DCAS Testing Instructions
DSCYF -2011 –Spring Window
Paper/Pencil Version:
1) Changes: a. All students may use calculators on math (DCAS & Terra Nova) test. b. Students may test over several sessions (test is untimed) c. All students that enter your facility during the testing window (May 9th – May 20th ) must be tested unless they have an exemption letter from a doctor and the proper paper work has been filed or they have been documented by DOE as having already taken the test. (As of April 26th only one 8th grade student has taken an online test for the third window (science NCCDC)).
2) If there is a student in K-2 or 11th -12th or is a portfolio student on your list please do not test them and send the list of these students to me as well. FYI: we will be trained to administer both the online DCAS and the DCAS Alt1. Chris will decide who will administer the Alt1. The Alt1 is given three times a year too.
3) Double-check my grade placement of the student. I am looking at both FACTS and TIDE to assign tests. Make sure all necessary changes have been corrected in FACTS before May 9th. If you change them after the fact, Lisa will be contacting me to find out why we gave the tenth grade DCAS to a ninth grader. Also we will be unable to retrieve scores –DOE is working on this but I know we still have been unable to obtain the fall window scores for Destiny C. due to this issue.
4) If a student is in Adult Basic Education classes, they must be labeled as such in FACTS. If they have been placed in this program following proper procedures then they do not have to test. If they were withdrawn from school, not attending an ABE class then they have to be tested. Legally they are registered with us.
5) Inventory all test booklets when they are distributed as well as returned!! We had an issue of lost materials again.
6) ***Please send a copy of all tentative testing schedules to me so I may verify your list. Make sure you use the attached schedule template to simplify reading.
7) ***Each day please forward a list of students that have been tested via e-mail. This is important as students are transient and I need to keep track of movement for documentation purposes. Also list the tests they completed!
8) Please make sure you have accommodations for all special education students –online accommodation sheets are fine, accommodations from 2009-2010 DSTP are also acceptable. If no accommodations can be found please let me know immediately and DOE will send us the most recent accommodations they have on file. There should not be any problems with DELSIS.
9) All classrooms should have: a Testing Do Not Disturb sign on door, materials that might help students - covered, allowable resources (see testing manual-grid paper, math formulas, etc.), number 2 pencils, and scratch paper.
10) Test administrators must circulate the room and monitor students as they test. This should be the test administrator’s only job. No other students but the ones being tested should be in the testing area. We had issues where students filled in extra bubbles, missed a question so half of the answers did not correspond correctly or did not correctly fill out response sheet information, etc.
11) Testing coordinators need to fill out student response sheets. Many response sheets were returned with missing information, incorrect information or extra information. I would suggest that Friday at 2:30 or 3:00 you have the teachers scheduled to administer the test double check your work.
12) Test administrators must collect all scratch paper and shred after testing is completed.
13) All testing coordinators should send test booklets and completed response sheets to Curriculum Coordinator–by 12:00 pm Friday, May 20th. Please contact AIR at 1-877-560-8331 for additional boxes. Make sure white envelopes are not sealed –I need to review information before it is sent out.
14) Please make sure all test administrators read the Paper/Pencil Test Administration Manual –the directions for administration are used for the Terra Nova and sign the security certification documents.
15) Fax security documents along with sign out/in sheets to me as soon as possible.
16) Make sure parent/guardian address is listed correctly in DELSIS. I believe it must be completed by May 15th. AIR will send testing information directly to the parents. We will not see this information. AIR is developing a method to share needs report information with the student’s school as well.
17) Please make sure you have enough testing materials for all students. If you are short please let me know as soon as possible so I can obtain them for you.
18) Please make sure you use the test security checklist each day and have teachers initial when they receive tests and when they return them. Please make sure tests are locked away when not in use.
19) Remind teachers to review test-taking strategies with students before testing begins to assist in alleviating stress. (The scent of vanilla is also helpful). See Curriculum Connections Newsletter for suggestions.
20) Please review these instructions to make sure we are all on the same page.
21) If you have any questions, please direct them to me and I will try my best to answer them as quickly as possible (633-2529).
22) Just a reminder: some students will be taking as many as five tests and all students need to complete two surveys.
23) To assist in achieving the best results I would only schedule students for one test each day. DOE does allow you to test the two reading and the two math tests back to back. If you do this then I would start with the DCAS test. DOE recommends at least ninety minutes for the DCAS but remember all the tests are untimed and students are able to take as much time as they need.
24) Personally, I believe that snacks should be available throughout the testing. Public schools utilize this motivational method as well as rallies, goal setting, and of course enabling students to complete the practice tests to lessen anxiety.
25) Finally, please double check all your paper workJ