TSI Fundamentals Test Procedures Training Thursday, August 28, 2014 Central Administration Building #216 Thursday, August 28, 2014 Central Administration Building #216 BROWNSVILLE ISD Assessment, Research & Evaluation Department

AGENDA  TESTING CALENDAR  PRE-ASSESSMENT  ROLES  TSI  TESTING PROCEDURES  RESOURCES  Q & A AND SHARE SESSION  TESTING CALENDAR  PRE-ASSESSMENT  ROLES  TSI  TESTING PROCEDURES  RESOURCES  Q & A AND SHARE SESSION

TESTING CALENDAR

MIDDLE SCHOOL TSI TESTING UPDATES Students will attempt all three subjects. More information on this matter will be forthcoming.

TSI PRE-ASSESSMENT TESTS HOUSTON COMMUNITY COLLEGE The Texas Success Initiative (TSI) Pre- Assessment Activity o Reading Review o Writing Review o Math Review Three possible levels o ABE: Adult Basic Education o DC: Developmental Course o CL: College Level

SITE MANAGER & PROCTOR ROLES SITE MANAGER PROCTOR  Prepare testing area and ensure all computers are ready for student login  Distribute vouchers and begin the test administration  Monitor testing  Manage Open test sessions  View active test sessions  Complete seating chart and pass on to Site Manager  Add and edit Proctor information as needed  Access and print individual Student, Placement Students, and Score Roster Reports  Preregister students prior to test date  Set up rosters by Proctor and assign vouchers. (Groups of students per proctor)  Keep track of test units available and request more units as needed  Manage Open and Close Test Sessions to check students who did not complete the assessment  Maintain campus testing records

RESOURCES AVAILABLE ONLINE ASSESSMENT, RESEARCH & EVALUATION WEBSITE

ACCUPLACER MANUALS ACCUPLACER Program Manual & ACCUPLACER’S USER GUIDE ACCUPLACER Program Manual & ACCUPLACER’S USER GUIDE TSI ASSESSMENT PROGRAM MANUAL COMBINED

o Blueprints (TSI Assessment Program Manual Combined, page 132 – July 2014) o FREE Study Guides (found under the Resources tab of the testing platform) o Introduction for Students o Sample Questions for Students o WritePlacer Guide with Sample Essays o WritePlacer ESL Guide with Sample Essays RESOURCES AVAILABLE

MANDATORY PREASSESSMENTS - Houston Community College TSI Pre-Assessments Students must participate in a Pre-Assessment Activity before taking the TSI Assessment. Colleges or universities are required to provide the Pre-Assessment Activity and to document student’s participation. Students will not be allowed to take the TSI Assessment until they have completed the pre-assessment activity. The activity includes the following: o An explanation of the importance of the TSI Assessment; o Practice test questions and feedback; o An explanation of all your developmental education options, if you don’t meet the minimum passing standard; and o Information on campus and community resources that will help you succeed as a college student TEST PROCEDURES

TEST SECURITY/UNIFORMITY OF TEST EXPERIENCE o Untimed tests o Active monitoring o students per proctor o Test experience should be uniform regardless of testing campus o Use dividers or screens o Limit distractions inside/outside of the test room o All cell phone/electronic devices off and collected by proctor o Purses, backpacks, and other materials will not be near testing students o See page 63 for more information on test procedures. (Accuplacer Program Manual – April 2014) o Testing Do Not Disturb sign TEST PROCEDURES

o DICTIONARY USE o Use of dictionaries is not permitted with TSI testing (TSI Assessment Program Manual Combined, page 40 – July 2014) o SCRATCH PAPER o Scratch paper may be used but will have to be collected and destroyed (Accuplacer Program Manual, page 67 – April 2014) o STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES (TSI Assessment Program Manual Combined, page 38 – July 2014) o The College Board is committed to ensuring that students with disabilities receive appropriate accommodations on all of its tests (Accuplacer Program Manual, page 73 – April 2014) o CALCULATOR USE o Activate the pop-up calendar in Test Settings o Do not allow students to use a handheld calculator when taking an online ACCUPLACER test, unless the student has a documented disability that lists calculator use as a prescribed accommodation (TSI Assessment Program Manual Combined, page 40 – July 2014) TESTING ACCOMMODATIONS

EXEMPTIONS Not all incoming students need to take the TSI Assessment. Students with a TSI Assessment exemption can enroll in any entry-level college course without restrictions. (TSI Assessment Program Manual Combined, page 4 – July 2014) Student may be exempt if they have:  met the minimum college readiness standard on SAT® ACT, or a statewide high school test  successfully completed college-level English and math courses  enrolled in a Level-One certificate program (fewer than 43 semester credit hours);  or are not seeking a degree  been, or currently are, in the military. For more information visit (See #1 and click on TSI/Exemptions) Not all incoming students need to take the TSI Assessment. Students with a TSI Assessment exemption can enroll in any entry-level college course without restrictions. (TSI Assessment Program Manual Combined, page 4 – July 2014) Student may be exempt if they have:  met the minimum college readiness standard on SAT® ACT, or a statewide high school test  successfully completed college-level English and math courses  enrolled in a Level-One certificate program (fewer than 43 semester credit hours);  or are not seeking a degree  been, or currently are, in the military. For more information visit (See #1 and click on TSI/Exemptions)

GUIDANCE & COUNSELING “TSI” FACT SHEET- Exemptions o SAT combined critical reading and math score of 1070 with a minimum of 500 on critical reading shall exempt the reading and writing sections of TSI and 500 on Math shall exempt the math section of TSI. o ACT composite score of 23 with minimum of 19 on the English test shall exempt both reading and writing sections of TSI and/or 19 on math shall exempt math section of TSI o Student is exempt with high school exit level TAKS minimum scale scores of 2200 in Math and 2200 in English Language Arts with Writing sub-score of 3. o STAAR end-of-course with a minimum score of Level 2 on the English III shall exempt the TSI Assessment required for reading and writing, and a minimum score of Level 2 on the Algebra II EOC shall exempt the TSI Assessment required for the math section. o Associate's or Bachelor's degree (from a Texas public institution) o Student who will enroll in a certificate program of one year or less. o ESOL Waiver-an institution may grant a temporary waiver from the assessment in order to provide appropriate ESOL/ESL coursework and interventions. Fact Sheet prepared by the BISD Guidance & Counseling Department –Pilar Janis, Lead Higher Education Counselor K

Q&A AND SHARE SESSION ASSESSMENT, RESEARCH & EVALUATION DEPARTMENT (956) TSI Contacts for Testing Procedures Beth Libby Joanna Villarreal