) has not been trained – YOUR school will NOT be allowed to participate

43 Test Administration Training Training will cover: an ACT overview standardized procedures test administration policies test accommodation administration policies return of materials questions

44 Following Test Administration Training Testing staff must read and be familiar with the Supervisor’s Manual The Test Supervisor will organize an in-school completion of all pre-test information sections of the answer folder (before test day)

45 Following Test Administration Training The Test Supervisor and Test Accommodations Coordinator will: Select Room Supervisors and Proctors Conduct a required local training session for all testing staff before testing (a separate training session is required for all staff who will be supporting students testing with accommodations conducted by the TAC at each school) Distribute a complete copy of the appropriate Supervisor’s Manual to each Room Supervisor

46 Test Administration Staff Responsibilities The testing staff must: read and be familiar with the appropriate Supervisor’s Manual read verbal instructions in the Supervisor’s Manual verbatim focus on monitoring testing – NO other personal work is permitted circulate frequently around the room to monitor examinees recognize prohibited behavior and take action as instructed in Supervisor’s Manual

47 Ordering & Return of Materials

48 Ordering Materials Enrollment indicated on Appointment of Testing Staff/School Information Form filled out by Principal Confirmation of enrollment is indicated on Confirmation Form submitted by Test Supervisor closer to test date Contact ACT to order additional materials After the Initial Test Date, order makeup materials by 5 pm CT, April 29 for the Makeup Test Date

49 Non-secure Shipment To arrive early March, 2010 To Test Supervisor Supervisor’s Manual Taking the ACT for State Testing Answer Folders (blank) Someone must be at the school to receive this shipment We do not alter this shipment to accommodate spring break schedules

50 Secure Shipment To arrive in schools (not district offices) the week of April 19-23, 2010 To Test Supervisor Test booklets To Test Accommodations Coordinator ACT-Approved Accommodations materials State-Allowed Accommodations materials Someone must be at the school to receive this shipment If your school is on spring break April 19-23, we will ship one week early

51 Materials Return The carrier will pick up materials the day following the test April 29 pick up for Initial Test Date May 13 pick up for Makeup Test Date and accommodations materials Pick ups are pre-scheduled Carrier may arrive at schools anywhere from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm

52 Getting Started Now

53 Getting Started Now Principals, plan ahead— be thinking about who you will appoint as testing staff consider your school in terms of meeting standard testing requirements work with staff to submit accommodations requests as this requires extra planning

54 Resources for DCST Forms and materials: Standard time questions: ext Accommodations questions: ext. 1788