Copyright © 2009 State of Florida, Department of State
20
09
SPRING
WRITING TRAINING
What’s New
 FCAT Writing (Grades 4, 8, and 10)
No multiple-choice items for any grade
level.
Due to legislative changes, earning a
passing score on the Grade 10 FCAT
Writing will not be required for
graduation with a standard high school
diploma.
TAM iv
SLIDE 2
Spring 2009 FCAT Writing
Administration Schedule
Day 1
Tuesday,
February 10
Day 2
Wednesday,
February 11
Day 3
Thursday,
February 12
Writing Prompt
45 Minutes
Make-up Testing
Make-up Testing
Grade 8
Writing Prompt
45 Minutes
Make-up Testing
Make-up Testing
Grade 10
Writing Prompt
45 Minutes
Make-up Testing
Make-up Testing
Grade 4
SLIDE 3
Spring 2009 FCAT Writing
VI and HHIP Extended Schedule
 The Florida Department of Education has
approved an expanded testing window as
noted below:
Spring 2009 FCAT Writing extended testing
window only for visually impaired and
Hospital/Homebound Program students is
February 4 – February 13, 2009.
For early testing, pick up materials at TDC
on January 29 or 30, 2009.
SLIDE 4
Students to Be Tested
 In general, all students enrolled in grade
levels 4, 8, and 10 should participate in FCAT
Writing.
 Note: Retained students in the tested grade
levels are expected to participate in FCAT Writing.
 ESE students in grade levels 4, 8, and 10
should participate in FCAT Writing unless
their IEP indicates an alternate assessment.
 All English Language Learners (ELLs) must
participate in FCAT Writing.
TAM 2-3
SLIDE 5
Students to be Tested: Other Programs
District
Code
School
Code
Participation Status
Registration/Reports
Home Education (FHEP)
13
9998
MAY
Home Education Office
McKay Scholarship
13
3518
Private-MAY
ESE Office
Program
Public-MUST
Corporate Tax Scholarship (CTC)
97
9999
MAY
Registration- Region
Center
Report- FLDOE
K-8 Virtual
School
Hospital/
Connections
Academy
78
0700
MUST
State
Florida Virtual
Academy
79
0801
MUST
State
Merrick
13
9732
MUST
Merrick HHIP
Tree of
Knowledge
13
5042
MUST
School accommodates all
Homebound*
*District program not in the Test Administration Manual.
SLIDE 6
TAM 2-3; 41-46;
Training Packet 10-15
Accommodations
 Students with Disabilities
• Accommodations stated in the student’s
current IEP or 504 plan
Presentation
Responding
Scheduling
Setting
Assistive Devices
• Emergency 504 Plan
Contact Joanne Rosen, ESE at 305-995-4697
TAM 3-4; 7; 69-75
SLIDE 7
Test Accommodations Field in ISIS
 Verify that all students requiring Braille
or Large Print test materials have the
proper test accommodation
documented in District’s Integrated
Student Information System (ISIS).
Test Accommodations field on the
Additional ESE Information screen in
ISIS.
Weekly Briefing #4548
SLIDE 8
Accommodations
• English Language Learners (ELLs)
 Students who are currently receiving
services in a program operated in
accordance with an approved district LEP
plan:
Flexible Setting
Flexible Scheduling
Additional Time
Assistance in Heritage Language
TAM 3; 7; 76
Approved Dictionary
SLIDE 9
Test Administration and Security Procedures
State and District Requirements
• Standards, Guidelines, and
Procedures for Test
Administration and Test
Security available at
http://oada.dadeschools.net/Tes
tChairInfo/InfoForTestChair.asp
 Adopted by School Board
 General Guidelines
• Florida Test Security
Statue and Rule
• School Procedural
Checklist
TAM 11; 12-13; 77-80; 83
S L I D E 10
Prohibited Activities: Florida Statute
and State Board Education Rule
• Reading the passages, test items, or performance tasks.
• Revealing the passages, test items, or performance tasks.
• Copying the passages, test items, or performance tasks.
• Explaining or reading test items or passages for students.
• Changing or otherwise interfering with student responses
to test items.
• Causing achievement of schools to be inaccurately
measured or reported.
• Copying or reading student responses.
TAM 11; 77-80
S L I D E 11
Prohibited Activities (continued)
Allowing students to handle secure
materials before or after test
administration.
Leaving secure materials unattended.
Leaving secure materials in classrooms or
taking them out of the building overnight.
Test administrators must NOT administer
the FCAT to their family members.
TAM 11; 77-80
S L I D E 12
Prohibition of Electronic Devices
• Possession of any electronic device that
reproduces, transmits, calculates, or records
IS cause for invalidation.
 “Possession” is defined as “within arm’s reach,”
even if the electronic device is not visible.
 Students should not have cell phones in their
pockets, clipped to their belts, at their desks, or
anywhere they can be easily accessed during
testing.
•
S L I D E 13
Test administrators and proctors should also
turn-off their electronic devices during
testing.
TAM 18; 25; 87; Training Packet 4-6
General Security Guidelines
Do
Do Not
 Provide secure storage
 Restrict access
◦ (3 or fewer keys)
 Handle secure materials,
including affixing of labels in a
limited-access area
 Maintain documentation
◦ Chain of custody
◦ Book assignment to students
 Train test administrators and
proctors
 Monitor students during lunch
break or extended breaks
 Test in a cafeteria, gymnasium,
auditorium, or library
 Allow unauthorized access to
materials or content
 Open secure materials prior to
date allowed
 Allow untrained or uncertified
staff to test students
 Coach or provide assistance
during test administration
 View, review, copy, or debrief
test content
TAM 11; 12-13; 77-80; 83
S L I D E 14
Reporting Irregularities
• All school staff are professionally responsible for
ensuring appropriate administration procedures
and reporting any irregularities.
 Reporting procedures
 Specified in Standards, Guidelines, and Procedures for
Test Administration and Test Security
Test Chairperson /Principal
Student Assessment and Educational Testing
Regional Center and/or appropriate District
administrative office
Appropriate investigative unit, if applicable
S L I D E 15
TAM 13; 16
Reporting Irregularities (continued)
• School personnel must be prepared to
provide documentation and information in
support of subsequent investigations of an
incident.
 Testing conditions and test security protocol
 Testing location of students, including a list of
students who tested at the same location and
seating assignment
 Academic history of students
 Resolution of the incident
 Steps implemented to avoid future losses or
breaches
S L I D E 16
TAM 13
Other Incidents
• Missing materials from shipment
 Inform SAET immediately
• Scoring irregularities identified during
state or vendor scanning, scoring, and
auditing procedures
 PIM reporting on notification
• Materials listed in state/vendor “Missing
Materials Report”
 Conduct thorough search
 Return materials and/or provide documentation, as
directed
S L I D E 17
Planning for the Test Administration
• Verify counts of shrink-wrap packets against packing slip
•
•
•
•
•
•
and report missing materials immediately.
Request additional materials, as necessary.
Verify student information on PreID roster.
Maintain a record of the security numbers of the secure
test materials you receive from the district coordinator.
 Security Checklist
Train test administrators and proctors.
Assign proctors.
Review Test Invalidations Policies and Procedures.
TAM 33-35
S L I D E 18
Sample Security Checklist
TAM 14
S L I D E 19
Steps for Verifying Student Information
and Affixing a PreID Label
 Verify that the student is still enrolled and will be tested.
 Verify the information on the PreID Roster against the school’s
student information database.
 The PreID Roster includes each student’s complete Florida ID
number (Social Security Number ending in X or the complete
Florida student number if the Social Security is not available)
• FL ID# XXX-XX-6789X or
FL ID# 1302345678
 Because the complete Social Security Number is not printed on the
label, the PreID Roster MUST be used to verify student
information.
 If the student last name, Florida ID number, grade level, district
number, OR school number is INCORRECT, do NOT use the label.
 Always use the FL ID number, NOT the District’s student ID
number when verifying student’s information or hand-griddingTAM
an 7-9
answer document.
S L I D E 20
Sample PreID Student Label
 Affix the label in the box in the lower left corner of the
student grid sheet.
 Do not remove labels once they have been affixed.
 Do not place a label over another label.
S L I D E 21
TAM 8
Large Print (LP) and Braille: Instructions
for Completing Student Grid Sheets
IMPORTANT DISTINCTION:
 For LP users, the student grid sheet on the front cover of
the large print answer document must be completed.
 For Braille users, the student grid sheet of the regular
print answer document must be completed and included
in each student's return envelope.
Complete each student’s grid sheet in one of the following ways:
 Affix the student’s verified PreID label to the label area on the
APPROPRIATE grid sheet.
 Grid the APPROPRIATE student grid sheet by hand.
TAM 61
S L I D E 22
Sample Student Grid Sheet
Registration Mark
Grade Level/
Content Assessed
Student
Information
(must be completed
by the student)
Timing Tracks
Form Code
Timing Tracks
Security Number
Area
Student
Demographic
Information
Student
Label Area
School Use Only
Registration Mark
S L I D E 23
DNS and UNDO bubbles
TAM 10
Document Configuration and
Materials Allowed During Testing
ITEM TYPE*
DOCUMENT TITLE
MC
GR
Writing Folder
SR &
ER

*MC=Multiple-Choice, GR=Gridded-Response, SR & ER=Short- and Extended-Response
Material Needed for Writing
Writing Planning Sheet**
**Planning Sheets will be a separate handout for grades 4, 8, and 10.
TAM 19; 89
S L I D E 24
Training Test Administrators and
Proctors
 All personnel involved in the FCAT administration must receive
training prior to the FCAT administration and sign a FCAT
Administration and Security Agreement Form.
All signed forms must be retained at the school site for 1 year
following the release of results.
 Inappropriate actions by school or district personnel before,
during, or after test administration may result in consequences
such as test invalidations and/or loss of teaching certification.
Please carefully read the Test Security Policies and Procedures to
ensure that you are following the correct procedures.


Only instructional certified personnel may serve as test
administrators.
Instructional certified personnel AND support staff may serve as
TAM 12; 34; 83
proctors.
S L I D E 25
FCAT Administration and Security
Agreement Form
TAM 83
S L I D E 26
Training Test Administrators and Proctors:
Preparing for Testing
 Before scheduling the students to participate in a
test session, the student’s eligibility for the test must
be verified.
 Make sure that each room is free of distractions and
has:
 Comfortable seating
 Good lighting
 Adequate ventilation
 Remove or cover all visual aids in the room, such as
posters showing mathematical or scientific concepts.
 Post the signs that are provided in your Test
Administration Manual.
TAM 35
S L I D E 27
Training Test Administrators and Proctors:
Test Administration Procedures
 Make sure that:
 Students are not facing each other if seated at tables.
 Students are not in seating that allows them to view other
students’ answers.
 There is sufficient space (at least three feet) between students.
 The test script must be read verbatim.
 Test administrators should become familiar with script before the
first day of testing.
 Determine the appropriate Option A or B to be read by test
administrators.
 Student’s identification must be checked when students are
admitted to the testing room each day.
 Electronic devices must be out of arm’s reach and turned-off.
TAM 7-9
S L I D E 28
Training Test Administrators and Proctors:
Test Administration Procedures (continued)
 If a student starts a test and leaves without finishing (for an
appointment, illness, etc.), he/she will NOT be allowed to
complete the test.
 Attendance rosters and seating charts define groups tested
together and help to maintain a record of student room
assignments.
 The use of seating charts or recording of specific seat
assignments is strongly recommended.
 Test administrators are required to actively monitor
students during a test session.
 It is not appropriate to talk on the telephone, grade papers,
read, or work on the computer during testing.
TAM 25
S L I D E 29
LP and Braille
Test Administration Procedures
 Students using large print materials must record
answers in the large print documents. If a test
administrator records a student’s responses, they
must be recorded directly into a large print
document.
 Remember that RECORDING responses is not the same as
TRANSCRIBING responses.
 District/school personnel may not transcribe
student responses from large print and Braille
documents into regular print answer documents;
however, they may transfer answers from defective
documents.
TAM 62
S L I D E 30
Supervising Test Administration
During Testing:
Ensure that Students:
 Have appropriate test
materials on desks
 Use only No. 2 pencils
 Work independently
 Mark their answers in the
appropriate area
S L I D E 31
Do Not:
 Allow students to talk or
make any disturbance
 Talk with students about any
test item
 Help students answer any test
item
 Check through writing folders
 Return writing folders to
students after they have been
collected
 Discuss test items or answers
with students even after all
test materials have been
returned and testing has
TAM 22
ended
Required Administration Information
Schools must maintain the following
information for each testing room:
 Students assigned to the room –Student
Name and Florida ID Number
 Attendance Information – Present,
Present but Invalidated, Absent,
Withdrawn
 Unique Security Numbers of the Writing
Folder Assigned to Each Student
TAM 17
S L I D E 32
FCAT Administration Record
www.ctb.com/fcat
S L I D E 33
Proctors
Students
Proctors
1–30 students
Test Administrator*
31–60 students
Test Administrator and 1 Proctor
61–90 students
Test Administrator and 2 Proctors
*It is recommended that a proctor be assigned to rooms with 30 or fewer students
whenever possible.
TAM 12
S L I D E 34
Proctor Duties and Responsibilities
• School personnel
 Prepare, distribute, and collect materials under direct
supervision of the test administrator
 Complete student grid sheets
• Non-school personnel
 Assist in monitoring test administration only
 May NOT participate in any of the test administration
procedures (e.g., preparing, distributing, and collecting)
 May only be used as an “extra pair of eyes”
 May NOT assist in rooms where family members are tested
 MDCPS students may NOT serve as proctors.
TAM 12; Training Packet 18-19
S L I D E 35
Sample Security Log
TAM 85
S L I D E 36
Test Invalidation
Policies and Procedures
The appropriate DNS bubble MUST be gridded on a
USED document if:
1. The document is defective.
2. A student last name, student FL ID number, district number,
school number, OR grade level on a label is INCORRECT.
3. A label has been placed over another label.
4. The student has an electronic device during testing.
5. The student is disruptive or is caught cheating during
testing.
 Test administrator must discuss the situation with the school
coordinator before a final invalidation decision is made.
It is not necessary to invalidate UNUSED documents if
they are packaged with NOT TO BE SCORED materials.
S L I D E 37
TAM 15-16
Test Invalidation
Policies and Procedures (continued)
The appropriate DNS Bubble MAY be gridded if:
6. A student becomes ill and is unable to finish, OR is not
allowed the correct amount of time.
Consideration: Was the student provided adequate time to
respond to the prompt?
Yes – submit the document for scoring
No – invalidate that test on the document and handle it
accordingly
If the validity of the test has not been
compromised, you may allow a student to return to
the testing room during the same school day for
the remainder of time left for the test.
TAM 15-16
S L I D E 38
Sample DO NOT SCORE (DNS) &
UNDO Bubbles
Writing Sample
TAM 15; 10
S L I D E 39
Organizing Test Materials for Return
 Every day, verify the return of all secure
materials from test administrators.
 Verify DNS and UNDO bubbles.
 Make copies and file the following:
 Original Security Checklist
 Records of required administration information
collected by test administrators
 all SSS Security Logs
 Set aside NOT TO BE SCORED materials
TAM 37
S L I D E 40
Organizing Test Materials for Return
(continued)
 Prepare TO BE SCORED test materials into stacks
in the following order:
FL K-8 Virtual School Program TO BE SCORED documents
 Connections Academy (78/0700)—all grades
 Florida Virtual Academy (79/0801)—all grades
Home Education Program TO BE SCORED documents
McKay Scholarship Program TO BE SCORED documents
CTC Scholarship Program TO BE SCORED documents
Hospital/Homebound Program TO BE SCORED documents
Your school’s TO BE SCORED documents by grade
level.
TAM 37-48
S L I D E 41
Preparing TO BE SCORED for Return
 Complete the appropriate Document Count Form for each
grade level, if appropriate.
 Verify that you have included all documents from make-up sessions before
you complete each form.
 Place each completed document count form on top of the
first stack of corresponding TO BE SCORED answer
documents.
 Complete the Answer Document Return Summary.
 Transfer the information from each document count form to the Answer
Document Return Summary.
 Verify that the number of documents returned and the number of
documents indicated on the count forms match the entries on the Answer
Document Return Summary.
 Complete and secure Paper Bands.
 Do not use staples, paper clips, or tape.
S L I D E 42
TAM 38-49
Florida K-8 Virtual School Program
TO BE SCORED Documents for Return
 Connections Academy
 Ensure that all scorable
answer documents are
correctly gridded.
 Place all TO BE SCORED
answer documents in the
envelope marked
Connections Academy
and seal it.
 Florida Virtual Academy
 Ensure that all scorable
answer documents are
correctly gridded.
 Place all TO BE SCORED
answer documents in the
envelope marked Florida
Virtual Academy and seal
it.
TAM 46; 48
S L I D E 43
Sample Document Count Form
TAM 38
S L I D E 44
Sample Answer Document Return
Summary
 Preidentified with
District Name and
District Number
TAM 39
S L I D E 45
Sample Paper Band
TAM 40
S L I D E 46
Large Print and Braille:
Return Envelopes
 Prepare one envelope for each student, to contain:
Large Print


Completed Document Count
Form
Large Print Writing Folder
Braille




Completed Document Count
Form
Braille Final Writing Sheets
containing student responses
Braille Writing Folder
Regular Print Writing Folder
TAM 64-67
S L I D E 47
Large Print and Braille:
Returning Materials
 Verify the completed information on the
outside of each student's return envelope
and seal the envelope.
 Place the appropriate large print and
Braille materials into the boxes in which
they arrived for return.
 Seal the boxes.
 Place a WHITE (SSS) label on each box.
TAM 64-67
S L I D E 48
Packaging Diagram
Hospital
Homebound
Program
(13/9732 or
13/5042)
TAM 48
S L I D E 49
Preparing NOT TO BE SCORED for
Return
 Place all NOT TO BE SCORED
documents in boxes
Unused non-preidentified and
preidentified Writing folders,
Defective documents, and
Writing folders with DNS bubble
gridded.
TAM 49
S L I D E 50
Writing Return Label Reference Chart
Materials Included
“TO BE SCORED” Materials
Label Color
RED
“NOT TO BE SCORED” Materials
YELLOW
Large Print and Braille Materials
(TO BE SCORED and NOT TO BE
SCORED documents and Braille
notes)
WHITE
TAM 47-48; 67
S L I D E 51
District Coordinator Only Box
 Planning Sheets (used and unused)
 Original Security Checklist
 Original Test Administration Record(s), or equivalent schooldeveloped document(s)
 Original SSS Security Logs
 Copy of the Answer Document Return Summary Form(s)
 Copy of the Large Print and Braille Answer Document Return
Summary, if applicable
 Original Accounting for All SSS Secure Documents
 Original School Procedural Checklist
No return label needed – mark box District Coordinator ONLY
TAM 49
S L I D E 52
Updates for 2009 FCAT Writing
 Test group codes will not be used for this
FCAT Writing administration.
 All grade levels will use an unsealed
four-page writing folder that contains a
writing prompt and 2 lined pages for
students to record their responses.
 Planning sheets are separate handouts
from the writing folders.
 No early return calibration schools.
S L I D E 53
Reminders for the 2009 FCAT Writing
 School-wide plan to appropriately
handle the following:
Electronic devices
Extended break/lunch schedule
Selecting one of the two options available
in the test script (Option A or B)
 Only trained, certified teachers may
serve as test administrators.
S L I D E 54
Reminders for the 2009 FCAT Writing
(continued)
 Students may not have any electronic or recording devices
at their desks, clipped to their belts, in their pockets, or
anywhere they can reach them during testing, even if the
devices are turned off or the students do not use them.
 If a student is found to be in possession of ANY electronic
device(s) during testing, his or her test must be invalidated in
order to successfully enforce this policy.
 Inappropriate actions by school or district personnel before,
during, or after test administration may result in
consequences such as test invalidations and/or loss of
teaching certification.
 Please carefully read the Test Security Policies and
Procedures to ensure that you are following the correct
procedures.
 School administrators, school assessment coordinators, test
administrators, and proctors must sign an FCAT
Administration and Security Agreement.
S L I D E 55
Online Comment Forms
Comment Forms are located at
www.ctb.com/fcat
Click on Spring 2009 FCAT
•Test Administrator
•School Coordinator
TAM 49; 63
S L I D E 56
Training Materials Links
 The SSS vendor’s training materials are
available online at: www.ctb.com/fcat
Click on 2009 Spring FCAT
 Training materials from today’s training
are available online at:
http://oada.dadeschools.net/TestChairInf
o/InfoForTestChair.asp
S L I D E 57
Contact Information
Student Assessment and Educational Testing
FCAT Program
Maria C. Bruguera, Director
Email: mbruguera@dadeschools.net or
Mara Ugando, Staff Specialist
Email: mugando@dadeschools.net
Phone: 305-995-7520
Fax: 305-995-7522
S L I D E 58