TESTING CALENDAR AND
ORGANIZATIONAL
MANAGEMENT
Cindy Carosone
District Testing Coordinator
Denton ISD
MATS West Director
ccarosone@dentoni sd.org
Reading, Writing, and Arithmetic
Reduce, Reuse, Recycle
Reflection, Relationship, Resilience
Rest, Relaxation, and Rejuvenation
TSNAP
Successful planning is the key!
http://www.tsnap.org/
http://www.tsnap.org/
REMEMBER!
Attending this training does not take
the place of your required District
Testing Coordinator (DTC) training,
reading all manuals and related
publications or emails.
SESSION OVERVIEW
The flow of testing activities
Calendar of Events, TAMS, District Needs
Practical tips on how to
manage scheduling/calendars
As a New DTC you will…
SO MANY ROLES…
Denton ISD
State & Related Assessment
Resource ContactAccountability, Counseling,
Curriculum, ESL/Bilingual, &
Sp. Ed.
Local Screening- Gifted &
Talented
≈27,000 students
38 campuses
IMPORTANT REMINDERS
Official ESC Training is still required before you can
oversee Oct. and Dec. testing! (This training doesn’t
count. Contact your ESC today if you have not yet
attended training.)
Superintendent’s oath and DTC’s oath are due after
December EOC testing (Place oaths in the preaddressed
envelope provided, stamp, and mail. Keep a copy of each
for your records).
OVERVIEW OF THE OFFICIAL STATE TESTING CALENDAR/S (2013-2014)
Key resources for the entire testing calendar year, which
begins each January and runs through EOC in
December.
Imbedded information that is not apparent to nontesting staff.
Communication is the key to avoid conflicts.
TIP:
E-mail, post to websites, and/or send calendars to maintenance,
custodians, food service, transportation, Bilingual/ESL staff, Special
Education Staff, UIL heads, public information officer, safety personnel,
athletics, fine arts, C & I staff, Alternative campuses (DAEP), etc.
Calendar of Events
Three distinct sections.
Think in thirds! Before,
during, and after testing.
Calendar year
formatting…
(January to December,
not a school year)
2
3
9
/
2
3
CALENDAR LAYOUT
The state testing calendar of events can be
divided into three sets of activities.
Pre-Assessment Events (PRIOR-to-testing
activities)
Assessment Events (testing dates)
Post-Assessment Events (AFTER-testing
activities)
What is an EVENT?
Each column
is a complete
set of activities
for each test
administration.
Pre-assessment
activities
Think the top
1/3!
Pre-Assessment Activities
Many
important
EVENTS
take place
long before
the actual
testing
dates!
Focus NOW
on the
upcoming
Exit Level
Retest & Dec.
EOCs to
end the 20132014
calendar year.
October Pre-Assessment Activities
2014-2015 Student Data File Format
TIPS OF THE TRADE:
PRE-TESTING ACTIVITIES
Inform ALL significant groups EARLY in the school year.
Determine if you have any out of district testers or students at JJAEP
or on homebound.
Gain support of Special Education Director and Bilingual/ESL
Director.
Utilize district staff as campus monitors.
Recommend ARD/LPAC/504 test changes to be complete 2 weeks
prior to first day of testing.
Locate, inspect and study the White
Box.
TIP: Always date your communications with “as of ” date.
Calendar of Events – 2013-2014 Testing
TEST
ADMINISTRATIONS
Some days
have multiple tests
occurring simultaneously!
TIPS OF THE TRADE:
DURING TESTING ACTIVITIES
Provide office staff with your daily calendar of campus
visits/check-in/ monitoring, etc.
Schedule flex time within the testing days for emergencies.
Schedule reporting time if a testing irregularity occurs.
TIP: Avoid scheduling meetings at any time immediately before,
during, or after testing!
Post-Assessment Activities
Note different
shipping dates
for scorables
and
nonscorables!
Post-Assessment
Activities
Parent
&
Board
report
dates
Post-Assessment
Activities
Check
TEA
Testing
Calendar
&
Manuals
TIPS OF THE TRADE:
POST TESTING ACTIVITIES
 Schedule check-in times, if needed - provide snacks & a soda !
 Schedule additional staff to assist with check-in process.
 Cushion check-in times to allow for resolution of problems.
TIP: Have a trained DTC back-up in the event of emergencies.
Calendar of Events Link &
OOS & OOD Test Registration Link
HTTP://WWW.TEXASASSESSMENT.COM
TEXAS ASSESSMENT PROGRAM
STATE TESTING CALENDAR
Fall
Spring
POSTING CALENDARS!
http://www.dentonisd.org/
TO DO LIST (ASAP)
Get designated by your district Ask Ted Administrator as the District
Testing Coordinator (DTC)
Pearson User ID & Password for the new Texas Assessment
Management System
http://www.texasassessment.com
Texas TrainingCenter (TELPAS & STAAR Alt)
Join TEA Student Assessment Listserv: http://miller.tea.state.tx.us/list/
Bookmark these websites:
www.tea.state.tx.us/student.assessment/
http://www.texasassessment.com
Locate and read the 2013 District and Campus Coordinator Manual
(DCCM).
Online October Exit Level Retest
 8/5 – 8/22: Select Precode Option Not Needed for October.(Go to
the PearsonAccess website and find information under the Test
Setup tab when required.) http://www.texasassessment.com
 8/4 – 9/5: Register Out-of-School Examinees Online (Go to
PearsonAccess website & find information under the Test
Management tab or in old location on main Pearson site.)
Check Participating option for each subject your district plans to
offer online or during night testing. (found under the Test Setup tab
under Enter Administration Details)
 Before 10/27: Order Optional Reports [online only] (found under
the Test Setup tab under Enter Administration Details)
 9/22: Review Advance Letter / Materials List (online only)
October Exit Level Retest
 8/4 – 9/5: online registration is open for OOS students
 https://tx.pearsonaccess.com/tclp/portal/tclp.portal?_nfpb=true
&_pageLabel=pa2_tclp_oos_page
 8/11: Receive precode file layouts.
 9/2 – 9/12: Submit precode file if district supplied option selected.
(Preparing the precode file may require coordination with your
PEIMS/Technology Dept.)
 By 9/19, and before you handle any secure testing materials, you
must attend your district coordinator training session at your
regional ESC.
 Combined shipment?????
 Useful planning tools and checklists may also be found in the Test
Security Supplement, located at:
www.tea.state.tx.us/student.assessment/
October Exit Level Retest
 Contact TEA if you feel you have a rare paper testing need for
the procedures necessary to obtain paper booklets.
 Watch for Braille ordering information. It is done online in the
TAMS. If you have a Braille student and need help call
Pearson 800 627-0225.
TIP: Establish a system to account for all materials and
for check-in and check-out of all testing materials.
Require a signature for all transactions. Remember
Student Authorizations
October Exit Level Retest
 By 10/1: Conduct campus coordinator training sessions. (Use the
activities specified in the Campus Coordinator Responsibilities
section of the DCCM to plan your training. Also include Test Security
and Confidentiality Requirements found in the DCCM.
 By 10/13: Test administrators must be trained by this date.
 10/20 – 10/23: TAKS Testing (Ensure proper testing procedures by
monitoring testing, and be available to answer questions and resolve
problems.)
Reminder: 5 year Seating Charts & Document Retention Requirements
(see Test Security Supplement p. 18)
October Exit Level Retest
 10/24: Campus Coordinators Return Scorable Materials to
District Coordinator
 10/27: Ship all scorable materials. (Verify counts on the
Answer Document Packing List before shipping and don’t
forget to include the ADPL on top. Make a copy to retain.)
 10/28: Campus Coordinators Return All Nonscorable
Materials to District Coordinator
 10/29: Ship all nonscorable materials.
Reminder: You must contact the shipping carrier 2 days
prior to the pickup date.
October Exit Level Retest
 11/14: Districts Receive Preliminary Rosters Online on
TAMS
 12/5: Districts receive Standard and Optional Reports
(addressed to the superintendent) and notify students and
parents by 12/26. (Distribute to appropriate campus and
district personnel. Prepare needed reports.)
 12/3 – 12/19: Districts submit student record changes in
TAMS
https://tx.pearsonaccess.com/
 The joys of Schoolhouse!
https://secure.ncsschoolhouse.com/schoolhouse/Login
October Exit Level Retest
 12/22-1/2: Districts receive corrected Confidential Student
Reports (CSRs) and data files online only (Distribute to
campuses.)
 By 1/23: Districts report results to local board of trustees.
(Prepare needed reports.)
STAAR EOC Fall Prep
 Obtain list of students who did not meet standard (Level 2 performance).
 Follow same activities for December STAAR testing as you did for October
TAKS testing, but include paper testing needs.
 Select option for testing: paper or online (benefit of selecting paper even if
testing online).
 Testing window is: December 1-5 for Eng I & II (last option for separate
Reading/Writing); Dec 1-5, Alg 1, Bio, US History.
 English I & II have specified administration dates.
 Set up your district schedule as determined by the number of testers for
each EOC test to be administered.
 Remember to plan for students who may need accommodations,
supplemental aids, oral, or small group testing.
 Determine if any newly enrolled students in your district need to take a
December EOC because they did not meet Level 2 at their previous district
when tested .
Other Fall Testing Activities

Aug - Dec: Determine LEP students (English Language Learners) and raters
of LEP students in preparation for TELPAS.


Coordinate with Bilingual Director/Coordinator about who is
responsible for coordinating the required trainings, collection of the
writing samples and who is responsible for the online reading
assessment.
Aug - Oct: STAAR-Alt

Determine STAAR-ALT students, grade level, and test administrator in
preparation for online registration.

Coordinate with Special Education Director/Coordinator about who is
responsible for STAAR-ALT test administrator training and STAAR-ALT
test security training.
Other Fall Testing Activities
•
Fall Participation Counts-enter in TAMS before deadlines. Get
campuses involved in the process.
OTHER FALL TESTING ACTIVITIES
 Verify that grades 9-11 STAAR-ALT course codes are in
place for students taking STAAR-ALT.
 Routinely check the TEA Student Assessment website for
updated training information regarding testing.
 Remember to network for information. Don’t be afraid to
email, call, text, etc.
UPCOMING TETNS
Future TSNAP Teleconference Dates (1-4 pm)
Oct. 1, 2014
Nov. 10, 2014
Feb. 4, 2015
June 6, 2015
Link to TEA TETNS-http://www.tea.state.tx.us/student.assessment/training/tetn-schedule/
REMEMBER TO VIEW ALL TETNS
Contact your Regional Service Center for information.
TEXAS ASSESSMENT
CONFERENCE (TAC)
Now in its 29th year, the Texas Assessment Conference remains the only statewide conference
especially dedicated to providing the latest information regarding assessment, testing, and
accountability in education–elementary, secondary, and postsecondary. Attendees receive the most
current information from state agencies and policymakers, as well as benefit from sharing of best
implementation practices in schools, districts, colleges, and universities. The 2015 conference promises
to provide critical information for student and institutional success. (Retrieved from TASA website)
2015: Feb. 15-18, Hilton Austin Hotel
Registration and Housing opens Oct. 2014
2016: Feb. 14-17, Hilton Austin Hotel
2017: Feb. 19-22, Hilton Austin Hotel
PRIZE TIME!
The 3 Rs