Assessment/Data Conference 2016 - Using the Score Report Modules in the Digital Library

2015-16

• Spring 2016 CRT Science Administration Manual
• Spring 2016 CRT Science Test Coordinator's Manual
• Spring 2016 CRT-Alternate Science Administration Manual
• Assessment/Data Conference 2016 - Science CRT
• Assessment/Data Conference 2016 - Science CRT-Alternate Administration

2015

• Manuals
  • Spring 2015 CRT-Alternate Science Administration Manual
  • Spring 2015 CRT Science Administrator's Manual
    
  • Spring 2015 CRT Science Test Coordinator's Manual
• Spring 2015 Science CRT and CRT Alt Test Administration PowerPoint PDF Revised 2/13/15

2014

• Manuals
• CRT Test Coordinator's Manual
  
• CRT-Science Administrator's Manual
  
• CRT Alt Test Administrator's Manual

• Spring 2015 Science CRT Accommodations Guidance Memo
• 2014 Accommodations Manual

 

Student Results
Printed individual student reports will be mailed from Measured Progress to Test Coordinators for distribution to parents/ guardians. Systems can expect to receive them in early September.

• CRT Sample Student Reports
  • Grades: 4 | 8 | 10
• CRT-Alt Sample Student Reports
  
  • Grades: 4 | 8 | 10
• Montana Analysis and Reporting System (MARS)
  
  • MARS website
    
  • MARS User and Training Guide
• 2015 MontCAS CRT and CRT Alt Interpretive Guide

 

• Eligibility Guidelines for MontCAS Alternate Assessments 2016
• How to Include Students with Disabilities

• 2015 CRT Items
  • Grade 4 Released Items and Answer Key
  • Grade 8 Released Items and Answer Key
  • Grade 10 Released Items and Answer Key
• 2014 CRT Items
  • Grade 4 Released Items and Answer Key
  • Grade 8 Released Items and Answer Key
  • Grade 10 Released Items and Answer Key
• 2013 CRT Items
  • Grade 4 Released Items and Answer Key
    
  • Grade 8 Released Items and Answer Key
    
  • Grade 10 Released Items and Answer Key

There is no technology information for this assessment.

• Checklist for MontCAS Quality Assurance Observations
• 2015 CRT and CRT-Alt System Test Coordinator Test Security Agreement Information
• 2015 CRT and CRT-Alt System School Principal/Authorized Rep  Agreement Information
• 2015 CRT and CRT-Alt System School Teacher Information
• Spring 2015 Confidential Test Irregularity Report
• Spring 2015 Guidelines and Procedures for MontCAS Assessment Test Security
• Spring 2015 MontCAS Test Security Procedures Power PointPDF
  
• System CRT Training Log

• Spring 2015 Science CRT Alt Test Administration PowerPoint PDF
• Customizing the CRT Alt - Narrated Module

CRT Development

CRT Alignment

Two external alignment studies have been conducted of MontCAS, Phase 2, the Criterion-Referenced Test (CRT) and Montana content standards.

August 2002
The Northwest Regional Educational Laboratory ( NWREL) prepared an alignment study of the foundation of the Montana CRT and Montana content standards prior to the development of the Montana CRT.   The foundation of the Montana CRT is a bank of items from Measured Progress, the CRT testing company.   These items are named Progress Towards Standards (PTS).   The alignment study conducted by NWREL provided the information for augmenting the PTS items with items specifically developed in Montana by Montana educators. (need to link)

March 2005
The Northwest Regional Educational Laboratory (NWREL) prepared an alignment study of the 2005 Montana CRT and Montana content standards.  

• Alignment of Montana State Standards with State Assessments
• External Alignment Study for Reading and Math - Fall 2006
• External Alignment Study for Science - Fall 2007

Educator Involvement Opportunities

Multi-State Alternate Assessment (MSAA)

Montana has joined with several states to form an alternate assessment consortium. The consortium has a new name but the alternate assessment is the same one that we used last year. The new consortium includes the states of Arizona, Arkansas, Maine, Montana, South Dakota, Guam/CNMI, Rhode Island, Tennessee, and Maryland.
The test vendor is Measured Progress and the technology vendor is Breakthrough Technologies.

The test portal is being transitioned and will be available for district access and test administration training starting mid-February.

Date	Activity
Late January - First Week February	OPI prepares and uploads student file to the test platform
Mid February	System open for STCs to access trainings and see registered students
Late February	Materials shipment TAs access training modules
March 30-May 13	Test Administration Window

• Montana Specific Alternate Assessment Policies
• January, 2016 JUMP - Alternate Assessment Update
• Technology Requirements
• Alternate Assessment System Frequently Asked Questions
• Alternate Assessment Responsibilities of Test Administrators

• Accessbility and Accommodations PowerPoint PDF
• Accessiblity and Accommodations Quick Facts

• MSAA AA-AAS Interpretive Guide
• MSAA System Website

• Eligibility Guidelines for MontCAS Alternate Assessments 2016
• How to Include Students with Disabilities

Sample items can be found on the MSAA Website. They are available in an online and PDF format. ELA Sample items are currently available for grades 4, 8, and 11. Math sample items are available for grades 3, 6, and 11. Available assessment features for the online sample items include alternate color themes, answer masking, audio player, line reader, and magnification.

 

MSAA Technology Requirements

• Test Security Agreement - System Test Coordinators
• Test Security Agreement - Test Administrators
• Confidential Test Irregularity Report

• MSAA Website
• MSAA Wiki
• OPI webinars

The MSAA

MSAA: A New Alternate Assessment

Why: With the implementation of the Montana Common
Core Standards (MCCS) we have the need to create a new alternate assessment, based on alternate achievement standards that address the inclusion of Montana's students with the most significant cognitive disabilities in the MCCS.

What is MSSA? The MSAA is a project supported by a GSEG grant, led by five centers and 26 states, charged with building a new alternate assessment.

The Goal: To ensure that students with significant cognitive disabilities achieve increasingly higher academic outcomes and leave high school ready for post-secondary options.

A well designed summative assessment alone is insufficient.

A COMPREHENSIVE MODEL:

All partners share a commitment to the research - to - practice
focus of the project and the development of a comprehensive model of curriculum, instruction, assessment, and supportive professional development.

Key Ideas

ASSESSMENT DESIGN:

• Assessment Triangle (Pellegrino, Chudowsky, & Glaser, 2001)
• College - and career-readiness for SSCD
• Evidence-centered design
• Balancing standardization and flexibility (Gong & Marion, 2006)

CURRICULUM & INSTRUCTION:

• Learning Progressions • Curricular modules
• Big ideas/enduring understandings and
  prioritization of content
• Alignment • Entry points

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT:

• Communities of Practice
• Scaling up use of CCSS-aligned academic curriculum
• Communication by Kindergarten/Communication Triage
• Technology and training

For More Information:Explore media, upcoming events, a blog, and to connect with the Community of Practice (CoP), or Contact Yvonne Field, Assessment Specialist, 406-444-0748

 

Opportunities will be posted here as they become available.

• ACCESS 2.0 Field Test
  2015 WIDA Field Test Memo
• ACCESS 2.0
  In 2015-16, the WIDA Consortium will begin administration of the new, online annual summative assessment, ACCESS for ELLs 2.0. The online assessment will replace the current paper-based version of ACCESS for ELLs for Grades 1-12.
  
  • ACCESS 2.0
    
  • Preparation Resources

 

Documents and trainings are available on the WIDA website.

ACCESS 2.0 Administration Dates (2015-2016)
Activity	Start Date	End Date
District and School Site File to DRC	9/8/2015	9/8/2015
Test Materials Ordering (by SEA based on pre-id file)	10/23/2015	10/23/2015
Pre-ID Files to DRC	10/23/2015	10/23/2015
Test Setup	11/20/2015	1/27/2016
Districts Receive Test Material (On)	11/20/2015	11/20/2015
Test Window	12/15/2015	2/26/2016
Additional Test Material Window	11/23/2015	2/19/2016
Districts Pack Completed Test Material	12/17/2015	2/29/2016
Districts Ship Completed Test Material to DRC	12/17/2015	2/29/2016
All Test Material Received at DRC	3/3/2016	3/3/2016
Pre-Reporting Data Validation Window	3/9/2016	3/15/2016
Districts Receive Reports - Printed and Online (On)	4/6/2016	4/6/2016
Final Data Available to State	4/6/2016	4/6/2016

ACCESS for ELLs 2.0 Implementation Resources

What’s New in ACCESS in Ells 2.0

ACCESS for ELLs 2.0 Training Information for Schools and Districts

Both the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) require that all students participate in statewide assessments.  This includes all students who receive special education services no matter what their disability or level of service.  All students, including students with IEPs, identified at the time of statewide testing as Limited English Proficient (LEP) must be accounted for when the assessment results are reported to the Department of Education (ED) and calculated for Annual Measureable Achievement Objectives (AMAOs).   

• ACCESS for ELLs Guidelines for Accommodating English Language Learners with Disabilities
• Access for ELLs Alternate: Participation Criteria Decision Tree

Montana's English Language Learners: Guidance for School Districts

Interpretive Guide for Score Reports

• Identification
  • Criteria for Identification of Limited English Proficiency & Definition of Proficient
  • Interpreting the W-APT (screener) scores
  • W-APT Flow Chart: Pre K and Kindergarten Identification

 

• Eligibility Guidelines for MontCAS Alternate Assessments 2016
• Identification Overview
• Montana's English Language Learners: Guidance for School Districts
• Criteria for Identification of Limited English Proficiency & Definition of Proficient
• ELP Identification and the WIDA Access Placement Test Conference PP
  
• Access for ELLs Alternate: Participation Criteria Decision Tree
  
• Interpreting the W-APT (screener) scores
• W-APT Flow Chart: Pre K and Kindergarten Identification
• Non Participation
  • Non Participation Memo
    
  • Non Participation Log Form
  
  

Sample items are available on the WIDA website, accessible with a WIDA user account login.

Planning for 2016: ACCESS for ELLs 2.0 Technology RequirementsUpdated December, 2015

Test Administration Manuals are available on the WIDA website, accessible with a WIDA user account login.

2016 English Language Proficiency (ELP) Webinars
Date/Time	Topics and Audience District and School Administrators Title III Directors System Test Coordinators ESL/Bilingual Teachers	Survey Links will open at 2:00 pm Click on the appropriate link. Complete the survey/submit (You will be automatically routed to the webinar.) For technical assistance: call Angie Koehler at 406.444.3511.
1/ 5/16 2:30-3:30 PM	Scoring the Kindergarten Speaking Test	http://app.keysurvey.com/f/977938/8adf/
1/18/16 2:30-3:30 PM	End of Test Window Tasks, Packing and Returning Materials	http://app.keysurvey.com/f/977940/10f4/
4/4/16 2:30-4:30 PM	ACCESS for ELLs 2.0 Results Reports, Annual Results Review Processes	http://app.keysurvey.com/f/977942/5106/

WIDA Website Tour for STCs Training Overview

All training materials for Test Coordinators and Test Administrators are posted in the WIDA ACCESS for ELLs 2.0 Training Course. To access these materials, go to the WIDA website homepage (www.wida.us) and log in with your WIDA username and password. Once logged in, you will see the ACCESS for ELLs 2.0 Training Course. Select the tile(s) for the appropriate assessments.

The training materials for Technology Coordinators are available in the WIDA Assessment Management System (www.wida-ams.us). To access these materials, go to the WIDA AMS webpage (www.wida-ams.us) and log in with your WIDA AMS username and password. In the left navigation panel, click General Information > Training Materials.

World-Class Instruction Design and Assessment (WIDA) Consortium

The World-Class Instruction Design and Assessment (WIDA) Consortium is a coalition of state departments of education that acts in collaboration to research, design and implement a standards-based educational system that promotes equitable educational opportunities for students with Limited English Proficiency in pre-kindergarten through grade twelve.  As a member of WIDA, OPI will be a member of the governing board that makes decisions about test development and research to improve both the instruction and assessment of LEP students.  More information about WIDA is online at www.wida.us

Montana educators have access to:

• W-APT, a placement test for determining appropriate initial placement of students with limited English Proficiency 
• WIDA professional development opportunities scheduled through OPI
• Research resources to inform state policy decisions
• Member pricing on WIDA products, such as the resource guides
• WIDA Help Desk
• Serving on Consortium-wide committees, such as item review teams
• On-line test administrator training

 

 

Opportunities will be posted here as they become available.

My Access
Through the GEAR UP Grant, Montana Office of Public Instruction (OPI) has purchased 4,000 student licenses for the MY Access! writing application. MY Access! is a web-based, cross-curricular writing program from Vantage Learning.
Contact Judy Snow at 406.444.3511 or jsnow@mt.gov if your school is interested in taking advantage of this opportunity.

Please submit your My Access writing application online by November 18, 2015.

• 2016 ACT E-Grant Application
• 2016 Off-Site Testing Information
  
• ACT Administration Manual for State and District Testing (Standard Time, Paper)
• ACT Summary of Staff and Facility Requirements
  
• ACT Calculator Policy
• Assessment/Data Conference 2016 - ACT w/ Writing Administration, Best Practices and Accommodations
  
  

Accommodations Q&A Session for Spring 2016 Testing - Recorded Webinar
To view the recorded webinar, follow these steps:
1. Go to: https://act.ilinc.com/register/wzjzxkk
2. Enter the required fields.
3. Click the Submit button. It does take a minute to load and will automatically route you to the webinar.

ACT Testing: Montana
This site provides many resources to help educators administer the ACT with Writing test including, but not limited to a Schedule of Events, Forms, Manuals and Supplements, Training and Customer Service contacts.

Understanding Your ACT with Writing Results

• Eligibility Guidelines for MontCAS Alternate Assessments 2016
• Template: Participation Letter to Parents and Students

• Assessment/Data Conference 2016 - ACT Resources for Test Prep
• ACT Online Prep
• Order Form for Alternate Format Practice Tests
  

 

No technology information for this assessment.

ACT Administration Manual for State and District Testing (Standard Time, Paper)

See 2015 Administration Manual

ACT Testing: Montana
This site provides many resources to help educators administer the ACT with Writing test including, but not limited to a Schedule of Events, Forms, Manuals and Supplements, Training and Customer Service contacts.

ACT OPI Webinar March 3, 2016Revised

ACT's Alignment of Common Core and ACT's College and Career Readiness System

 

Opportunities will be posted here as they become available.

Are you a new system test coordinator? Are you a superintendent who has a new system test coordinator? Click here to let us know

2015-2016 Statewide Assessment Schedule - Checklist of Dates
Assessment Window	Assessment/Event	Grades
December 2, 2015-February 29, 2016 EXTENDED TO MARCH 7, 2016	English Language Proficiency	K-12
January 21-22, 2016	Assessment Conference Crowne Plaza, Billings	All
February 1-2, 2016	Assessment Conference Hilton Garden Inn, Missoula	All
February 17- March 24, 2016	CRT-Alternate Science	4, 8, and 10
March 3 - March 24, 2016	CRT Science	4, 8, and 10
March 22, 2016	Test Window Count Date	3-8, 10-11
March 23-May 27, 2016	Montana Smarter Balanced English Language Arts and Math	3-8
March 30 – May 13, 2016 (no longer tentative)	Alternate Assessment English Language Arts and Math	3-8, 11
April 19, 2016	ACT with Writing: Initial Test Date	Public school students in grade 11
April 19 – May 3, 2016	ACT with Writing: (Accommodations Window)	Public school students in grade 11
May 3, 2016 (Makeup Day)	ACT with Writing: Makeup	Public school students grade in 11

 

2016 Billings Conference Program

November 30, 2015 Update

 

March 10, 2016 MontCAS Update

Revised Conference JUMP February 2016

October 2 JUMP

March JUMP

March JUMP Smarter

February 13 JUMP Smarter

December JUMP, Version 3 - Revised Dec. 19, 2015

October 24 JUMP - MSAA Update

October 10 JUMP Smarter

September 17 JUMP Smarter

August 3 Jump Smarter

 

May 13 JUMP Smarter

March 26 JUMP Smarter

March 21 JUMP Smarter

March 10 JUMP Smarter

February 26 JUMP Smarter

February 12 JUMP Smarter

February 5 JUMP Smarter

January 29 JUMP Smarter

January Special Edition

December
* Special Smarter Balanced Issue

September

May

February

 

2012

2011

JUMP Newsletter Archives

2016: OPI Assessment and Data Conference

OPI staff who want to register for the conference, please contact Angie Koehler at akoehler2@mt.gov or 406.444.3511.

Please contact Judy Snow, 406.444.3511 for more information or if you want to be a sponsor.

 

Registration

Click here https://tofu.msu.montana.edu/cs/opi_assessment_2016 to register for the 2016 OPI Assessment & Data Conference.

• Single Person: $75 ($85 if registering late) - System and ACT Test Coordinators: Please use the coupon code discount emailed from Akoehler2@mt.gov, or contact Angie at 406.444.3511.
  
• Team of 3*: $190 (15% discount)
  
• Team of 4*: $240 (20% discount)
  
• Team of 5*: $280 (25% discount)
  
• Team of 6*: $315 (30% discount)

Team and System/ACT Test Coordinator discounts are only applicable to registrations made by January 13, 2016.

Registration windows: Deadlines have been extended a few days!

• Regular Registration: November 2015 – January 13, 2016 (Team* and Test Coordinator discounts are only applicable through January 13)
• Late Registration: January 14 – January 18, 2016 (For Example - Single: $85, Team of 3: $255, Team of 5: $425)
  
• PLEASE NOTE! Last day to cancel for partial refund January 14, 2016 (less the $25 MSU Conference Services fee). Cancellations must be e-mailed to toni.lee@montana.edu no later than January 14, 2016.

Lodging: Please use the group block code when reserving a room to get the State rate.

Host Hotels:

• Hilton Garden Inn, www.missoula.stayhig.com, 1.877.STAY.HGI or 406.532.5300,
  Group Block Code: 2OPI – Another 20 rooms are available in the 2nd Block at a rate of $99.00; cut-off date is January 20, 2016.
  (Additional rooms are available at the Holiday Inn Express & Suites across the street from Hilton Garden Inn with Group Code: OPI at $95.00; cut-off date is January 19, 2016. Reservations may be booked at 406-830-3100 or http://www.ihg.com/holidayinnexpress/hotels/us/en/missoula/msoex/hoteldetail.)
• Crowne Plaza, Crowne Plaza- Billings, 1.877.270.1393 or 406.252.7400,
  Group Block Code: OPI
  27 North 27th Street, Billings, MT 59101 (January 21-22, 2016 Eastern Conference)

Smarter Balanced – Looking Forward, Conference Keynote February 2016