1. School Test Coordinators Training (Required for DTCs and STCs)

2. Big Picture Objectives
STC Training
Big Picture Objectives
Understand the roles and responsibilities of school test coordinators
Be able to support the DTC in training test administrators
Understand state policies so that you can help build effective school procedures
The STC role and responsibilities are described on p. 3 of the Test Administration Manual (TAM). STC training requirements are described on p. 7.

3. Training Overview Training will cover the following topics:
STC Training
Training Overview
Training will cover the following topics:
STC Training
TA Training
Accommodations
Test Security
OAKS Online
ELPA
Writing
Each training module is designed to take between 5 – 15 minutes to present.
“Dos, Don’ts, and Promising Practices” slides provide practical examples of how to successfully implement testing policies and rules.

4. Test Schedule STC Training OAKS Online 11/5 – 5/22
OAKS Online 11/5 – 5/22
*includes Braille Interface and Grade 3 Spanish Reading
1st Opportunity 11/5 – 1/6
Subsequent Opportunities 1/7 – 5/22
OAKS Writing (Paper/Pencil)
Winter (Grades 11 & 12 Only) 1/8 – 2/20
Spring (Grades 11 & 12 Only) 4/11 – 5/22
OAKS Writing (Online)
Winter (Grades 11 & 12 Only) 1/8 – 3/21
Spring (Grades 11 & 12 Only) 4/2 –5/22
Extended Assessment 2/20 – 4/24
ELPA 1/8 – 4/15
Kindergarten Assessment 8/12 – 10/24
PSAT/NMSQT /16 or 10/19
NAEP 1/27 – 3/7
-Districts may only administer one opportunity per student of all OAKS Online assessments between 11/5/13 and 1/6/14.
-For Writing, students may either take Online or Paper (not both). New for , both eligible 11th and 12th grade students may test during either the winter or the spring test window.
-ELPA window closes on 4/15/14
-New for , the Kindergarten Assessment is required for all students entering Kindergarten. Due to the timing of the Kindergarten Assessment test window, ODE has provided the required training separately from this training.

5. Required Assessment Options
STC Training
Required Assessment Options
Required OAKS Online Assessments*
Reading and Mathematics: grades 3 – 8, and 11
Science: grades 5, 8, and 11
Optional OAKS Online Assessment*
Social Sciences: grades 5, 8, and 11
OAKS Online Grade 3 Spanish Reading Assessment
Native language Spanish Reading assessment (not an English-Spanish side-by-side test)
Eligible ELL students may use Grade 3 Spanish Reading for accountability purposes
* Available through Braille Interface of OAKS Online
-Districts may choose to administer this assessment to non-ELL students (e.g., students in language immersion programs), but only ELL students will be able to use this assessment for accountability purposes.
-Eligibility defined on p. 39 of TAM (in the U.S. for 3 or fewer consecutive years, districts can extend for up to 2 additional years based on local evaluation)

6. Required Assessment Options, cont’d
STC Training
Required Assessment Options, cont’d
Writing Performance Assessment
Only available for students in Grades 11 & 12
1 opportunity per student
Students may not take both online and paper/pencil format
Students may test in either Winter or Spring test window
--Due to budgetary restrictions, Writing will not be offered for students in grades 4, 7 or high school grades other than 11 and 12.
--This year’s 11th and 12th graders can use passing Writing score toward Writing Essential Skills requirement
--Additional information about the Writing Performance Assessment is available in Module 8: Writing and in Appendix G – Requirements for OAKS Writing Performance Administration of the TAM.

7. Required Assessment Options, cont’d
STC Training
Required Assessment Options, cont’d
English Language Proficiency Assessment (ELPA)
1 opportunity for the following grade bands: K – 1, 2 – 3, 4 – 5, 6 – 8, and 9 – 12
Students must have LEP flag marked in the SSID system in order to access the ELPA
New for : the ELPA window will close on April 15th
Additional information about the ELPA is provided in Module 7: ELPA and in Appendix H – Requirements for ELPA Administration in the Test Administration Manual.

8. Required Assessment Options, cont’d
STC Training
Required Assessment Options, cont’d
Kindergarten Assessment
New assessment for , required for all students enrolled in Kindergarten
Comprised of three segments
Early Literacy
Early Math
Approaches to Learning
Specialized training requirement
Additional information about the ELPA is provided in Module 7: ELPA and in Appendix H – Requirements for ELPA Administration in the Test Administration Manual.

9. Required Assessment Options, cont’d
STC Training
Required Assessment Options, cont’d
OAKS Extended Assessments
Reading : 1 opportunity at Grades 3 – 8, and 11*
Mathematics: 1 opportunity at Grades 3 – 8, and 11*.
Science: 1 opportunity at Grades 5, 8, and 11*.
Writing: 1 opportunity at Grade 11*. y
* ODE has adopted a policy allowing students whose IEP indicates the OAKS Extended Assessments to retest in their 12th grade year if they did not meet the alternate achievement standard as 11th graders for any of the subject areas tested by this assessment (i.e., Reading, Mathematics, Science, and Writing) . While retests are not mandatory, districts should have testing opportunities available for grade 12 students with disabilities who wish to retest, especially those needing to demonstrate proficiency for the Essential Skills graduation requirement.

10. Multiple OAKS Test Opportunities
STC Training
Multiple OAKS Test Opportunities
Available Test Opportunities:
2 test opportunities for students in grades 3 – 8
3 test opportunities for students in High School
Districts are not required to administer all available opportunities to each student
Best Practices Guide available
ODE offers multiple opportunities as a means of limiting the impact of the “real world” on a student’s results (e.g., adult errors, network problems, student illness, invalidation, or expiration). Individual test opportunities may be lost due to test expiration (the student does not complete the test within 45 days of starting it) or invalidation (based on an impropriety).
Best Practices Guide provides guidance on appropriate testing practices, including timing of test administration

11. STC Training
Retesting Students
Retesting students in grades 3 – 8 who have already met requires explicit parental consent
Consent must be for the current school year
Consent must be received prior to retesting
District must receive parent signature
Districts are not required to receive parental consent before retesting students in High School
Best Practices Guide available
-Districts may communicate with parents using existing communication protocols, such as fall registration materials, parent conferences, electronic media, or letters home. Signature may be received in hard copy or electronically.
-Best Practices Guide provides guidance on appropriate testing practices, including decisions about retesting students. Also, see pp of the Test Administration Manual for requirements around retesting students in grades

12. STC Training
Targeting Up
Targeting up to a higher grade level is available for students through grade 7 for OAKS Math and Reading.
Students in grades 9 and 10 may take the high school level OAKS tests. Students in grade 12 may also take the high school level OAKS tests.
Students in grade 8 may only take the high school level OAKS tests if they have received instruction at the depth and breadth of the high school standards.
Best Practices Guide available
Best Practices Guide provides guidance on appropriate testing practices, including decisions about targeting up. Also, see pp. 37 of the TAM for requirements around targeting up.

13. School-Imposed Test Windows
STC Training
School-Imposed Test Windows
Definition: A shortened test window set at the school level for a particular OAKS, Writing, or Kindergarten assessment
Purpose: To allow the school to appropriately allocate resources toward testing based on projected student enrollment
Must Haves:
Begins no later than first school day in April for OAKS Online, applicable start date for OAKS Writing, or first day of the district’s school year for the Kindergarten Assessment;
Ends no later than the end date for the statewide test window identified in the Test Schedule
Lasts for at least four calendar weeks for OAKS Online, two weeks for OAKS Writing, or six weeks for the Kindergarten Assessment
School-imposed test windows are not permitted for the ELPA or Extended Assessments
Requirements around school-imposed test windows appears on pp. 33 – 34 of the TAM.

14. Test Administrator Training
STC Training
Test Administrator Training
Ensure that all TAs in your building:
Receive training using ODE-provided modules:
Module 3: TA Training
Module 4: Accommodations
Module 5: Test Security
Module 6: OAKS Online (required for OAKS Online TAs, including Braille Interface)
Module 7: ELPA (required for ELPA TAs)
Module 8: Writing (required for Writing TAs)
Read and understand the Test Administration Manual
Sign assurance of test security form
STCs are responsible for working with their DTC to ensure that all TAs receive their local test administration and security training, have read and understand the Test Administration Manual, and have signed an Assurance of Test Security Form. The requirement to train TAs includes TAs administering the ELPA, the Extended Assessments, and OAKS Online through the Braille Interface. It also extends to substitutes and volunteers who may be involved in test administration.
To ensure consistency in training, districts are required to incorporate ODE’s training modules when training TAs. TA training requirements are included on pp. 7 – 8 of the TAM.

15. Test Administrator Training, cont’d
STC Training
Test Administrator Training, cont’d
In addition to Test Administration and Security Training, ensure that:
All Braille Interface TAs in your building receive additional ODE-provided training specific to configuring the Braille Interface
All Extended Assessment TAs in your building receive additional ODE-provided Qualified Trainer or Qualified Assessor training
All Kindergarten Assessment TAs in your building receive separate Kindergarten Assessment Training using ODE-provided modules.
Information about Braille Interface training is included in Part VIII – Students with Disabilities of the TAM. Information about Extended Assessment training is included in Appendix I of the TAM. Information about the Kindergarten Assessment is included in Appendix L of the TAM.

16. STC Training
Do’s and Don’ts
Do’s
STCs must coordinate determination of appropriate assessment options for students
Test format (includes Braille, English- Spanish, Extended, and targeting up)
Number and timing of test opportunities (includes retests)
STCs must ensure that all TAs in the building receive required training
STCs may set school test schedules for OAKS Online, Writing, and Kindergarten Assessment in collaboration with DTCs

17. STC Training
Do’s and Don’ts
Don’ts
Schools may not set school test schedules for Extended Assessments or the ELPA
Schools may not extend the school test window once it is in progress or test students outside of that window
Schools may not retest students in grades 3 – 8 who have already met or exceeded unless the school first receives explicit parental consent

18. Promising Practices STC Training
To ensure valid tests, STCs should keep track of which staff (including subs and volunteers) have received training and set up procedures to ensure that only these staff enter the secure test environment.
To ensure that students receive the appropriate assessment, STCs should keep track of student test settings, including accommodations, test format, and restricted resources.
To manage access and pace of testing opportunities, STCs may restrict students in TIDE from accessing OAKS Online for specific test subjects.
To avoid test expirations, STCs should track which tests are close to expiration and ensure those students complete testing before the 45-day expiration period ends.

19. STC Training
In a Nutshell
The Assessment options generally are the same this year as last year, except:
Both winter and spring Writing test windows are available to eligible 11th and 12th grade students
There is a new required Kindergarten Assessment
TA trainings must incorporate ODE- provided training modules

20. STC Training
In a Nutshell, cont’d
STCs coordinate determination of appropriate assessment options and test settings for students
STCs coordinate local test windows and ensure that all students are tested

21. Online Resources STC Training
ODE staff contact information:
Assessment and Accountability webpage:
Regional ESD Helpdesk contact information:
Test Administration Manual and Best Practices Guide:
Accommodations Manual:
Extended Assessment Manual:
Promising Practices:

22. STC Training
Acorn for Storage
How can an STC ensure that Test Administrators are administering the assessment consistent with state and district policies?
How can an STC ensure that students are tested at the appropriate time and make appropriate decisions about retesting students?
How can an STC ensure that all students receive the appropriate test format?
-Ensure staff have read and understand the pertinent sections of the Test Administration Manual and Accommodations Manual. Provide training using ODE-provided training modules and provide TAs with an opportunity to ask questions and get clarification. Review promising practices with staff and use the training site to practice setting up and administering tests.
-Review the Best Practices Guide and Part VI of the Test Administration Manual to review guidance and requirements on establishing school-imposed test windows and retesting students in grades 3 – 8. Work closely with the DTC to establish school-imposed test windows, keeping in mind timing for instruction and when students will be ready to test and establish a procedure for collecting parental consent before retesting students in grades 3 – 8 who have already met or exceeded.
-Coordinate with students’ education teams (classroom teachers, SpEd teachers, IEP teams, LEP teams) to identify which assessment formats are appropriate for a student. Use student restriction feature in TIDE to block students from accessing tests they should not receive. Establish clear procedures and activities for students who are not testing with the rest of the class.