1. CAMPUS TEST ADMINISTRATION TRAINING
2016 March TAKS
Brownsville Independent School District

2. Please note…
This PowerPoint does not eliminate your requirement to read the general and specific Test Administrator Manuals.
Revised 2016
TAKS Manual

3. Reminders:
Former TAAS examinees taking both Writing and Reading MUST test in those subjects on the same day!

4. Who is eligible for TAKS
TAKS tests are available in four subject areas: English language arts (ELA), mathematics, science, and social studies.
Examinees who were enrolled in grade 9 in or earlier must pass all four subject area tests to meet assessment graduation requirements for a Texas public school diploma.
Any student who is considered “Out of School” that still needs to pass a TAKS or TAAS test in order to receive a diploma.

5. Test Information Regarding Former TAAS/TEAMS Examinees
Math: Former TAAS examinees who have not met the standard will take the TAKS Math Assessment.
Writing: Former TAAS examinees who have not met the standard will be required to take the written composition and the revising and editing section of the TAKS/ELA.
Reading: Former TAAS examinees who have not met the standard for the TAAS reading test will be required to take the multiple-choice items in the Reading section of the TAKS/ELA test.

6. Spring 2016 TAKS Testing Window
When
What
Monday, February 29, 2016
ELA
Tuesday, March 1, 2016
Math
Wednesday, March 2, 2016
Science
Thursday, March 3, 2016
Social Studies
There are no make-ups!

7. Important Dates Campus training must be completed by February 26, 2016
Proctor Caching & Create Sessions February 25, 2016
Materials Return to Warehouse on Friday, March 4, 2016
Call before you come to drop off your non-scorables
All testing documentation must be scanned and submitted to the T-Drive Under the “2- submit” folder by: March 8, 2016
Follow the scanning layout

8. Scanning Layout and Clearance Form

9. Campus Test Administrator Responsibilities Page 18
Train staff and obtain Oath of Test Security & Confidentiality
Assemble materials needed for the test
Set up logistics for testing (rosters, test administrators, test day procedures, meals, schedules- duty, teacher conference, test rooms, relievers, monitors, etc.)
Set up and manage online test sessions
Ensure security & integrity of the test
Report any test irregularities immediately to the DTC

10. Preparing for testing ELA
Test Administrator Manual
ELA Directions start on page 41
Student Authorization Forms
ELA Seal Code page 35
(will be used to access the editing & revising section)
Pencils & Scratch Paper
Dictionaries & Thesauruses
(1:5 ratio to be used on the composition and reading section only; Students identified as LEP may be provided with an ESL Dictionary)

11. Preparing for testing ELA Seal Code Warning Screen page 35
Before Examinees can access an electronically sealed section of the test, they must enter a 4-digit code.
The seal code is used for the Revising & Editing section because dictionary and thesaurus use is NOT allowed in this section.
The T.A. will provide access code by writing it on the student's authorization: No verbal communication of the code or writing of it on the board is allowable.
Keep in mind that all reference materials must be removed from each student area before providing the seal code.

12. Preparing for testing Math
Test Administrator Manual
Math Directions start on page 50
Student Authorization Forms
Math Chart & Graph Paper (math charts & graph paper can be downloaded from
Rulers are available as an online tool only
Pencils & Scratch Paper
Graphing Calculator
(no typewrite style keypad or [CAS] computer algebra; calculators must be cleared to factory settings)

13. Preparing for testing Science
Test Administrator Manual
Science Directions start on page 57
Student Authorization Forms
Science Formula Chart & Periodic Table
(science charts can be downloaded from
Pencils & Scratch Paper
Rulers are available as an online tool only
Scientific, Four-Function or Graphing Calculator
(1:5 ratio; memory must be cleared after each examinee uses it)

14. Preparing for testing Social Studies
Test Administrator Manual
Social Studies Directions start on page 64
Student Authorization Forms
Pencils & Scratch Paper

15. Accommodations
Will be available to students who are currently enrolled in a Texas Public School and served by SPED.
Refer to Appendix “B” in the TAKS Manual

16. Accommodations Presentation Accommodations (P)
Response Accommodations (R)
Setting Accommodations (S)
Timing and Scheduling Accommodations (T)
Information on who can use accommodations and examples of accommodations can be located in Appendix B of the TAKS Coordinator And Test Administrator Manual

17. Oral Administration For Math, Science and Social Studies Only
TAKS ELA may NOT be administered orally
Must meet established eligibility requirements
See Appendix C for information on Oral Administration Eligibility
Test administrator must have specific oral test administration training
Need a proctor authorization
Can encompass different levels of support
Reading words and phrases
Reading multiple sentences
Reading the entire test

18. Test Administrator Responsibilities
Maintaining security of test materials
Post a testing do not disturb sign
Remove instructional displays
The use of cell phones and electronic devices are prohibited by both TAs and students
Must complete seating charts as directed
Monitoring actively at all times
Reporting any suspected violation of test security to the campus coordinator
Monitor the online system
Ensure that examinees are working actively on the test, are seated and do not talk, exit the test during breaks, lunch, or restroom breaks, submit the test according to the directions when finished, and when finished leave the testing room

19. Seating Charts Test Hound
Test Administrators are responsible for completely and accurately filling out the seating chart

20. Test Security
Successful Testing Begins and Ends with Good Test Security and Confidential Integrity

21. Test Security Confidential Requirements
Test Security is accounting for all secure materials and confidential examinee information before, during and after testing
Store secure materials in locked storage
Storing student authorization forms in a secure location prior to testing
Destroying all student authorizations, charts, scratch/graph paper used during testing
Keeping materials secure at all times

22. Test Security Confidential Requirements
Maintaining confidentiality involves protecting all contents of the online assessment and secure test materials
All testing personnel must be trained and sign an oath
For online testing, all testing personnel must accept a statement of confidentiality when accessing the Texas Assessment Management
For more information on test security, refer to the Test Security Supplement

23. Penalties for Prohibited Conduct
19 TAC & (b)(2)
TEC
Texas Government Code Section
Texas Penal Code Section TAC
Reprimand
Placement of restrictions on a Texas educator certificate
Suspension of a Texas educator certificate
Revocation or cancellation of a Texas educator certificate
Class C misdemeanor

24. Security Oaths Appendix D
TEA requires that all personnel involved in the testing process is trained and have signed a security oath before handling secure testing materials.
Certified Personnel must sign the TAKS Oath included in the manual
Non-Certified personnel must sign the Oath located in our ARE website.
Non-certified personnel will not be used as test administrators
Non-certified personnel can be used as monitors

25. Active Monitoring Page 30
Monitoring during test administrations is the responsibility of the test administrator, the campus test coordinator, the campus principal, and the district test coordinator.
Watching students during testing
The focus of the teacher’s attention should be on the students and not elsewhere
Walking around to better observe what students are doing (Are students; working on correct section of test, marking answers on the answer document, not cheating, not using cell phones, not talking or communicating with other students, etc.?)

26. Testing Irregularities
Serious
Procedural
Eligibility Errors
IEP Implementation Error
Improper Accounting for Secure Materials
Monitoring Error
Procedural Error
Direct or Indirect Assistance
Tampering
Falsifying Performance Data
Viewing Secure Content
Discussing Secure Content, Student Responses or Student Performance
Scoring Formally or Informally

27. Reporting Irregularities
A test irregularity is reported to you
Remain calm!
Do not discuss with anyone until cleared by the DTC
Get the facts, secure any evidence and determine the necessary steps
Assess the situation, investigate and contact the DTC
All statements and incident form must be turned in to DTC by the time testing materials are dropped off
If the irregularity is ruled an incident obtain statements, fill out incident form and submit both to the DTC
Statements must be typed in school letterhead, dated and signed
Follow up with an action plan to correct the error
The statements should not include the student demographics in it.
Testing documentation is kept on campus for 5 years and are TEA auditable
Keep a copy of the incident form and statements as part of your records

28. How to document an irregularity?
Utilize A.R.E.’s irregularity form!
In it you will have to include:
A clear sequence of events
A determination of what happened, why it happened, and who is responsible
An explanation of how the error was discovered, addressed, remedied or resolved
An explanation of what, if any, local action was taken against educator(s) or student(s)

29. Incident Report Form Important!
Evidence of Plan of Action Implementation Processes must be provided at end of the school year- subject to Principal’s Clearance.

30. Online Test Administration
Understanding Responsibilities
CTC's: Must understand all information included in this manual.
Tech Staff: Must be familiar with the documents found on the Assessment Management System Information web-page and software installations described in the manual and be available for assistance during test administration.
TA's: Must help examinees open and view their tests, maintain test security, and manage any interruptions during testing, such as restroom breaks, examinees and illness.

31. Infrastructure – Configure Test Delivery System – Online Testing System Check
Technology Staff must:
Ensure that the network infrastructure and computers meet the minimum system requirements
Coordinate efforts to ensure successful online administrations
Review technology documents from TAMS
Disable any automatically launching applications: screen savers, virus scans, alerts, power management software
Follow instructions regarding firewalls and content filters
Confirm that the network is secure if testing via a wireless network
Alert network user at each campus of online administration, and if necessary request that they avoid bandwidth on those days

32. Testing Schedule and Environment
TAKS administrations are untimed
Testing environments must be properly prepared
Plan for enough computers
Plan test students with accommodations in a separate setting to eliminate distractions and ensure confidentiality of the test.

33. Unified Minimum System Requirements for the Administration of Online Assessments

34. PearsonAccessNext & TestNav

35. Creating A Session
To create an online test session follow these steps:
From Testing > Sessions, click the Select Tasks drop-down and select  Create / Edit Test Sessions. Click Start.
Click Create Session and enter the required details. When creating a test session, if at least one proctor caching computer is configured, you must select a proctor caching computer. If you set test session dates and times, the system will not use them to limit when sessions can be started. The data is only used to help you with planning.

36. Creating A Session
Click Create. Pearson recommends that your session size be limited to 500 or fewer students. After a session is created, a Password box becomes available. This box contains the password that will be included in the student testing ticket and that the student will use to log in to the test (along with a unique User ID). This password helps ensure that students can access only the test assigned to them in this session. You can use the instructions to see and change this password as described in View or Edit an Online Test Session.      

37. Creating A Session

38. Generate and Print Student Authorizations
The student authorizations contain the URL that examinees enter into a browser to access TestNav and the unique user name and test code needed to take test.
The authorizations must be printed at least ONE day before the test and stored in a secure location.
The proctor authorizations are used by test administrators to log in to an oral administration session in TestNav.
Proctor authorizations must be also printed at least one day before the test

39. Generate and Print Student Authorizations
The student authorizations contain the URL that examinees enter into a browser to access TestNav and the unique user name and test code needed to take test.
The authorizations must be printed at least ONE day before the test and stored in a secure location.
The proctor authorizations are used by test administrators to log in to an oral administration session in TestNav.
Proctor authorizations must be also printed at least one day before the test

40. Retrieve Student Test Ticket
Student test tickets contain the login and TestNav URL that students need in order to access their assigned online tests. You can print student test tickets through your browser.
To retrieve student test tickets, follow these steps:
From Testing > Students in Sessions, add test session(s) to the Sessions list on the left of the page. 

41. Retrieve Student Test Ticket
2. Click a session to select it from the list. If you have trouble finding your session, go to Testing > Sessions, and select the test session(s) that contain the students whose statuses you want to view. To see the listed session(s), return to Students in Sessions.
3. Click the Download Resources drop-down and select an entry from the Student Testing Tickets section.

42. Testing Session Protocols
Assemble the materials needed for testing
a copy of this manual
test session rosters
student & Proctor authorizations-if applicable
seal codes (ELA only!)
pencils, pens
scratch & graph paper for Math testers;
scratch paper for Science & Writing testers:
Only the online ruler is allowed
Mathematics chart & Science formula chart and periodic table: assessment.com/downloads

43. Assemble the materials needed for testing
Each examinee must be provided with a graphing calculator to use throughout the TAKS XL Math Test.
At least 1 four-function, scientific, or graphing calculator. Calculator must be provided per 5 examinees to use throughout the TAKS XL Science Test.
English language dictionaries and thesauruses must be provided to examinees for the composition and reading sections of the XL ELA test.
Students may also use a combination dictionary/thesaurus or an ESL dictionary, but only when reference materials must be provided.

44. Proper Testing Environment and Procedures
Cover/Remove bulletin boards-Display Testing-Do Not Disturb Signs
Provide a quiet, well lighted, well ventilated, and comfortable room
Do not allow internet/electronic devices with internet or photographic capabilities
All assessments must be administered on the assigned dates
A trained T.A. for every 30 students late arrivals may test if sufficient time remains in the test session
Seating Charts must be completed for each session
Observe ACTIVE testing monitoring practices

45. Emergencies Technical Emergencies
First consult the Accommodations Chart in Appendix “C" to determine if the accommodation is allowed.
implement it
ARF: contact A.R.E.
determine confidentiality breach
campus: follow Emergency Plan
Technical Emergencies
Warning Screen/Testing Server not Available: Follow TestNav Combined Technical Guide
Contact A.R.E
Pearson's Austin Operations

46. A new test administrator oath must be signed for each test administration.
Sign Section 1 after your training.
Sign Section 2 if you will have access to view secure testing items such as test items or answers.
Who signs? Examples are test administrators that provide:
Oral administrators

47. Questions?

48. CONTACT INFORMATION
Cristina Sandoval
San Juanita Ramirez
Joanna Villarreal