Cindy Carosone

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Testing Calendar andOrganizational Management

• Cindy Carosone
• District Testing Coordinator
• Denton ISD
• MATS West Director
• ccarosone_at_dentonisd.org

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• Reading, Writing, and Arithmetic
• Reduce, Reuse, Recycle
• Reflection, Relationship, Resilience
• Rest, Relaxation, and Rejuvenation

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TSNAP

• Successful planning is the key!

http//www.tsnap.org/
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http//www.tsnap.org/
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Remember!

• Attending this training does not take the place
  of your required District Testing Coordinator
  (DTC) training, reading all manuals and related
  publications or emails.

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Session Overview

• The flow of testing activities
• Calendar of Events, TAMS, District Needs
• Practical tips on how to manage
  scheduling/calendars

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As a New DTC you will
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So Many Roles

• Denton ISD
• State Related Assessment
• Resource Contact-Accountability, Counseling,
  Curriculum, ESL/Bilingual, Sp. Ed.
• Local Screening- Gifted Talented
• 27,000 students
• 38 campuses

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Important Reminders

• Official ESC Training is still required before
  you can oversee Oct. and Dec. testing! (This
  training doesnt count. Contact your ESC today if
  you have not yet attended training.)
• Superintendents oath and DTCs oath are due
  after December EOC testing (Place oaths in the
  preaddressed envelope provided, stamp, and mail.
  Keep a copy of each for your records).

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Overview of the Official State Testing Calendar/s
(2013-2014)

• Key resources for the entire testing calendar
  year, which begins each January and runs through
  EOC in December.
• Imbedded information that is not apparent to
  non-testing staff.
• Communication is the key to avoid conflicts.
• TIP
• E-mail, post to websites, and/or send calendars
  to maintenance, custodians, food service,
  transportation, Bilingual/ESL staff, Special
  Education Staff, UIL heads, public information
  officer, safety personnel, athletics, fine arts,
  C I staff, Alternative campuses (DAEP), etc.

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Calendar of Events
Three distinct sections. Think in thirds!
Before, during, and after testing.
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Calendar year formatting (January to
December, not a school year)
239/23
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Calendar Layout

• The state testing calendar of events can be
  divided into three sets of activities.
• Pre-Assessment Events (PRIOR-to-testing
  activities)
• Assessment Events (testing dates)
• Post-Assessment Events (AFTER-testing activities)

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What is an EVENT?
Each column is a complete set of activities for
each test administration.
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Calendar of Events 2014 Testing
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Pre-assessment activities Think the top 1/3!
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Pre-Assessment Activities
Many important EVENTS take place long before the
actual testing dates!
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October Pre-Assessment Activities
2014-2015 Student Data File Format
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Tips of the TradePRE-TESTING Activities

• Inform ALL significant groups EARLY in the school
  year.
• Determine if you have any out of district testers
  or students at JJAEP or on homebound.
• Gain support of Special Education Director and
  Bilingual/ESL Director.
• Utilize district staff as campus monitors.
• Recommend ARD/LPAC/504 test changes to be
  complete 2 weeks prior to first day of testing.
• Locate, inspect and study the White Box.
• TIP Always date your communications with as
  of date.

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Calendar of Events 2013-2014 Testing
Some days have multiple tests occurring
simultaneously!
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Tips of the TradeDURING Testing Activities

• Provide office staff with your daily calendar of
  campus visits/check-in/ monitoring, etc.
• Schedule flex time within the testing days for
  emergencies.
• Schedule reporting time if a testing irregularity
  occurs.
• TIP Avoid scheduling meetings at any time
  immediately before, during, or after testing!

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Post-Assessment Activities
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Post-Assessment Activities
Note different shipping dates for scorables and
nonscorables!
Parent Board report dates
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Post-Assessment Activities
Check TEA Testing Calendar Manuals
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Tips of the TradePOST Testing Activities

• Schedule check-in times, if needed - provide
  snacks a soda!
• Schedule additional staff to assist with check-in
  process.
• Cushion check-in times to allow for resolution of
  problems.
• TIP Have a trained DTC back-up in the event of
  emergencies.

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http//www.texasassessment.com
Calendar of Events Link OOS OOD Test
Registration Link
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Texas Assessment Program
STAAR-A
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State Testing Calendar
Fall
Spring
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Posting Calendars!

• http//www.dentonisd.org/

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To Do List (ASAP)

• Get designated by your district Ask Ted
  Administrator as the District Testing Coordinator
  (DTC)
• Pearson User ID Password for the new Texas
  Assessment Management System
• http//www.texasassessment.com
• Texas TrainingCenter (TELPAS STAAR Alt)
• Join TEA Student Assessment Listserv
  http//miller.tea.state.tx.us/list/
• Bookmark these websites
• www.tea.state.tx.us/student.assessment/
• http//www.texasassessment.com
• Locate and read the 2013 District and Campus
  Coordinator Manual (DCCM).

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Online October Exit Level Retest

• 8/5 8/22 Select Precode Option Not Needed for
  October.(Go to the PearsonAccess website and find
  information under the Test Setup tab when
  required.) http//www.texasassessment.com
• 8/4 9/5 Register Out-of-School Examinees
  Online (Go to PearsonAccess website find
  information under the Test Management tab or in
  old location on main Pearson site.)
• Check Participating option for each subject your
  district plans to offer online or during night
  testing. (found under the Test Setup tab under
  Enter Administration Details)
• Before 10/27 Order Optional Reports online
  only (found under the Test Setup tab under Enter
  Administration Details)
• 9/22 Review Advance Letter / Materials List
  (online only)

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October Exit Level Retest

• 8/4 9/5 online registration is open for OOS
  students
• https//tx.pearsonaccess.com/tclp/portal/tclp.port
  al?_nfpbtrue_pageLabelpa2_tclp_oos_page
• 8/11 Receive precode file layouts.
• 9/2 9/12 Submit precode file if district
  supplied option selected. (Preparing the precode
  file may require coordination with your
  PEIMS/Technology Dept.)
• By 9/19, and before you handle any secure testing
  materials, you must attend your district
  coordinator training session at your regional
  ESC.
• Combined shipment?????
• Useful planning tools and checklists may also be
  found in the Test Security Supplement, located
  at
• www.tea.state.tx.us/student.assessment/

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October Exit Level Retest

• Contact TEA if you feel you have a rare paper
  testing need for the procedures necessary to
  obtain paper booklets.
• Watch for Braille ordering information. It is
  done online in the TAMS. If you have a Braille
  student and need help call Pearson 800 627-0225.
• TIP Establish a system to account for all
  materials and for check-in and check-out of all
  testing materials. Require a signature for all
  transactions. Remember Student Authorizations

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October Exit Level Retest

• By 10/1 Conduct campus coordinator training
  sessions. (Use the activities specified in the
  Campus Coordinator Responsibilities section of
  the DCCM to plan your training. Also include Test
  Security and Confidentiality Requirements found
  in the DCCM.
• By 10/13 Test administrators must be trained by
  this date.
• 10/20 10/23 TAKS Testing (Ensure proper
  testing procedures by monitoring testing, and be
  available to answer questions and resolve
  problems.)
• Reminder 5 year Seating Charts Document
  Retention Requirements (see Test Security
  Supplement p. 18)

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(No Transcript)
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October Exit Level Retest

• 10/24 Campus Coordinators Return Scorable
  Materials to District Coordinator
• 10/27 Ship all scorable materials. (Verify
  counts on the Answer Document Packing List before
  shipping and dont forget to include the ADPL on
  top. Make a copy to retain.)
• 10/28 Campus Coordinators Return All Nonscorable
  Materials to District Coordinator
• 10/29 Ship all nonscorable materials.
• Reminder You must contact the shipping carrier
  2 days prior to the pickup date.

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October Exit Level Retest

• 11/14 Districts Receive Preliminary Rosters
  Online on TAMS
• 12/5 Districts receive Standard and Optional
  Reports (addressed to the superintendent) and
  notify students and parents by 12/26. (Distribute
  to appropriate campus and district personnel.
  Prepare needed reports.)
• 12/3 12/19 Districts submit student record
  changes in TAMS
• https//tx.pearsonaccess.com/
• The joys of Schoolhouse!
• https//secure.ncsschoolhouse.com/schoolhouse/Logi
  n

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October Exit Level Retest

• 12/22-1/2 Districts receive corrected
  Confidential Student Reports (CSRs) and data
  files online only (Distribute to campuses.)
• By 1/23 Districts report results to local board
  of trustees. (Prepare needed reports.)

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STAAR EOC Fall Prep

• Obtain list of students who did not meet standard
  (Level 2 performance).
• Follow same activities for December STAAR testing
  as you did for October TAKS testing, but include
  paper testing needs.
• Select option for testing paper or online
  (benefit of selecting paper even if testing
  online).
• Testing window is December 1-5 for Eng I II
  (last option for separate Reading/Writing) Dec
  1-5, Alg 1, Bio, US History.
• English I II have specified administration
  dates.
• Set up your district schedule as determined by
  the number of testers for each EOC test to be
  administered.
• Remember to plan for students who may need
  accommodations, supplemental aids, oral, or small
  group testing.
• Determine if any newly enrolled students in your
  district need to take a December EOC because they
  did not meet Level 2 at their previous district
  when tested .

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Other Fall Testing Activities

• Aug - Dec Determine LEP students (English
  Language Learners) and raters of LEP students in
  preparation for TELPAS.
• Coordinate with Bilingual Director/Coordinator
  about who is responsible for coordinating the
  required trainings, collection of the writing
  samples and who is responsible for the online
  reading assessment.
• Aug - Oct STAAR-Alt
• Determine STAAR-ALT students, grade level, and
  test administrator in preparation for online
  registration.
• Coordinate with Special Education
  Director/Coordinator about who is responsible for
  STAAR-ALT test administrator training and
  STAAR-ALT test security training.

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Other Fall Testing Activities

• Fall Participation Counts-enter in TAMS before
  deadlines. Get
• campuses involved in the process.

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Other Fall Testing Activities

• Verify that grades 9-11 STAAR-ALT course codes
  are in place for students taking STAAR-ALT.
• Routinely check the TEA Student Assessment
  website for updated training information
  regarding testing.
• Remember to network for information. Dont be
  afraid to email, call, text, etc.

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Upcoming TETNS

• Future TSNAP Teleconference Dates (1-4 pm)
• Oct. 1, 2014
• Nov. 10, 2014
• Feb. 4, 2015
• June 6, 2015
• Link to TEA TETNS-http//www.tea.state.tx.us/stude
  nt.assessment/training/tetn-schedule/

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Remember to View all TETNs
Contact your Regional Service Center for
information.
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Texas Assessment Conference (TAC)

• Now in its 29th year, the Texas Assessment
  Conference remains the only statewide conference
  especially dedicated to providing the latest
  information regarding assessment, testing, and
  accountability in educationelementary,
  secondary, and postsecondary. Attendees receive
  the most current information from state agencies
  and policymakers, as well as benefit from sharing
  of best implementation practices in schools,
  districts, colleges, and universities. The 2015
  conference promises to provide critical
  information for student and institutional
  success. (Retrieved from TASA website)
• 2015 Feb. 15-18, Hilton Austin Hotel
• Registration and Housing opens Oct. 2014
• 2016 Feb. 14-17, Hilton Austin Hotel
• 2017 Feb. 19-22, Hilton Austin Hotel

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Prize Time!

• The 3 Rs