Accommodations for The ACT MDE Assessment Conference August 2015 Kevin Rauch – Principal Consultant April Hansen – Account Manager

Provide insights into best practices for administering the ACT with writing for students testing with accommodations. Today’s Goal 2

3 Administered to 11 th graders in the spring Paper testing Testing with accommodations occurs anytime during the 2 week testing window –March 15 thru 29, 2016 –April 19 thru May 3, 2016 The ACT

4 Non-college reportable accommodations (formerly State-allowed accommodations) Make-up Testing for self-reported misadministrations for both standard-time and accommodated students The ACT

5 ACT-Approved Accommodations result in ACT scores that are fully reportable to colleges, scholarships, and other entities. Currently on an Individualized Education Program (IEP) or Section 504 Plans Professionally Diagnosed and Documented Disability Accommodation Options

6 Non-College Reportable Accommodations (formerly know as State-Allowed) result in ACT scores that are not college reportable; they are used for state accountability purposes only. Limited English Proficiency (LEP) students who do not have a disability but receive accommodations in school Accommodation Options

7 Local Test Arrangements result in ACT scores that are fully reportable to colleges, scholarships, and other entities. Examples – sitting in the front of the room, testing individually in a room, special seating for a wheelchair Accommodation Options

8 Alternate formats include –Braille, –Large Print –Audio DVDs –Reader Scripts Extended time Testing over multiple days Stop the clock breaks Test Formats

9 View training Webcast on ACT District Testing website: Attend Accommodations Q&A session Attend TAA Q&A session Gathering Documentation Preparing to Request ACT - Approved Accommodations

10 ACT Accommodations Overview - TAA: TAA User Guide: dationsUserGuide.pdf dationsUserGuide.pdf Requesting ACT-Approved Accommodations using TAA (video): ApprovedAccommodationsUsingTAA/story.html ApprovedAccommodationsUsingTAA/story.html Preparing to Request ACT - Approved Accommodations

11 Using Test Accessibility and Accommodations (TAA) Submit requests early Be aware of deadline dates for doing so Requesting ACT-Approved Accommodations

12 The Test Accessibility and Accommodations System (TAA) –Allows on-line submission of accommodation requests –No paper to fill out and mail –Increased data security –Transparency. Access to status 24/7 Requesting ACT-Approved Accommodations

13 Six weeks in advance of test date the Test Coordinator will receive the Nonsecure shipment for the school After receipt of the nonsecure shipment all students should complete their non test portion of the answer document – don’t forget the students testing with accommodations Nonsecure Shipment

14 The Test Coordinator is responsible ordering materials for students expected to test with Non-College Reportable Accommodations. This is an ordering process – no ACT approval is involved. Ordering Non-College Reportable Accommodations

15 The week prior to test day – the Test Coordinator will receive secure shipments of testing materials for students testing w/accommodations -- both ACT-Approved and Non-College Reportable Receiving Test Materials

16 March 15 thru 29 –OR– April 19 thru May 3 – Accommodations testing window for both ACT-Approved and Non-College Reportable accommodations Accommodations Testing window

17 Avoiding Misadministrations Don’t test standard time and accomms students in the same room Don’t mix timing codes in the same room Don’t test ACT-Approved and Non-College Reportable students in the same room For ACT-Approved students – be sure they test with the materials assigned specifically for the student Best Practices when Testing

18 Avoiding Misadministrations Reading is a one-on-one accommodation Administer the tests in the stated order – even if testing over multiple days Make sure tests are timed accurately Complete administration forms accurately Best Practices when Testing

19 The day after testing concludes – Test Coordinator has all accommodations test materials prepared for return to ACT FedEx pickup scheduled by ACT April 5 or May 13 – Last day for ACT to receive answer documents Returning Materials after Testing

20 For assistance with accommodation questions for the ACT –  ACT State Testing Accommodations 800/ x 1788  Contact Us Via Our Contact Us Webpage:  us at Contacting ACT

21 Scheduled Question & Answer sessions for all test coordinators ACT Accommodations Overview - TAA: AA.pdf AA.pdf TAA User Guide: ccommodationsUserGuide.pdf ccommodationsUserGuide.pdf TAA Training

22 Requesting ACT-Approved Accommodations using TAA (video): ApprovedAccommodationsUsingTAA/story.html ApprovedAccommodationsUsingTAA/story.html Customer Service and Technical Assistance o x 1788 o TAA Training