ACT Test Training

Overview  ACT with writing  Accommodations available  Approximately 120,00 examinees  READY Accountability Model includes the first four tests (not writing)  Misadministrations  List included in the Administration Manual 2

Eligible Students  All students in grade 11 on March 1, 2016  Not previously tested with ACT state test administration  Not included in the ACTEX file  Not on Extended Content Standards with signed letter and IEP for Extend 1 Grade 11  Not with signed letter and IEP for CCRAA 3

Deadline for student form to school- January 15 Deadline for principal form to LEA- February 28

Repeating Grade 11 Students  If previously tested with NC ACT administration, do not test again  If never tested with NC ACT administration, test 5

ACT Schedule of Events  February 1-4- School Test Coordinator received non- secure shipments  February Window to order non-college reportable accommodations materials online  February- Window to complete pretest sessions, conduct test training, develop test plan  February STC receives secure shipments

ACT Administration  March 1- Initial test date for paper testing  March 1-2- Window for test coordinator to submit makeup order  March 2- Initial test date FedEx pick up for paper testing  March Make up test secure shipment  March 9 – State-wide tornado drill (Don’t schedule testing)  March Accommodations test window for paper testing  April 19- Make up test date for paper testing  April 20- Make up test date FedEx pick up for paper testing

North Carolina ACT Training Requirements  RAC trains LEA Test Coordinators in a face-to-face session  LEA Test Coordinators train School Test Coordinators and School ACT Test Coordinators in a face-to-face session (See page 12 of ACT Administration Manual.)  Recordings on the ACT website are not a substitute for providing NC face-to-face training  The ACT Administration Manual contains many new statements this year 8

ACT Contact  Customer Service ext  Accommodations Information ext  North Carolina is state code 34 9

ACT Administration Manual, page iii  New page  Shows where to locate forms 10

Changes in the 2016 Administration Manual, page 1  ACT Plus Writing= ACT with writing  Writing test now 40 minutes  Checklist of Dates= Schedule of Events  No letters are required for observers now!  Locally Approved Accommodations= Local Arrangements  State-allowed Accommodations= Non-College Reportable  Tear out the test time form now and complete as testing occurs  New seating diagram 11 pp

State and District Procedures, page 2- 4  Test coordinator must sign statement in Pearson Access  Use only current year materials  All irregularities identified by school, LEA, or ACT must be entered in OTISS within 5 days of initial report  Test coordinators can serve at only one school  RACs and RCCs will be visiting ACT test sites this year  Students may not take the ACT more than 12 times  NC ships to the school, not the LEA for ACT- strike through “District Shipping Model” on page 4 12

Facility Requirements, pages 5-7  Writing surfaces large enough for test book and answer document  Cover instructional displays  Two timepieces required in each test setting  Freedom from distractions  Uninterrupted testing period required for all days of testing  Turn off bells, public address systems, etc.  Testing rooms must be separated from regular school activities 13

Room Set up and Seating Arrangements, page 6  Face the same direction  Three feet of space between students  Straight rows and columns, directly in line with each other  Clock visible to students  Room supervisor facing students  New diagrams on page 7 14

Testing Staff Requirements, page 8-12  One Room Supervisor required for each room  School employee  Coach cannot administer one-to-one for athlete  No food or drink in test site  No student relative in same room  Plus one Proctor for every 25 students in the room after the first 25 (i.e., 26-50=1; 51-75=2, =3) 15

Test Coordinator Responsibilities, page 9  Be present at school to receive, county, and secure test materials within 24 hours of receipt (February 22-25)  Conduct a pretest briefing session for testing staff on each test date  Return ALL required forms, answer documents, and test booklets immediately after each test date  Order makeup testing materials immediately after the initial test date  Back Up TC can only serve one school 16

Room Supervisor Responsibilities, page 10  Check ID or personally recognize and admit examinees  Mark attendance and ID on the roster  Direct students to specific, assigned seats  Count test booklets upon receipt from test coordinator  Distribute test materials, keeping test booklets in sequential, serial number order  Make sure each student gets the correct answer document  Complete the Testing Time Verification Form p. 75  Complete all information on the Seating Diagram and Test Booklet Count Form p 71  Be attentive to students and materials at all times 17

Proctor Responsibilities, page 11  Proctors must have NC Proctor Guide Training  Note that ACT has a different definition of “Roving Proctors” 18

Test Security Requirements, page  TC must ensure restricted access at all times from moment of receipt to return (documented “chain of custody”), 2-lock rule  Receipt, check-in, and verification of test booklets by serial numbers  Test materials are never left unattended  Answer documents are not returned to students after testing is complete  Immediate and complete return of all materials to ACT as outlined in the Manuals 19

Test Security Requirements, page 15  Room Supervisors must complete item A on the Test Booklet County Form (page 71) when they receive books  The room supervisor must initial and the test coordinator must sign that all materials are returned  Use ACT forms for materials check-out, not local forms 20

Completing the Non-Test Portions, page 16  Non-secure shipment will arrive February 1-4  Do pretest sessions ASAP in February to ensure 100% completion by February 29  TC must schedule an in-school session for students to complete all ACT pre-test, non-cognitive information  Students must not complete on test day or have access to answer document after testing is complete 21

Completing the Non-Test Portions, page  School staff adhere barcode labels to answer documents  file was pulled December 14  goes on page 10 of answer document, not front  handcode students who enrolled after Dec. 14, see pages  Schools prepare standard time rosters, organize materials, and plan for test administration 22

Completing the Non-Test Portions, pgs Teachers should use the script on page Schools may also develop a powerpoint for the pretest session  Students need the following during the pretest session:  Transcript (Directions for printing on one page)  Answer Sheet with Barcode or hand-bubbled demographics  “Taking the ACT”  Be sure staff provide the reminders on page 21 and let students know no scratch paper, no highlighters, one break between test 2 & 3, other restroom breaks deduct test time 23

Preparing for Test Day, page 22  Note your Initial and Makeup Test Dates  Schools should provide:  No. 2 pencils  Pencil Sharpener  Two timepieces  Admission Procedure Manuals  Permitted Calculators  Calculator notice comes in non-secure shipment 24

Preparing for Test Day, page  Assign sequential series of multiple-choice test booklets to each room, do NOT pre-assign specific serial numbers to specific students  Test Booklets come in fives  One roster per test room prior to test day  Roster template on page 69 25

Preparing for Test Day, page 23  Local Arrangements  No special approval needed for SS or MIB accommodations  Hearing Impairments  Review of Accommodation Forms- not required but highly encouraged 26

Administering the Tests, pages  Start time is 9 am, unless approved for late start  General announcements  Distribution of test materials  Correct answer document for each student  Sequential serial numbers on booklets  Sequence of Tests  Timing the Tests and Breaks  Cannot end early even if all testers are complete  Do not use a cell phone as one of your timepieces  Breaks longer than 15 minutes may result in cancelled scores 27

Schools Approved for ACT Late Start  Wilmington Early College High School 9:30  Mosley Performance Learning Center 9:30  Lakeside 9:30  Isaac Bear Early College High School 9:15

Test Day Activities, page  Sample Schedule  Test Staff Briefing  Admitting Examinees with Identification  Faculty member’s initials must be printed legibly beside the student name  Prohibited Items  Cell Phones/Electronic Devices  Unauthorized Calculators  Unapproved Testing Aids  Highlighter/Colored Pens  Food/Beverages, including water 29

Irregularities, page  Types of Irregularities  Group  Individual  Illness- decide whether the answer document should be scored or student scheduled for make-up, note on irregularity report  Prohibited Behavior 30 Enter into OTISS and report to ACT

Verbal Instructions, page 39  If providing calculators, distribute before testing begins.  Use local procedures for cell phones.  Page 44, note timing verification slots removed 31

After the Test, page 58  When testing concludes, the Test Coordinator:  Verifies return of materials  Checks for documentation accuracy  Handles make-up test ordering  Packs and ships materials  Keep Materials Separated  Envelopes and Polymailers

Makeup Testing, page 59  Eligible for Makeup Testing  Students who were absent or arrived late  Students who began but did not complete testing  You MAY NOT administer makeup testing to  Students who completed testing  Students who were dismissed for prohibited behavior  Materials- see pages 59-60

Collecting, Packing, and Returning Materials, page 61  Site Header and Test Booklet Numbers  Shows test date and form  Needed for correct scoring key

Shipping Prep Steps, pages  8 steps:  Completing Testing Staff List  Collecting Materials  Sorting Answer Documents  Packing Red Envelope  Packing Green Envelope  Packing Polymailer  Packing Cartons  Storage and Pickup  The list on page 62 may be used when collecting materials from Room Supervisors