What I think I know Now

1
What I think I know Now

• Questions I should have asked as a FIRST Year
  TAKS Coordinator!

2
What Are Your Resources?

• DCCM Manual and Supplements
• Calendar of Events has important deadlines
• Test Administrator Manuals changing this year
• TEA communications be sure you are registered
  for both askTED and the list servego to the TEA
  home page,
• For the list serve - choose Communications and
  Publications tab and go to Mailing Lists. Here
  the drop down box will allow you to choose
  Student Assessment.
• To join the askTED site, your district askTED
  administrator will need to sign you up.
• http//www.tea.state.tx.us/index.html

3
MORE RESOURCES

• Pearson website - http//k12testing.tx.ncspearson.
  com/
• Pearson online resources
• Pearsons help line 1-800-252-9186
• TEA website student assessment site
  http//www.tea.state.tx.us/student.assessment/
• Your ESC staff and ESC District Coordinator
  Training
• Join T-Snap and attend the T-Snap Assessment
  conference on December 7-10 in Austin
• T-SNAP TETNs
• Visit other districts

4
What is your plan?

• Get organized and stay
• organized
• Define job responsibilities
• become a TEAM
• Develop a system for communication
• within your office
• with your campus coordinators
• be sure your superintendent is sharing
  information with you

5
How much space will you need?

• Determine your physical needs
• Do you have enough space and is it secure?
• How will you receive and ship materials?
• Do your campuses have a secure place to keep
  materials?

6
HOW TO MAINTAIN AND KEEP YOUR SANITY

• What district procedures are currently in place
  and which ones need to be changed?
• What forms do you need to create?
• What are the expectations for campus
  coordinators? The more consistency you have,
  the less chance for mistakes.
• consider making a general campus training power
  point for all campus coordinators to use.

7
How will you train your campus coordinators?

• When will you attend your regions district
  coordinator training?
• What do you need to do to schedule district
  trainings and reserve rooms? Communicate these
  dates early to your principals and coordinators.
  
• Dont be afraid to have fun!
• Give them time to digest the information and
  ask questions.
• Consider how to meet the needs of the first year
  coordinator and hold the attention of the
  returning coordinators.

8
Multiple Assessments - Who is responsible for
what?

• TAKS
• TAKS Accommodated
• TAKS Modified
• TAKS Alternative significant changes this year
• Be a part of the ARD Decision Making training
• Know requirements for each test
• Read and reread your Accommodations Manual
  communication and training are essential
• Plan a timeline for submitting accommodation
  requests to TEA
• How will you track TEA responses and follow-up if
  a request is not returned?
• Dont forget that the Exit Level Retest is just
  around the corner in October. Consider testing
  this group online.
• TAAS who is responsible for posting notices
  that this test is still available?

9
MULTIPLE ASSESSMENTS WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR
WHAT?

• TELPAS
• TELPAS reading on-line requires technology plan
  and additional training
• Writing, Listening and Speaking
• requires additional training for raters
• ESCs (and some districts) will begin TELPAS
  holistic training this fall

10
Multiple Assessments - Who is responsible for
what?

• FIELD TESTS GOOD NEWS NO SEPARATE FIELD TESTS
  THIS YEAR!
• END OF COURSE (EOC) EXAMS- THESE ARE ONLINE ONLY
  (except Geography)
• NAEP WHO COORDINATES THESE IF YOUR DISTRICT IS
  CHOSEN?
• COORDINATE THE STATE ASSESSMENT CALENDAR WITH
  YOUR DISTRICT ASSESSMENTS

11
How will you manage all of the materials?

• Make sure that everyone knows the plan
• BE AVAILABLE TO ANSWER QUESTIONS
• Shipments from Pearson
• See the Expanded Calendar of Events list
  anticipated dates for everything
• Pearson will send an e-mail to the District Test
  Coordinator when shipped and tracking numbers
• Verify that your district has received the entire
  shipment and notify Pearson if some is missing

12
HOW WILL YOU MANAGE ALL OF THE MATERIALS?

• What will be your system for delivering materials
  to each campus?
• Who can receive them?
• Does every campus have locked secure storage.
  The secure materials cannot be left in office or
  hallway until someone comes to get them.
• How will you notify campuses to expect the
  delivery?
• Develop a calendar of dates for ordering
  additional materials from Pearson if necessary.

13
What is your plan for testing days?

• How will your campus coordinators contact you on
  these days?
• How will you contact your campuses if you need to
  reach them?
• How will you monitor testing on your campuses?
• What is your system for reporting irregularities?
  Does everyone know what to do?
• Do not hesitate to call TEA for advice!
• 1-512-463-9536
• What are your district expectations for make-up
  testing?

14
What will be your system for Checking-In and
Returning materials?

• Have you developed clear procedures and
  communicated those to your coordinators?
• What will you need to check on your answer
  documents? Who will be doing that?
• How will you account for every booklet?
• Do you need to arrange for a place to check-in
  answer documents?
• Do you need to arrange for a place to receive and
  check-in secure test booklets?
• How can you meet the expected dates for return of
  materials? Will you need help?

15
Reports and Data

• Which standard and optional reports does your
  district need?
• Which electronic files do you order for your
  district?
• Do you have a PO to include on the form?
• The Calendar of Events gives you the date to
  expect reports.
• Who will access these reports? If you, do you
  have the TEASE password to access your results.
• Where you will put these files and how it is
  done?
• Who determines who will have access to these
  files?

16
What is MOST important of all?

• Smile
• Keep your sense of humor
• Always answer the phone in a happy, helpful way.
  You want them to know it is OK to call you, no
  matter what.
• Do not hesitate to call TEA, Pearson, or your
  Region Service Center.
• Repeat your expectations often. ONCE is never
  enough!

17
We would be happy to help you! Feel free to call
either of us

• Ehrikka Hodge
• Elgin ISD
• ehodge_at_elginisd.net
• 512-281-3434 ext. 1226
• Debbie Sommer
• Leander ISD
• Debbie.sommer_at_leanderisd.org
• 512-434-5365

18
QUESTIONS?