KYOTE Training: The Policies

Administration Code Kentucky Public School Educators associated with the administration of the KYOTE test must read and abide by the Administration Code for Kentucky’s Educational Assessment Program. All allegations of inappropriate practices by Kentucky public school educators will be investigated.

Who should take KYOTE placement exams? High school seniors whose mathematics ACT is less than 19 should take the college readiness mathematics exam High school seniors whose reading ACT is less than 20 should take the reading exam High school seniors whose English ACT is less than 18 should take the writing exam

Who should take the KYOTE college algebra exam? High school seniors whose mathematics ACT is 19, 20 or 21 should take the college algebra exam if their intended college major requires college algebra or if they want to improve their algebra skills High school seniors whose mathematics ACT is 19, 20 or 21 cannot take the COMPASS mathematics exam as part of Kentucky’s program. Only KYOTE offers them this chance for guaranteed placement into college algebra free of charge

What are passing scores on KYOTE placement exams? A passing score on the college readiness mathematics exam is a normalized score of 22 or higher. A passing score on the reading exam is a normalized score of 20 or higher. A passing score on the writing exam is a normalized score of 6 or higher. Section X of the User Guide describes how these normalized scores are computed.

What is a passing score on KYOTE college algebra exam? A passing score on the college algebra exam is a normalized score of 14 or higher. Students who pass the college algebra exam are guaranteed placement into college algebra at any public college or university in Kentucky.

Testing Frequency Policy for Mathematics College Readiness Exam The exam can be taken only once (one submission) each semester (or trimester) after a targeted intervention. There are two, and only two, exceptions: The exam can be taken once (one submission) as an optional pre-test early in the semester (or trimester) and then once (one submission) again following a targeted intervention of at least two months. Students who score 20 or 21 (within two points of passing) following a targeted intervention can retake the exam once (one submission) within one week. Only one such retake is permitted.

Testing Frequency Policy for College Algebra Exam The exam can be taken only once (one submission) each semester (or trimester) after a targeted intervention. There are two, and only two, exceptions: The exam can be taken once (one submission) as an optional pre-test early in the semester (or trimester) and then once (one submission) again following a targeted intervention of at least two months. Students who score 12 or 13 (within two points of passing) following a targeted intervention can retake the exam once (one submission) within one week. Only one such retake is permitted.

Testing Frequency Policy for Reading and Writing Exams The reading exam can be taken only once (one submission) in any semester or trimester. The writing exam can be taken only once (one submission) in any semester or trimester. The writing exam must be taken in either the testing window from August 4 to December 5, or in the testing window from January 4 to May 15.

Calculator and Exam Materials Policy Students should only bring blank paper and a pencil or a pen to a reading exam or a writing exam. No written material or electronic device of any kind, including a calculator, are permitted. Students should only bring blank paper, a pencil or a pen and an appropriate calculator (as described on next slide) to a mathematics exam. No other electronic devices, formula sheets or other written material are permitted.

Calculator and Exam Materials Policy (continued) The KYOTE program uses the KDE calculator policy that includes the following statement in the new ACT calculator policy: Calculators with built-in or downloaded computer algebra system functionality are prohibited. Specifically, the TI-89 with a built-in computer algebra system or graphing calculators with a downloaded computer algebra system or applications such as Zoom Math are prohibited. Standard scientific or graphing calculators without such functionality are permitted on KYOTE math exams.

Social Security Numbers or SSIDs Public school student accounts should be created using the unique State Student Identification Number (SSID) in Infinite Campus (IC). Private school student accounts should be created using the last four digits of the student’s social security number. Please refer to section VI. Preparing Student Placement Accounts in the KYOTE User Guide for step-by-step directions.

Accommodations for Special Needs Students’ Policy KYOTE uses the same policy as COMPASS as specified in the following bullets: Accommodated administration of KYOTE is allowed for students with current documented disabilities. Students with a current Individualized Education Plan (IEP), 504 Plan or Program Services Plan (PSP) may be tested using their specific accommodations. To be considered current, the diagnosis should have been made or reconfirmed within the last three years. A current IEP or 504 Plan on file at the school is one that has been developed within the last 12 months.

Accommodations for Special Needs Students’ Policy (continued) There are no large-print, Braille, or special forms for the KYOTE exams KYOTE exam sessions can be scheduled of sufficient length to accommodate these students, but they must complete an exam during a single testing session All staff administering a KYOTE exam to students receiving accommodations must be trained on the Inclusion of Special Populations in the State-Required Assessment and Accountability Programs (703 KAR 5:070)

Accommodations for Special Needs Students’ Policy (continued) See the KDE site Call for additional information

KYOTE Writing Exam The writing exam is an essay students write online in response to a prompt that must be hand graded. It has many unique features different from the machine graded mathematics and reading exams. The presentation KYOTE Training: The Writing Exam provides details about the unique features of the writing exam and is on the KDE KYOTE web page. Section XIV of the User Guide also supplies details about these unique features.

KYOTE Ready School KDE has developed a document to guide schools through the process of KYOTE testing. Schools must follow the guidelines within this document for appropriate testing procedures.

Resources KYOTE Website: KYOTE page on KDE Website: KYOTE User Guide is found at both addresses.

Questions Please contact Steve Newman Northern Kentucky University (859) Paul Eakin University of Kentucky (859)