2009 writing assessment grades 5, 8,and 11 test administrator training

20092009

Writing AssessmentWriting Assessment

Grades 5, 8 ,and 11 Test Administrator Training

Test Security

Test Security Law T.C.A. 49-1-607 states:

Any person found not to have followed security guidelines…• placed on immediate suspension• grounds for dismissal• includes dismissal of tenured

employees• grounds for revocation of state license

Test Security

Test Audits

State Test Security Measure: Conduct random visits during testing to ensure test security and consistency of administration.

83 school testing audits conducted during 2008 Achievement Test

Random audits may take place during any test administration

Test Security

The Scope of the Law• Standard copyright laws must be

maintained at all times.• Secure assessment materials may not be

reproduced or distributed in any way, for any reason, by any person.

• Secure assessment materials may not be paraphrased for use directly in instructional activities, study guides, or classroom resources.

Test SecurityThe Scope of the Law• Secure assessment materials include

pilot and field test materials.• Secure assessment materials should not

be read, reviewed, or analyzed before, during, or after test administration unless indicated in test instructions or special accommodations.

• Discussion of test content or specific test items with students, parents, or professional colleagues is prohibited before, during, or after the test to protect the validity of the test.

State Test Security Guidelines

• All personnel involved in the testing process must be trained and training documentation retained for system records.

• All test materials must be kept secure by implementing check-in, check-out and quantity verification procedures for all test materials at the system level, at the school level, and for each

• test session.• Handling of test materials must be

restricted to authorized personnel at all times.


• All test materials must be secured before and after the test administration.

• All test materials must be stored in a locked room that is inaccessible to unauthorized persons.

• All paper and online inventory verifications must be completed.

• A secure environment must be ensured during testing.

Secure Testing Environment

• Test administrators must be sure to follow all test specific directions and time limits.

• Test administrators must ensure that all students receive the correct test materials and that all students receive the appropriate accommodations.

• Test administrators must ensure appropriate monitoring that does not include coaching or illegal assistance.


• Create a secure, yet positive, environment for testing.

• Turn off all electronic communication devices (cell phones, pagers, PDAs, etc.) in the test setting.

• Confirm each student is the person named on the answer document for every testing session. A photo ID may be required if administrators are not responsible for normal classroom instruction.


• Require Test Administrators and Proctors to carefully adhere to all test administration and accommodation instructions, following appropriate schedules and time limits, outlined in all test directions.

• Require Test Administrators and Proctors to remain with the students and be observant and nondisruptive throughout the testing session.


• Prohibit coaching students in any way during State assessments.

• Prohibit reading test items and passages by anyone other than the students being tested, unless indicated in test instructions or accommodations.


• Ensure students respond to test without assistance from anyone.

• Ensure that test items are not reproduced, duplicated, or paraphrased in any way, for any reason, by any person.

• Maintain confidentiality of student-specific accountability demographic information and test results at all times.

Test Security

Breach• Document test security concerns,

including missing materials, on the Breach of Testing Security Report form.

• Failure to report a breach of security compromises the integrity of the testing process and should be treated as a breach of testing security.

Test SecuritySecure Testing Environment

Any information regarding the content being

measured on the test must be concealed during

the test administration. Including but not limited

to the following:

•Maps •Charts•Posters •Student Work •Bulletin Board Items•Writing Formulas •Word Lists

•Parts of Speech•Graphic Organizers•Number Lines•Definitions•Word Walls•Displays•Models

Test Security


Return test materials immediately after each test session and when the entire administration is completed.

Store test materials in a centrally located locked room that is inaccessible to unauthorized persons.

Test Security

Your principal will review your individual school’s test security plans and

assessment procedures with you.

Required Documentation:•Security Acknowledgement Form•Training Documentation Form

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Breach of Test Breach of Test Security ProceduresSecurity Procedures

All Test Administration

Manuals contain a flowchart provided

for guidance in handling potential breach of testing

security concerns.

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Breach of Test Breach of Test Security ReportSecurity Report

Investigate, document, and report any test

security concerns.

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Don’t forget to

complete Report of

Irregularity

.

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November/December 2008 Last name, First name, MIStudent ID number (State EIS ID) begin with zeros to complete the field

BirthdateGenderEthnicityCode A/BGrade

0 0 0

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• Allowable Accommodations must be used consistently by the student throughout curricular instruction during the school year.

• Many of the Allowable Accommodations require planning by school personnel prior to TCAP test administration.

• The teacher must discuss the accommodations with the student prior to testing.

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http://www.state.tn.us/education/assessment/tsaccom.shtmlInstructions: http://www.state.tn.us/education/assessment/doc/tsallowaccin.pdf

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Large Print or Braille

•Extended Time is allowed if student has this accommodation documented on the IEP or 504 Service Plan.

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Sign Oral Instructions Verbatim

•Allowable accommodation on writing assessment.•Only students with IEP may have interpreter sign/cue test.

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Repeating Instructions

•Prompts for the Writing Assessment may be re-read/signed verbatim as needed.

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Flexible Setting•Students may take the writing assessment in an individual or small group setting, seated in a designated area of the room, in a study carrel or in another classroom setting (e.g., library). •Homebound students may take the test at home or another approved location with appropriate documentation.•Note: Recommended size for small group setting is two to five (2–5) students. Small group setting should NOT exceed ten (10) students.

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Visual/Tactile Aids•Aids may include magnifying devices, use of templates to reduce the amount of visible print on a page, masks, pointers and abacus.

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AUDITORY AIDS •Auditory aids include amplification devices and devices that are used as noise buffers. This includes white noise machines.

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Multiple Testing Sessions(within school day)

•The writing assessment may be admininstered in smaller segments adhering to the allotted time for that test as specified in the Test Administration Manual. •Use of this accommodation requires individual or small group setting. Breaks taken by the student during the testing period must be closely supervised.

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Multiple Testing Sessions(within school day)

As an Allowable Accommodation, “Multiple Testing Sessions” does not apply to an entire general education classroom, but may be appropriate for a few students within that class. Prior arrangements must be made with the Principal.

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Flexible Scheduling•Extended breaks between subtests may be given to the student. •Achievement subtests may be given at a different time of day than the recommended assessment schedule for individual students who may perform better (e.g., medication schedule, behavioral issues) during a specific period of the day. •The content test must be completed within the school day.

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Flexible Scheduling•As an Allowable Accommodation, Flexible Scheduling does not apply to an entire general education classroom, but may be appropriate for a few students within that class. Prior arrangements must be made with the Principal. All testing must be completed within the system’s testing window.

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Scribe/Recording Answers•This accommodation is considered a Special Accommodation for the Writing Assessment, and students must meet the required conditions for Special Accommodation J prior to its use. •This accommodation may require special return packing procedures. Please contact your System Testing Coordinator for packing instructions.

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Scribe/Recording Answers•When there is a short-term situation (e.g., broken dominant arm) where a student without an IEP or 504 Service Plan will require the use of a Scribe for the Writing Assessment, directions for IEP or 504 Plan documenting consistent use inclassroom instruction and testing must be applied. •In this case, the System Testing Coordinator should submit a Unique Adaptive Accommodations Request Form for review and approval.

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Student Answers in Test Booklet•Not Applicable

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Marking in Test Booklet•Not applicable

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Student Reads Aloud to Self

•The student may read aloud the test being administered to himself/herself if in an individual setting.

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2008-2009 Special Accommodations are posted on the

TDOE Special Education website.

http://www.tennessee.gov/education/speced/seassessment.shtml#TCAP

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• Have Not Significantly Changed

• Changes were made in the areas of:– Math Tables– Manipulatives– Marking in Test Booklet

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Marking in the Test BookletMarking in the Test Booklet

• Not applicable

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ScribeScribe

• Special Accommodation for Writing Assessment. Extended time to be determined by IEP Team or 504 Review Committee

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Unique Adaptive RequestUnique Adaptive Request

• Must be sent in one month BEFORE the assessment is given.

• The request form can be found:http://www.state.tn.us/education/speced/doc/930080809UAARF.pdf

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Read AloudRead Aloud

• Prompt is read aloud.

• No internal test items.

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Test DatesTest Dates

• February 3, 2009 Writing Assessment

• February 4, 2009 only Make-up Day

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ParticipationParticipation

Who is required to take the TCAP Writing Assessment?

• All fifth grade students

• All eighth grade students

• All eleventh grade students

• All Home School students in fifth grade

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ParticipationParticipation

Do any students in these grade levels not participate in the Writing Assessment?

• Students in these grade levels that participate in the Portfolio Assessment

• ELL students who are enrolled for the first year in an American school

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Test Administration TimesTest Administration Times• Students in the fifth grade will have 35

minutes to respond to a narrative prompt.• Students in the eighth grade will have 35

minutes to respond to an expository prompt.• Students in the eleventh grade will have 35

minutes to respond to a persuasive prompt.

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Student Demographic CodingStudent Demographic Coding

• All student demographic information must be filled out in #2 pencil.

• Completely fill in the circles under all of the columns that provide the personal information for the student:

last name middle initial first name

birth date ethnic origin gender

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Student Unique Identification NumberStudent Unique Identification Number• The student’s Unique Identification

Number is obtained from the EIS System.• If the number is less than nine digits, fill in

the empty spaces using leading zeros.• Non-Public schools should place the same

number used in the social security field. Private entities do not have EIS generated ID numbers.

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Student Demographic CodingStudent Demographic Coding• Fill out all school specific information.• In the upper right hand corner, print the

teacher name, school system name and the school name on the lines provided. Do not use abbreviations for the school name.

• Fill in the circles under the system#, school #, and non-public #. Only private schools will have a non-public number.

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Student Demographic CodingStudent Demographic Coding

• Above the state seal fill in the circle that identifies the student’s assigned grade level and their membership status.

• To the left of the state seal be sure to indicate if the student took the test on the regular assessment date or on the make-up date.

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Student Demographic CodingStudent Demographic Coding• In the Other Programs field, Test

Administrators should complete this section only for students who receive the following services:

A 504 Service Plan

Gifted (Do not include in Special Education)

Migrant

Home School

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New BubbleNew Bubble• In the Other Programs Box, there is a bubble

to code students identified as Functionally Delayed.

• Functionally Delayed is not an IDEA recognized category.

• Do not use the box entitled Special Education to identify Functionally Delayed students.

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Functionally Delayed AccommodationsFunctionally Delayed Accommodations

• Fill in the circle in the box entitled Special Accommodations to indicate the special accommodation used on the test.

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Student Demographic CodingStudent Demographic Coding• In the Title I field, only schools receiving

Title I funds complete this information.• In the Code A/B field, all schools must

fill in the corresponding information for all students in the school.

• Fill in the appropriate ESL Services information for qualifying students.

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Student Demographic CodingStudent Demographic Coding• Indicate Braille or Large Print for students

using a modified format test.• All students receiving Special Education

Services must have the number of hours served indicated in the Special Education field.

• Test Administrators must indicate the type of accommodation used in the Special Accommodations Box.

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Student Demographic CodingStudent Demographic CodingAbsent Students Absent Students

• The absent circle must be marked only for students who are not present to take the test on the initial administration day or the following make-up day.

• If a student makes up the test, erase this circle completely.

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An Important DistinctionAn Important Distinction

• The Student unique litho code number appears on pages one and four of the answer document.

• This litho code number is used to identify the response of special needs students that attach additional paper.

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A Different NumberA Different Number• Every student has an assigned Unique

Identification Number from the EIS system. This number is a field on the answer document that needs to be completed for every student. Use zeros at the beginning of the number field in order to completely fill in the field.

• Check every answer document to make sure that this field is coded properly.

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Student RefusalsStudent Refusals• Student Refusals are not to be coded in the

absent circle.• An answer document must be turned in with

the scoreable materials under a Group Information Sheet.

• Page one of the answer document must have complete student demographic information. Pages three and four of the answer document will be blank.

• Refusals are not to be placed with Inactive Materials.

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Student Survey QuestionsStudent Survey Questions• All students will complete the ten

student survey questions.• The Test Administrator reads the

instructions located in the Test Administration Manual.

• The students record their responses on page two of the answer document in pencil.

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General Survey CommentsGeneral Survey Comments

• In 2007, the students who took the Pilot Assessment on-line indicated that they seldom use computers to write, but they indicated a strong preference to take the TCAP Writing Assessment on-line rather than on paper.

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General Survey CommentsGeneral Survey Comments

• A high number of students participate in writing across the curriculum, but a low number of students work in peer groups to discuss and improve their writing.

• Survey comments from the students help us understand how they view their writing instruction.

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Revisiting Return ProceduresRevisiting Return Procedures• All answer documents should be

stacked in the return box with demographic grids face up and in the same direction.

• Place all student responses that need to be scored under a Group Information Sheet.

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Revisiting Return ProceduresRevisiting Return Procedures

• Only material to be destroyed should be placed under an Inactive Test Material Form.

• Documents attached to an Inactive Test Material Form will not be scored.