PARCC and DC Science School-Level Training Materials
School-Level Training Materials have now been posted on Canvas. Everyone involved with PARCC and DC Science Testing must receive training. The School-Level Training Materials have been created to help TCs faciliate training at the school level. The provided PowerPoint serves as a resource and guide for training. Please check the note sections of each PowerPoint slide for instructions, talking points and information that can be edited and replaced with school specific details. Materials can be found here under the PARCC page, Test Integrity Tab.
Chancellor Letter To Families
The Chancellor Letter to Families will be available by end of day, March 19th. This letter is to notify families of important information and upcoming PARCC and DC Science test dates. The letter is available in multiple languages and can be found here on Canvas under the PARCC page, Test Administration and Guidance Documents tab. Letters should be sent home by March 21st.
PARCC and DC Science Secure Materials Management
Receive PARCC and DC Science Test Materials: Starting March 18, Pearson (PARCC/DC Science testing vendor) will be delivering test materials to your school. which will include test manuals, accommodated test materials, and return shipping materials. Establish a process to ensure you and your school Principal are informed when test materials arrive at your school. Packages are usually addressed to School Principal and or/Test Coordinator. The boxes has the name “Pearson” along with their logo on the outside packaging, labeled with your school name. Please be aware the PARCC and DC Science materials may ship separately. Inventory test materials immediately and place them in secure storage under lock and key or other controlled access methods (passcode, card entry, etc.)
Manage Test Materials for PARCC and DC Science: Follow pages 32- 34 in the 2019 PARCC/DC Science Test Coordinator Manual, “Section 3.10.2: Receive, Document, and Store Materials.” Afterwards, please complete Section 1 of the DCPS 2019 PARCC & DC Science Secure Materials Management Form, and upload into your 2019 School Assessment Folder via OneDrive. Please use document only if you receive paper tests, human reader kits, and other supplemental materials that must be returned to Pearson as marked on the front packaging of the test materials.
Ordering Additional PARCC and DC Science Test Materials: Starting March 18, the window for ordering additional test materials for students who require accommodated tests (i.e. human reader kit, paper version of test, etc.). Directions for placing additional orders can be found here. Important: Additional orders take one to two weeks to process shipment so please plan ahead. With respect to ordering additional hard copies of the TAMs, please use the electronic copies found here. If you have questions about orders or accessing shipment information in your PAN account, please contact Pearson’s Customer Support team at (866) 688-9555.
Test Plans (*Updated*) 1. One Drive access: Everyone must use the first part of their email domain with @k12.dc.gov extension (instead of dc.gov) as username, then use your current dc.gov email password. Please reference the steps to access your OneDrive folder here for visual.
2. Accessing the Test Plan: Please use your current e-mail address when accessing the school test plan.
3. For Authorized Personnel List: Provide all authorized personnel including Test Coordinator, Test Monitor (Principal), Technology Coordinator, Special Populations Coordinator, etc.
4. Referencing staff members: When referencing staff members in the test plan (i.e. “Test Coordinator, Test Monitor, etc.) please provide first and last names.
5. Feedback: Please read and addressed feedback within 2 business days of receipt. To read and address feedback to your test plan, please ensure the following:
--- Log in to the Assessments Portal following pages 1-2 of the "2019 School Test Plan Guide."
--- View and edit Test Plan following pages 27-28 of the "2019 School Test Plan Guide."
2019 Test Administrators and Proctors Guide Now Available
Huge thank you to all Test Coordinators who offered valuable feedback during Test Integrity Training as we used feedback to incorporate the changes to the 2019 Test Administrators and Proctors Guide. Please use this document in your school level training. Document can be found here and under the PARCC page, “Test Integrity” tab.
MSAA Training Modules and Test Window
MSAA is managed and administered through an online platform called the MSAA System. To administer an MSAA assessment, Test Administrators are required to complete MSAA training modules within the MSAA System and obtain a score of 80 percent on module quizzes. These MSAA training modules are available within the MSAA System starting on March 4. After completing all modules and quizzes, a Test Administrator gains access to the testing platform and can begin assessing on or after April 1st. Test Administrators are strongly encouraged to log in to the MSAA System and complete the required training modules in preparation for 2019 test administration.
DLM-Science Alternate Assessment
Test Administrators will administer test to participating students on 9 testlets, if in elementary or middle school, or 10, if in high school. However, before any testlets will be available for students the following should be completed:
1. Test administrators must be put in DLM’s Kite Educator Portal as a teacher. As well, they must complete the DLM Required Test Administrator Training. Here is a link to the Guide to the DLM Required Test Administrator Training, which explains how to complete the training.
2. Each student must be enrolled using the Educator Portal, then rostered to the person who will administer the assessment to the student. Here is a link to the Data Management Manual, which includes instructions for how to enroll and roster students. 3. The test administrator must complete a First Contact Survey for each student in Educator Portal. The Required Test Administrator Training explains how to complete the First Contact Survey, click here to access a helplet video with step-by-step instructions.
Note: Be sure to reach out to your OCTO Tech and flag devices that need the KITE app installed for DLM-Science ALT Testing.
DC Science Accommodations – SRPNP Field Definitions Version 1.2 Released
The DC Science assessment includes a range of accommodation options for students with Individualized Education Plans (IEPs), Section 504 plans, and English learner (EL) plans. The accommodations offered are listed in Appendix C of the PARCC and DC Science Test Coordinator Manual.
During the Student Registration and Personal Needs Profile (SRPNP) completion window, OSSE received feedback on challenges in assigning certain accommodations for the DC Science assessment. These challenges have been addressed by Pearson, and corrections and clarifications are outlined in an updated Student Registration/Personal Needs Profile Field Definitions Version 1.2.
Please see the attached overview for updates on changes outlined in version 1.2 of the field definitions guide. Please note that changes apply to the DC Science assessment only and do not impact PARCC assessment registration. For questions on the DC Science SRPNP, please contact OSSE’s Office of Assessment via the OSSE Support Tool.
Principal Guide and Responsibilities on Summative Assessments Memo Release
In the Principal Weekly Update’s – Issue 78 edition, we released a memo to school leaders for key responsibilities before, during, and after assessments. To read a copy of the memo delivered to Principals, please follow link here.
Device Delivery
Schools who are slated to receive devices from central office should expect to receive them no later than April 5th. Please refer to the email sent by Cyrus Verrani to Principals on Feb 15th.
DCPS-guest Network Deactivated
In preparation for increased wireless usage during the upcoming PARCC and DC Science Testing season, DCPS-guest internet access will be temporarily disabled, beginning the evening of March 17th thru May 24th. DCPS-guest network deactivation will reduce the amount of wireless traffic on the network and allow schools faster internet access for testing.
Helpful Tips to Navigate Testing Season
1. For the most up-to-date information, always refer to the most recent Summative Assessment Bulletin. Summative Assessment Bulletins are published on Mondays and sent to Test Coordinators and Testing Team Members. Archived versions can be found here. 2. For quicker access to information, training materials and Test Manuals, be sure to bookmark key websites--Pearson, Canvas, QuickBase, etc.
Proctor Cache Machines
Just a friendly reminder that Proctor Cache Machines should remain powered on daily. Please do not turn off these machines, as they are continuously receiving software updates.
Specialized Instruction during Statewide Testing
During statewide testing windows, regular scheduling at schools may be disrupted, and staff roles and responsibilities may shift to accommodate test administration needs. However, in order to remain compliant with federal and local laws, students with disabilities should continue to receive their prescribed services (as mandated by their IEP/504 Plan) during the testing period. An adjusted instructional schedule may be necessary to achieve this, so please use the recommendations from DSI posted on Canvas to ensure all students receive their required hours of instruction and services during statewide testing windows.
MSAA/Science Alternate Test Plan Start Dates
With respect to your MSAA/DC Science Alternate Start Date on your test plan, you may view feedback that asks for revision that may read as follows, “Please revise your start date to April 1 or later to remain in compliance to test security requirements.” This narrative means that Test Plans must be approved by OSSE 15 days before the start of the testing window. Please make sure to revise start dates as required by your test plan reviewer.
DC Science Practice Tests Available
OSSE has released DC Science Practice Tests will be available on the DC Pearson Portal and the PearsonAccessNext Training Site. These practice tests give students in grades 5, 8 and high school biology the opportunity to familiarize themselves with the testing platform and explore the features and tools available on the DC Science assessment.
For each grade/subject, DC Science practice tests include an online version, a paper accommodated version (PDF file), answer keys, and the rubrics used to score constructed response items. These practice tests are designed to provide students with a preview of the experience of taking the DC Science assessment, including the test’s format, items types, and online functionalities. Each practice test has four units with three item clusters per unit, and have been developed according to the DC Science assessment design and blueprints.
GITL Logs
The updated Group Information and Time Lapse Log (GITL) has been uploaded to Canvas under the Test Integrity Tab located on the PARCC page. GITL logs are now three individual spreadsheets. One for Regular sessions, Make-Up sessions and Ext. Time Accommodations only. Please refer to the PARCC and DC Science TC Checklist, page 2 located on the PARCC page in Canvas, under the Test Adminstration and Guidance Documents tab. At the completion of testing, all GITL logs are to be maintained in the school's Assessent Folder in One Drive.
Chain of Custody
The updated DCPS Computer-Based Chain of Custody Form is now available and can be found on Canvas under the Test Integrity page. The new form will allow Test Coordinators to complete one sheet for each Test Administrator (testing group), per grade and/or subject to capture all units tested. Test Coordinators and Test Administrators, verify testing materials received daily during the check-in and check-out process. TAs administering accommodations or monitoring make-up sessions will use a seperate form. Chain of Custody Form are to be maintained in your School Assessment Folder in One Drive.
EL Accommodations Guidance
DCPS provides additional guidance on selecting and assigning appropriate accommodations. Please find the memo posted on the Assessments Section in Canvas under PARCC Accommodations tab.
Alternate Assessment Checklist
The Alternate Assessment Checklist includes tasks that must be completed before, during, and after the assessments. An updated Alternate Assessment Checklist is now available under Alternate Assessents in both MSAA and DLM tabs. This updated version includes specific dates and tasks.
2019 PARCC Snacks
PARCC is right around the corner. The Food & Nutrition Services team wants to ensure a smooth snack ordering process for the testing period. The 2019 PARCC Snack Order Form and 2019 PARCC Snack Instructions can be found here on Canvas.
2019 PARCC and Science TC Checklist
Accessing School Assessment Folder via OneDrive
School Google Assessment Folders are now discontinued due to recent changes in DCPS data security requirements. To access, your 2019 School Assessment Folder in OneDrive, please follow the instructions provided here.
Assessments HelpDesk
Please utilize the Assessments HelpDesk to reach out to the Assessments Team for non-urgent questions. We are tracking questions and response rates to better assist testing teams, and we can only do that through the Assessments Portal in QuickBase.