Minnesota State Testing
Implementation of:
The ACT® with Writing
2014-2015
Presented By:
Lorri Jensen
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800.230.1074
For An Audio Connection Call: 800.230.1074
Today’s Goal
• Primary Focuses Include:
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Program Schedule Overview
Test Site Establishment
Training
Accommodations
Shipments
Test Administration
Reporting
Resources
Questions and Answers
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The ACT State Testing Cycle 2014-15
Overview
Establishment
Training and
preparing
Testing
Reporting
• Establishment Window
• Off-site Proposals
• Accommodations Requests Deadlines
• Training webcasts available, in school training takes place
• Live Q&A sessions
• Accommodations Prelim Roster arrive
• In school pretest sessions
• Initial Test Day: April 28
• Makeup Test Day: May 12
• Accommodations Window April 28 - May 12
• Student level reports
• School level reports
• District level reports
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Test Site Establishment
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What is Establishment?
• Process of establishing participating schools as test sites
• Window is October 6 through October 17
• Establishment/Training Packet arrive week of September
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Cover Memo
Checklist of Dates
Administration Manuals
Accommodations information
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Test Coordinator
The test coordinator (TC) is the main contact for ACT testing.
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Training
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Training expectations
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Training Opportunities
All appointed testing staff are expected to:
• View webcasts
 Test Administration
 Accommodations
• Participate in live question and answer
sessions
 Test Administration (2 state specific)
 Accommodations (1 date for all states with April test
dates)
Refer to the Checklist of Dates for dates when Webcasts and Q&A
sessions are available
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Accommodations
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ACT-Approved Accommodations
• Result in ACT scores that are fully reportable to
colleges, scholarships, and other entities.
• Currently on an Individualized Education Program
(IEP) or Section 504 Plans
• Professionally Diagnosed and Documented
Disability
• Online application process
• Deadlines are in the Checklist of Dates
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State-Allowed Accommodations
• Result in ACT scores that are not collegereportable; they are used for state accountability
purposes only.
• Limited English Proficiency (LEP) students who do
not have a disability but receive accommodations
in school
• No application process, submit orders via web
portal
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Locally Approved Accommodations
• Result in ACT scores that are fully reportable to
colleges, scholarships, and other entities.
• Any accommodations provided under standard time
with standard materials
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Shipments
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Nonsecure Shipment
• Scheduled to arrive the week of March 16, 2015
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Secure Standard Time Materials
• Scheduled to arrive the week prior to
the initial day of testing
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Test booklets (standard time)
Supervisor Report Form
Administrative Envelopes
Polymailers
NOTE: Different test booklets will be
sent to be used for makeup testing (if
ordered)
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Secure Accommodated Test Materials
• Scheduled to arrive the week prior to
the first day of the testing window
• Individualized “kit” assigned to each
examinee approved for ACT Approved
Accommodations — includes all
materials needed to test the examinee
• Separate shipment for ACT Approved
Accommodations and ACT State
Allowed Accommodations
• Materials for ACT State Allowed
Accommodations are not assigned to a
specific examinee
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Test Administration
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Test Facilities
• Summary of Requirements document available
on state website
• Off-site proposal
 Applications must be submitted by January 9 deadline
 ACT must approve site
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Pretest Activities
• School staff prepare answer documents with barcode
labels
• The test coordinator arranges an in-school pretest
session for all examinees to complete the ACT
noncognitive information
– Must be completed prior to test day
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Prepare rooms per Administration manual instructions
Prepare room rosters
Organize materials
Train staff
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Test Dates
• Initial Test Day
– April 28, 2015
• Makeup Test Day
– May 12, 2015
• Accommodations Testing
– April 28 – May 12, 2015
The ACT Plus writing should allow for approximately 4 hours and 45
min.
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Testing Irregularities
• Individual Irregularity (may or may not require a
call to ACT)
 Prohibited Behavior
 Failure to follow directions
• Group Irregularity (requires a call to ACT):
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Interrupting a test
Disturbances and Distractions
Emergency Evacuation
Missing or stolen test materials
Mistiming
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Reporting
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Reporting – ACT Student & School
• Student Score Reports (3-8 weeks after testing)
• School Level Student Score Reports (3-8 weeks
after testing)
• State Allowed Score Notification Letters August
24, 2015
• ACT Profile Report no later than August 24,
2015
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Reporting – ACT District
• ACT Profile Report
– No later than August 24, 2015
• ACT Student Level Data File
– No later than August 24, 2015
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Resources
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General
• State Testing Website
– http://www.act.org/aap/minnesota/
• Emails
– Add the suffix ‘@act.org’ to your spam filters
• Checklist of Dates
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For An Audio Connection Call: 800.230.1074
Resources
• ACT State Testing Website
– http://www.act.org/aap/minnesota/
• The ACT Test Administration – Standard Time
– StateTesting@act.org
– 800.553.6244 x2800
• The ACT Test Administration – Accoms
– ACTStateAccoms@act.org
– 800.553.6244 x1788
• Administration Policy Questions
– mde.testing@state.mn.us
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For An Audio Connection Call: 800.230.1074