1. (Required for DTCs, Recommended for STCs)
Test Information
Distribution Engine
(TIDE)
(Required for DTCs, Recommended for STCs)

2. TIDE
Objectives
Understand the role and purpose of TIDE in supporting student success and achievement.

3. Overview Definition: Test Information Distribution Engine Purpose:
TIDE
Overview
Definition: Test Information Distribution Engine
Available through the OAKS Portal
Purpose:
To provide authorized users with access to:
User Information
Add new users or modify existing accounts
Student Information
New this year: Student Information and Student Settings combined in a single tab
View/Edit student test settings for a student
Search for students
Student Restrictions
View/Edit or Add restrictions for a student
Upload restrictions for a batch of students
Upload Paper-Based Writing Test Orders
-The TIDE User Guide (available October 1) will include screenshots and detailed instructions for navigating through TIDE.

4. User Information Important: For 2012-13, heightened password security
TIDE
User Information
User Roles and Access
OAKS users (DSA and lower) are associated with a district and/or institution(s).
Current district/school roles are: DSA, DTSA, STC, TA, TT, District Report Viewer, and School Report Viewer.
Important: For , heightened password security
Add/Modify User Accounts
Add users
View/edit users
Upload users
-For more information on User Roles, see Part II of the Test Administration Manual
-Passwords will now be encrypted within our DB and they can only be reset based on answer to as security question

5. TIDE
Add Users
District users: select a role, district and institution from the drop-down menus. The district and institution lists will automatically update after you select a role from the drop-down menu.
Note: While this page can be used to add a new user to TIDE or to add a District/Institution to a user’s profile, no other user attributes may be modified on this page. Those changes must be done using the Upload Users feature.

6. TIDE
View/Edit Users
Select a role, district, and institution from the drop-down menus. The district and institution lists
will automatically update after you select a role
from the drop-down menu.
Select a role, district, and institution from the drop-down menus. The district and institution lists will automatically update after you select a role from the drop-down menu.
Click the [Edit] button for a user whose information you want to view and update. You will be directed to the Edit User page. You can only update the user’s first name, last name, and phone number.  
If you need to re-associate the user with a different district or institution, you will need to follow the process outlined in the Upload User section.
You can only edit user information for users assigned to your institution at a lower level of access (e.g., DTSAs can edit STCs, STCs, can edit TAs)

7. TIDE
Upload Users
Upload a group of users to TIDE or modify profiles for existing users
TIDE accepts uploads of user information in CSV (ASCII) format.
CSV files can be opened/edited using spreadsheet applications such as Microsoft Excel or a notepad application
When adding users to multiple institutions, it doesn’t matter which institution is entered first
Add Users to Multiple Institutions
Enter users on separate lines in the upload file – one line for each institution
For the first institution, enter “ADD” as the action

8. Passwords New This Year
TIDE
Passwords
New This Year
Passwords must have a minimum of eight characters including one uppercase letter, one lowercase letter, and one number.
Passwords will be encrypted. If users request their password they will be ed a link rather than the actual password. Links will expire in 24 hours.
All passwords will be reset on October 1. All users will need to request their password the first time they log in after October 1. Users will be prompted to change their password after logging in for the first time.
Users will be prompted to select and answer a security question the first time they log in after October 1. -

9. TIDE
Requesting a Password
When logging in for the first time this year, state- and district-level users will need to enter their address in the username box and then click “Request Password.”
Users will receive an with a link that is good for 24 hours. Clicking on the link will allow them to log in. They will be prompted to change their password after logging in.
School-level users will be sent an with a link when they are added to the system. If the link expires before they log in, they can follow this procedure to request a password.

10. TIDE
Student Information
New this year: Student Information and Student Settings are combined in a single tab.
Search for a group of students (e.g., by grade or school) or for an individual student (e.g., by first name, last name, or SSID)
Once the search is complete a student table is generated

11. View/Edit Students All users can view student settings.
TIDE
View/Edit Students
All users can view student settings.
Users can only update test settings if their role in TIDE permits. Note: Only DSAs and DTSAs can update Restricted Resources

12. Student Settings Color Choice Language Print Size
TIDE
Student Settings
Color Choice
Language
Print Size
Computer-Based Read Aloud
Suppress Score
Item Types Exclusion
Print on Request
Modification Codes
Accommodations and Accommodation Codes
New This Year
ELPA Exclusions -

13. Upload Student Settings
TIDE
Upload Student Settings
Can Batch Upload:
Color Choice
Language
Print Size
Accommodations
Computer-based read aloud
Suppress Score
Cannot Batch Upload:
Item Type Exclusion
Print on Request
ELPA Exclusions -

14. TIDE
Student Restrictions
View and edit test restrictions for students within a district and/or institution.
Test restrictions prevent students from testing in a specified subject.
Note: if a student transfers schools or district, his or her test restriction settings will not be reset.

15. View/Edit Restrictions
TIDE
View/Edit Restrictions
Select the district and/or institution from the list(s) and click [Search]. To narrow the search, select an enrolled grade, or enter a student's SSID, first, or last name.
Each row displays information for students, including test settings and accommodations. Each row also contains an [Edit] button.

16. View/Edit Restrictions
TIDE
View/Edit Restrictions
TIDE accepts uploads of student restrictions in CSV (ASCII) format.
CSV files can be opened/edited using spreadsheet applications such as Microsoft Excel or a notepad application.

17. TIDE: Paper Writing (DTSAs and DSAs only)
Orders may be placed by uploading a pre-code file for multiple students or by editing individual student settings.
Pre-code files must include the following fields:
SSID (required)
DOB (required)
Teacher Name (optional)
Class Period (optional)
District-level users can export order information to Excel.
For students that are testing in Braille, the
District must be sure to order both a paper
Writing booklet via TIDE and a Braille form
from ODE.
-After the student completes the test using the Braille form, a test administrator will transcribe the student’s response to the paper Writing booklet and include the paper Writing booklet with the district’s return shipment for scoring.

18. TIDE
Do’s and Don’ts
Do’s
Use the LEP flag for those students who will take the ELPA.
Use student test settings to assign system features and restricted resources to students by test subject (e.g., language, zoom, print-on-request).
Use student restrictions function to manage student access to specific assessments in OAKS Online.
Use the order function to place orders for the winter and spring Writing Performance Assessments.

19. Do’s and Don’ts, cont’d Don’ts
TIDE
Do’s and Don’ts, cont’d
Don’ts
TIDE users must not share their TIDE log-in information and passwords, even with other authorized TIDE users.
DTSAs or DSAs must not set the item print- on-request restricted resource for students without a documented need (e.g., IEP, 504 Plan, or other district documentation)
- Security and eligibility requirements for printed test items appear on p. 11 of the Test Administration Manual.

20. TIDE
Promising Practices
The district uses the Student Restriction function to restrict students who are designated to take OAKS Extended from accessing the Online test.
The district applies student test settings for students by test subject to ensure that students have appropriate access to OAKS Online. For students with IEPs or 504 Plans, the district consults the student’s plan before applying test settings to ensure compliance with the student’s plan.
-Student test settings are designed to support ODE-approved allowable resources, accommodations, and restricted resources.

21. In a Nutshell TIDE is available through the OAKS Portal
Use TIDE to manage user accounts, student test settings, and order Writing tests

22. Online Resources OAKS Online User Guides
OAKS Portal (includes Training Site and Practice Tests)

23. Acorns for Storage What are the functions available through TIDE?
How can district users use TIDE to manage appropriate student access to OAKS Online?