Getting Ready for the District Choice
State Testing (DCST) Administration
of the ACT
Presented by: Sean Moore and Kevin Rauch
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What’s new for DCST DCST Overview Test Center Establishment Standard Testing Requirements Testing with Accommodations Test Administration Training/Staff
Responsibilities Ordering & Return of Materials Getting Started Now – Review of dates and
documents you must complete and return to ACT
Resources
AgendaAgenda
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What’s newWhat’s new
TWO TEST DATE OFFERINGS March Test Dates
Initial test date – March 20 Makeup test date – April 3 Accommodations Testing Window –
March 20 – April 3
OR
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What’s new What’s new
TWO TEST DATE OFFERINGS April Test Dates
Initial test date – April 24 Makeup test date – May 8 Accommodations Testing Window
April 24 – May 8
The district will select one test date for all schools in the district.
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What’s newWhat’s new
Pre–ID Bar Code Labels – Optional Service
Districts may now provide ACT with an electronic file containing student information including the student’s state assigned ID.
The file must be in the format prescribed by ACT. (See Attachment D)
The deadlines for submitting your Pre-ID bar code label file varies based on your test date choice. (See Attachment D)
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What’s newWhat’s new
Pre-ID Bar Code Labels – Optional Service Record your district’s interest in using this
new service in the District Info tab of Attachment A
ACT will produce the labels to be placed on the individual student’s answer folder to assist with the collection of data and management of the student record.
The State Assigned ID will be reported in the District Student Data File.
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The DCSTThe DCSTAdministration of the ACTAdministration of the ACT
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DCST Administration of the DCST Administration of the ACTACT
District selects one of two test options The ACT, or The ACT Plus Writing The decision applies to all schools district-
wide – and cannot be changed
English 75 items 45 min Mathematics 60 items 60 min Reading 40 items 35 min Science 40 items 35 min Writing 30 min
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DCST Administration of the DCST Administration of the ACTACT
Weekday, school based administration All grade 11 students at participating
schools take the test All schools must test their own students Scores for students testing with Standard
Time or ACT Approved Accommodations are accepted by ALL universities/colleges and for NCAA initial eligibility
Testing with State Allowed Accommodations does not result in college reportable scores
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DCST Administration of the DCST Administration of the ACTACT
Only schools meeting The ACT for State Testing Standard Testing Requirements are eligible to serve as test sites
District notifies schools regarding participation in DCST
Schools communicate to Students Early— No refunds for students already registered
for a National ACT Test Date
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DCST Administration of the DCST Administration of the ACTACT
No “Registration” for DCST Estimated Enrollment during
Establishment Enrollment Confirmation Form Pre-test session held before test day
ACT fee waivers may not be used Technology requirements document
posted to District Choice State Testing website: http://www.act.org/aap/dcst/
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DCST Test SiteDCST Test SiteEstablishment ProcessEstablishment Process
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DCST Test Site DCST Test Site EstablishmentEstablishment
Establishment Packets shipped to High School Principals In early August for schools testing in March In September for schools testing in April Envelope for Principal Envelopes for appointed testing
personnel in the principal’s mailing
Courtesy copy Establishment Packet mailed to District Assessment Coordinators
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DCST Test Site DCST Test Site EstablishmentEstablishment
Principals – Review key documents Checklist of Dates Testing Staff Qualifications and
Responsibilities Summary of Test Administration
Policies for the ACT Standard Testing Requirements
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DCST Test Site DCST Test Site EstablishmentEstablishment
Principal’s Responsibilities: Consider staffing requirements and
appoint testing staff Test Supervisor Back-up Test Supervisor Test Accommodations Coordinator (TAC)
Select staff who will be available for the entire school year
Complete Online School Information/Appointment of Testing Staff Form
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DCST Test Site DCST Test Site EstablishmentEstablishment Required Online Test Site Establishment
Forms: Principals – Appointment of Testing Staff/
School Information Form Test Supervisors - ACT State Testing Test
Supervisor and Facilities Profile Back-up Test Supervisors - ACT State
Testing Back-up Test Supervisor Profile Test Accommodations Coordinators - ACT
State Testing Test Accommodations Coordinator Profile
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Standard Testing Standard Testing RequirementsRequirements
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Standard Testing Standard Testing RequirementsRequirements
Apply to both initial and makeup tests Facilities Personnel Security Exact timing of tests Documentation of test day procedures Other test administration requirements
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FacilitiesFacilities
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FacilitiesFacilities Choice of test rooms for
standard time administration Well lit, comfortable temperature, quiet
atmosphere Comfortable seating for 25-30 students Prefer no more than 100 students per
room for manageable security
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FacilitiesFacilities Freedom from distractions
Only persons assisting with that day’s administration may be in the room
Turn off bells and public address systems
Uninterrupted testing period required 3 ½ hours of testing time for The ACT
Requires about 4 ½ hours of staff time for pre- and post test responsibilities
4 hours testing time for the ACT Plus Writing
Requires about 5 hours of staff time for pre- and post test responsibilities
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FacilitiesFacilities Freedom from distractions
Separate testing rooms from regularschool activitiesAway from noisy locationsQuiet wing of the high school – preferredLocal decision to have 11th grade only in
session on test day
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Off-site TestingOff-site Testing May request off-site testing location if unable
to meet Standard Testing Requirements for facilities
Consider off-site for initial test date and/or makeup test date
Each off-site location must be approved by ACT Community college, church or other
public facility, private facility
Off-site Request Form on DCST website: www.act.org/aap/dcst
Receipt deadline December 16, 2011
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PersonnelPersonnel
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PersonnelPersonnel Test Supervisors, Back-Up Test
Supervisors, and Test Accommodations Coordinators have access to secure test materials prior to testing
Avoid the appearance of a conflict of interest, and protect relatives (children, stepchildren, grandchildren, nieces, nephews, siblings, in-laws, spouses, and persons under your guardianship) from allegations of impropriety
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PersonnelPersonnel Test Supervisors & Back-up Test
Supervisors may not be related to any examinee taking the DCST administration of the ACT in 2012 anywhere in your state
Test Accommodations Coordinators may not be related to any examinee testing with accommodations taking the DCST administration of the ACT in 2012 anywhere in your state
Room supervisors & proctors may not assist in a room where any relative is being tested
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PersonnelPersonnel Testing staff must not engage in ACT
test preparation activities during current year for commercial gain May be part of testing staff only if:
Test preparation- part of regularjob responsibilities
Not employed by a commercial enterprise
Must not be enrolled in high school
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PersonnelPersonnel Each school is responsible for testing
their own students A person may not serve as a Test
Supervisor, Backup Test Supervisor or Test Accommodations Coordinator at more than one school
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SecuritySecurity
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SecuritySecurity
Constant security of materials Receive and store secure materials
Receipt, check-in, and verification of test booklets by serial numbers
Restricted access at all times—documented “chain of custody”
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SecuritySecurity Constant security of materials
Test materials must not be transferred or shared between schools
This applies to all schools
Schools within the same building
Multiple schools testing at same off-site location
Answer documents must not be returned to students after test responses are gridded
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SecuritySecurity
All test sites must test on designated test days only
Testing must be the first activity of the morning for all students Students’ schedules must be adjusted
All Room Supervisors must begin reading the Verbal Instructions no later than 9:00 a.m. Bus schedules must be adjusted
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SecuritySecurity Proper identification of students by
Room Supervisor Direct consultation with ACT to handle
administration irregularities
Immediate and complete return of all materials to ACT
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Test Administration Test Administration RequirementsRequirements
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Test Administration Test Administration RequirementsRequirements
Accurate completion of documentation including Roster, Seating Diagram, Test Booklet Count Form, and Time Verification Form returned for each room
Briefing Session 30 min. prior to test
Staff must be attentive to their testing responsibilities during the administration
Tests must be administered in the order listed: Test 1 (first), Test 2 (second)…
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Test Day ObserversTest Day Observers
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Test Day ObserversTest Day Observers Only those directly involved in testing
may be in testing area Unannounced Authorized Observers
ACT Unauthorized Observers
Media Test prep companies Parents School board members District personnel
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Testing withTesting withAccommodationsAccommodations
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Testing withTesting withAccommodationsAccommodations
TAC Training Fall mailing:
ACT-Approved or State-Allowed Accommodations Request Forms
Examples of available accommodations Extended Time, Testing over Multiple Days Alternate Formats (Large Print, Reader’s Script)
Test Administration Training In November/December for March districts In January for April districts
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Testing withTesting withAccommodationsAccommodations
ACT-Approved Accommodations Professionally diagnosed disabilities,
current IEP or 504 documentation
College Reportable Scores
ACT will review all ACT-Approved Accommodations requests
If approved: Student specific test materials
Detailed testing instructions
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Testing withTesting withAccommodationsAccommodations
State-Allowed Accommodations School approved accommodations
NOT college reportable
ACT will review and process all complete State-Allowed Accommodations requests
If complete orders are placed: Student specific test materials
Detailed testing instructions
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Testing with Testing with AccommodationsAccommodations
ACT Approved request deadlines March districts – December 16, 2011 April districts – January 27, 2012
State Allowed order deadline March districts – February 3, 2012 April districts – March 9, 2012
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Test Administration Test Administration TrainingTraining
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Test Administration Test Administration TrainingTraining November/December for March districts
--- OR --- January for April districts REQUIRED for ALL Newly appointed Test
Supervisors, Back-up Test Supervisors and Test Accommodations Coordinators
District Personnel may attend If the staff at a school (TS, Backup TS,
Test Accommodations Coordinator)has not been trained – we will NOT ship test materials to the school
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Test Administration Test Administration TrainingTraining
Training will cover: an ACT overview standardized procedures test administration policies test accommodation administration
policies return of materials questions
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Following Test Following Test Administration TrainingAdministration Training
Testing staff must read and be familiar with the Supervisor’s Manual
The Test Supervisor will organize an in-school session for all Grade 11 students to complete all pre-test information sections of the answer folder (before test day)
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Following Test Following Test Administration TrainingAdministration Training
The Test Supervisor and Test Accommodations Coordinator will: Select Room Supervisors and Proctors
Conduct a required local training session for all testing staff before testing (a separate training session is required for all staff who will be supporting students testing with accommodations conducted by the TAC at each school)
Distribute a complete copy of the appropriate Supervisor’s Manual to each Room Supervisor
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Ordering & Ordering & Return of MaterialsReturn of Materials
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Ordering MaterialsOrdering Materials Enrollment provided on Appointment of
Testing Staff/School Information Form completed by Principal
Confirmation of enrollment on Confirmation Form submitted by Test Supervisor in January for schools testing in March February for schools testing in April
Contact ACT to order additional materials After the Initial Test Date, order makeup
materials by 5 pm CT, the day after the Initial day of testing for the Makeup Test Date
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Non-secure ShipmentNon-secure Shipment To arrive
Early February for March testers Mid March for the April testers
To Test Supervisor Supervisor’s Manual Taking the ACT for State Testing Answer documents (blank)
Someone must be at the school to receive this shipment
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Secure ShipmentSecure Shipment To arrive in schools (not district offices)
the week prior to the Initial Day of testing To Test Supervisor
Standard Time Test booklets To Test Accommodations Coordinator
ACT-Approved Accommodations materials State-Allowed Accommodations materials
Someone must be at the school to receivethis shipment If your school is on spring break that week,
we will ship one week early
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Materials ReturnMaterials Return
The carrier will pick up materials The day after the Initial Test Date The day after the Makeup Test Date Accommodations materials the day after
the closing of the test window Pick ups are pre-scheduled by ACT Carrier may arrive at schools anywhere
from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm
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Getting Started NowGetting Started Now
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Getting Started NowGetting Started Now
Districts need to Decide on your test date – March or April Decide on your test option – ACT or ACT
Plus Writing Are you going to use Pre-ID bar code
labels
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Getting Started NowGetting Started Now
Complete and sign the Purchase Agreement Indicate your choice of test option Indicate your choice of test date Include the estimated number of students that
will be tested
Complete Exhibit 1 – Description of Services Indicate your agreement to the requirements
by initialing next to each item
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Getting Started NowGetting Started Now
Complete and return Attachment A Complete all three tabs – School Info, DAC
(District Assessment Coordinator) Info and Billing Information
With only two exceptions – ACT HS Code and Purchase Order Number – all other fields are required
DAC Info tab collects information such as your test date, test option and bar code file choices
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Getting Started NowGetting Started Now
Return signed Purchase Agreement, Exhibit 1, and completed Attachment A by the deadlinesNo later than June 15 for March testing
No later than August 15 for April testing
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Getting Started NowGetting Started Now
Principals, plan ahead— Work with your district to inform students
and parents of this test experience Be thinking about who you will appoint as
testing staff – Test Supervisor, Backup and Test Accommodations Coordinator
Consider your school in terms of meeting standard testing requirements
Work with staff to submit accommodations requests as this requires extra planning
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Resources for DCSTResources for DCST
Forms and materials: http://www.act.org/aap/dcst
Program questions: [email protected]
Sean Moore @ 319/ 337-1768