1. Spring 2016 Multi-State Alternate Assessment (MSAA)
Professional Development for School Test Coordinators
March 22, 2016
Dr. Gregory E. Thornton, CEO
Connie Fantom, Director of Non-Public / City Wide Services
Carol Wilson, Director of Student Assessments

2. Agenda – March 22, 2016 MSAA Introduction MSAA Overview
Participants
Certification Process for STC’s and TA’s
Online Modules
Before Test Administration (TA)
MSAA Overview
MSAA Accommodations
Testing Integrity, Appropriate, and Inappropriate Test Practices
STC Responsibilities
Monitoring Plan
Testing Schedules
Guidance and Resources
Scheduling
Materials Ordering, Pick-up, and Return
Resources and Support

3. MSAA
INTRODUCTION

4. Multi-State Alternate Assessment
What is the MSAA?
Multi-State Alternate Assessment
Formerly known as NCSC (National Center and State Collaborative)
Comprehensive assessment system designed to promote increasing higher academic outcomes for students with significant cognitive disabilities in preparation for a broader array of post-secondary outcomes
MSAA is a computer based assessment and every effort should be made to complete the assessment on line. (A paper version of the test is available and must be kept on the file for 6 years)
National Center and State Collaborative

5. What is the MSAA? (cont’d)
Multi-State Alternate Assessment
Designed to assess students with significant cognitive disabilities
Measures academic content that is aligned to and derived from the common core content standards/ Maryland College and Career Ready Standards
Not all content standards will be tested
There are prioritized standards for this assessment
The vendor is Measured Progress
In your folder you have the CCC and Prioritized standards and Essential understanding. Lets take a look.

6. Who will be tested?
Students in grades 3 – 8 and 11 who are pursuing a Maryland High School Certificate of Completion. It is imperative that the students IEP reflects their correct grade.
Students in grade 11 who were tested last year in grade 10 in Alt-MSA reading, math and science will not need to be tested in MSAA this year
If a student enters your school during the testing window (April 4-May 13, 2016) they must be tested. If they are in the 11th grade and did not take any assessment last year they need to take the MSAA, if they took an ELA and math assessment last year they do not have to be tested. If they only took one assessment such as ELA they must be tested in Math.
Explain the last statement. 11th grade this year took ALT science only will take MSAA as an 11th grader.

7. Certification Process for TA’s (Test Administrators) and STC’s (School Test Coordinators)
There are 13 modules for TA’s to complete on the computer. Can be paused. End of training quiz must receive a score of at least 80%. You take the quiz again if do not pass. TA’s will not be able to enter the MSAA testing site unless they pass. (the quiz is 41 questions)
Approximate time is 3-4 hours
STC’s will be able to view training status of all TA’s.
There are 4 modules for STC’s (no quiz) To be completed on line.
Approximate time is 1 hour.
STC’s must take the TA modules and pass the quiz

8. Let’s Look at the Online Modules
STC’s Modules:
1: Responsibilities of Test Coordinators
2: Overview of MSAA Test and Testing Integrity
3: Navigate the MSAA System
4: Create Users and Organizations
Got to module 1 Slide 3 requiring all stc to take the ta modules, slide 5 how it will look, volume on slide 7 (DTA’s can’t be printed Category 2 security violation) 9 and 10 to be played 11, 12, 13, (add about speech license by MSDE. 14 DTA’s after testing 15 talk about the new guidelines for IEP’s to begin July 1, 2016.

9. TA (Test Administrator) Module 6 Before Test: What to Complete?
Before administering the test the TA’s will complete
the following required information in the MSAA
System:
Demographics
Learner Characteristics Inventory (LCI)
Accommodations-Before Test
Student Response Check (SRC)
LCI in your folder 16 questions. Herron will take us there to the site. Herron will tell what to do how to navigate the my student page with Annabelle. Look in your TAM pages SRC tell 4 questions in ELA then stop test if no visual response

10. of MSAA

11. Overview of MSAA
Platform for this assessment is different than platform used for Alt-MSA Science
In school year, platform will not be supported on tablets, students must be tested on desktop computers and/or laptops
There will be no special forms this year other than ELA non-verbal for grades 3 and 4 only
Braille cards for visually impaired students will be used for grades 3 and 4 only
Assess two content areas:
English Language Arts (ELA) Reading and Writing
Mathematics
One-to-one test administration (TA can only be logged on one computer at a
time)

12. Overview of MSAA (cont’d)
Administered by a trained Test Administrator who is MSDE certified, familiar with the student, and passed the test with at least 80% after viewing the 13 online modules
Para-educator’s are not Test Administrators
Format of assessment is computer or paper based
Paper based test is 80 pages to print out. TA must enter student responses in online platform after student completes the paper test.
Paper test is kept in student file for 6 years.

13. Overview of MSAA (cont’d)
Assessment Features
Answer Masking
Audio Player
Alternate Color Themes
Increase/Decrease Size of Text/Graphics
Increase Volume
Line Reader Tool
Read Aloud/Reread item directions, response options, passages

14. MSAA
Accommodations

15. MSAA Accommodations
Assistive Technology (AT) for viewing, responding, or interacting with test items
Paper Version of test (downloaded from platform)
Scribe
Sign Language
Note: No use of any physical prompting, such as hand over hand, partial and full physical. This invalidates the results.

16. MSAA Accommodations (cont’d)
Scribe: A qualified person who writes down what a student DICTATES by an assistive technology device, pointing, communication by the student via interpretation/transliteration (examples include American sign Language, signed English and cued speech or speech)
Must be documented in IEP
Transcribe: The act of RECORDING student test responses from one type of document to another (must have an accommodation such as record answers in test booklet, answer document, or on blank paper, instead of in the required test booklet, answer document or computer)
MSAA excerpts from The TAM handout.

17. TESTING INTEGRITY, APPROPRIATE, AND INAPPROPRIATE TEST PRACTICES

18. STC Responsibilities
School Test Coordinators and Alternate School Test Coordinators shall be responsible for:
Coordinating the administration of state- and local- mandated assessments in their schools;
Maintaining the security of all state- and local- mandated assessments in their schools;
Serving as the liaison between the school and the Office of Achievement and Accountability;
Training staff members regarding the proper and ethical administration of each state- and local-mandated assessment administered in their schools;
Ensuring that only qualified staff serve as Test Examiners, Proctors, and Accommodators; and
Attending all required training sessions.
Source: ILA-RB-II.E.3.a-f
STC Responsibilities: Daryl and Kristna
The STC and Alternate STCs are both responsible for coordinating test administrations, securing test materials, serving as their school’s liaison for testing, training school staff on guidelines for administering assessments, ensuring qualified staff serve as Test Examiners, Proctors, and Accommodators. STCs are also, required to attend all district training sessions.

19. STC Module 2 Overview of MSAA Test and Testing Integrity
What are testing integrity and appropriate test practices?
What is secure handling of testing materials?
How is a secure testing environment prepared?
What are inappropriate test practices?
What are examples of modifications or changes to the Directions for Test Administrations (DTA)
Report any inappropriate test practices or testing irregularities to Darryl Smith.
View STC module 2 slides Darryl will go over these online. John will pull up.

20. Reporting Test Irregularities
Reported by Test Administrators to school Test Coordinators
Reported by school Test Coordinators to district Test Coordinators
Reported by district Test Coordinators to the State Test Administration and Security Committee as appropriate
District Test Coordinators are responsible for investigating and reporting the testing irregularities

21. MSAA Monitoring Plan
City Schools will randomly monitor selected schools participating in the MSAA administration.
Step 1
Before Monitoring:
The Monitoring Team will notify the Principal that the school has been selected for monitoring and request a testing schedule.
Step 2
During Monitoring:
Monitors observe the test administration and collect data from classroom observations.
Step 3
After Monitoring:
Monitoring Supervisors complete a School Monitoring Report which provides feedback to the Principal.
Monitoring Process:
Step 1
Before Testing:
The Monitoring Team meets with the Principal and School Test Coordinator to discuss the school’s test security and test integrity plans. The testing schedule is reviewed. MSDE Training Forms and a list of students with accommodations are obtained from the school, and the secure location is visited to ensure that materials are kept under lock and key when not being used.
Step 2
During Monitoring:
Monitors observe the test administration and collect data from classroom observations.
Step 3
After Monitoring:
Monitoring Supervisors complete a School Monitoring Report which provides feedback to the Principal on whether the school adhered to state and local guidelines.

22. Testing Schedules
Testing schedules should be submitted to Darryl Smith at
Please click on the following link to obtain a testing schedule template. Testing Schedule Template
Schedules should be submitted by April 8, 2016.
Need link for template

23. GUIDANCE & RESOURCES

24. Scheduling Guidance Things to consider:
MSAA testing window overlaps PARCC testing
Number of students participating
Number of teachers can who administer the test
The test has a 1:1 student/teacher ratio
Computer availability
Duration of the test
High preforming students
Low performing students
Which students should be tested first

25. How to Order Test Materials
Material ordering is done via iServices
Go to iServices:
Select MSAA from the state/contract drop-down field, click Enter
Click on Order Additional Materials link on the left hand side
Select the fields as follows:
Administration=Multi-State Alternate Assessment
Order level=school
District=respective state’s school district (i.e. Baltimore City Public Schools, MD 30)
School=respective school (i.e. Baltimore Community High School, MD 0367)
Enter MPShipCode, click Login
Complete Online Additional Materials Order Form fully
Click Place Additional Order button
Instructions:
1.Go to iServices:
2.Select MSAA from the state/contract drop-down field, click Enter
3.Click on Order Additional Materials link on the left hand side
4.Select the fields as follows:
Administration=Multi-State Alternate Assessment
Order level=school
District=respective state’s school district (i.e. Baltimore City Public Schools, MD 30)
School=respective school (i.e. Baltimore Community High School, MD 0367)
5. Enter MPShipCode, click Login
*the MPShipcode is a school specific code that was created and assigned from the initial TAM shipments. Each District TC will have access to their respective district’s MPShipCodes. State TCs will have access to every district/schools’ MP ShipCodes
6. Complete Online Additional Materials Order Form fully
7. Click Place Additional Order button
If any additional assistance is needed with ordering materials, feel free to contact the MSAA Service Center.
If a school does not have an MP Shipcode, then they were not identified in initial TAM shipment and will need to contact the MSAA Service Center who will assist with processing it as a new order.
Shipping:
*Orders placed on or after March 16 will be processed the next business day.
*Measured Progress will ship materials via UPS ground transportation until it nears the end of administration, at which time we will changed to expedited shipments to ensure materials make it to the district with enough time to administer
*All materials will be shipped to the districts. Districts will then be responsible for distributing materials to schools.

26. Picking-Up Materials
All materials will be delivered to your schools by April 12th.
Initial order – TAMs and DTAs
Additional orders – Braille, Blind/Deaf Cards, etc.
The materials will have barcodes for tracking
OAA will track the distribution and collection of materials
STCs will be provided a pick-up schedule with dates and times to pick up materials ordered b the district.

27. Returning Test Materials
The following Test Materials are secure and will need to be return to Measured Progress:
Directions for Test Administrators (DTAs)
Procedures for Assessing Students who are Deaf, Blind, and Deaf-Blind
Braille cards
Schools should return test materials to Measured Progress by May 20th.
The following materials are considered secure and will need to be returned to Measured Progress:
-DTAs
-Procedures for Assessing Students who are Deaf, Blind, and Deaf-Blind
-Braille cards
The material return window is: April 4-May 20, 2016

28. Information Technology Department
Technology Resources
Contact the OneCall Center if you experience the following:
No power
Damaged existing network drops
Laptop not connecting to Access Point
No internet access
iPads and ChromeBooks may be used but are not supported by ITD
Google Chrome is the Recommended Browser
Click on the following link to document technology issues at your school (select Alt as the assessment):
Principals should survey their testing environment prior to testing to identify technology needing repair. Create a repair ticket for ITD to make the repairs. Here are a list of what’s supported by ITD and what’s not supported by ITD (see technology requirements handout in folder)
Information Technology Department
Telephone: OneCall at (443) Subject: Online Testing

29. MSAA Service Center Phone: (866) 834-8879
Do not student information!
Monday through Friday, February 10 – May 20, :00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. EST

30. Deborah DeCarlo Krishna Miller John Herron Daryl Smith
John Herron Daryl Smith
Annabelle Quinn Michael Jones
Dr. Diane McKelvey Donna White
Anthony Walters