LEAP Computer
Based Testing
Week of April 3, 2017
Volume 1, Issue 1
Testing Times
NEWSLETTER
The
Testing Times
is a weekly e-paper containing re-
minders for the week. The Testing Department will email it
weekly to principals, assistant principals, and school test coordinators. It can also be found on the JPPSS website, under the
Testing Department.
Print, read, and share with everyone involved with testing.
Please email [email protected] or call 655-2846
if you have any questions or concerns.
INSIDE THIS ISSUE
COMPUTER BASED TESTING LAUNCH
Monday, April 3, 2017, launches a new era of LEAP student
testing by providing online assessments for English Language Arts, mathematics and social studies for grades five
through eighth. Thousands of our students are trading in
their pencils for keyboards.
It has taken a lot of patience and persistence to be ready for
this new age. We know you have worked diligently in preparing your students.
The Testing Krewe wishes you a SUCCESSFUL LAUNCH!!!
Classroom Preparations.......... 2
Technology Issues ................... 2
Technology Issues ................... 3
Cell Phones .............................. 3
Spanish Math .......................... 4
Accommodations .................... 4
Secured Test Items .................. 4
Unlocking Test Sessions ......... 5
Testing Irregularities .............. 5
5th Grade Sessions .................. 6
6th Grade Sessions.................. 6
7th Grade Sessions .................. 7
8th Grade Sessions.................. 7
CLASSROOM PREPARTIONS
Classrooms MUST be prepared
for testing.
Any resource that defines, explains, illustrates terminology or
concepts, or otherwise provides
unauthorized assistance during
testing MUST be removed or covered in classrooms where testing
is occurring and in hallways.
Student books and book bags are
to be out of reach during testing.
Manila folders or other visual
barriers may be placed between
adjacent computers to prevent
students from viewing the computer monitors of neighboring
students.
Testing Do Not Disturb signs
MUST be placed on all doors of
classrooms and hallways where
testing is occurring .
TECHNOLOGY TROUBLESHOOTING
Listed below are the most common reported system messages and error messages received after clicking on the DRC Insight Client during practice testing:
Invalid username and password: The student either typed in the information incorrectly
or has logged into the wrong testing location.
Internet/Network Connections Error: There was an interruption in the internet connections and the testing device cannot reach DRC servers or TSM.
TSM Connection Error: Attempt to reconnect to the state server again. This may take 5
or more attempts before you receive an open connection. After 5 attempts, reboot the
device and try again.
Mouse pointer is frozen on the screen: Restart will usually resolve this error.
White Screen and Computer Frozen: Check the date, time, time zone, and year on the
task bar on the bottom of your computer. The date must be accurate or the White Screen
will appear.
Student Computer Screen becomes “Frozen” during the test: There are many reasons
that this may occur, such as interference with wireless bandwith by microwave use, cell
phones connected to the wireless network, wireless printers, etc.
No Audio: If stops after “begin test” than check volume on computer, headphones
plugged in, and if audio works from speakers. If does not have audio at the before
“begin test”, check to make sure the student was assigned the text to speech accommodations.
Please contact our School Technology Coordinator is you have any issues with technology
during test sessions. They have instructions on how to handle technology issues that may
occur.
2
TECHNOLOGY ERROR MESSAGES
CELL PHONES
All cell phones belonging to
students, test administrators, proctors and hall monitors MUST be turned off and
placed out of sight.
Collect student cell phones
and make sure they are
turned off.
If a student’s cell phone or
other electronic devices are
seen, rings, or have any activity while in the student’s
possession and the student
is testing, the Site Test Coordinator does an investigation to see if it was used for
the test. If yes, the test is
voided.
The test administrator must
alert the School Test Coordi-
This happens when the student’s responses have not been pushed forward from
the TSM Server to DRC. The student can’t start another session until the previous test has been sent forward. Wait 15 minutes for the student responses to be
sent
nator.
The test administrator must
complete an irregularity
report.
The School Test Coordinator
must complete a Void Notification Form and type an
account of the investigation
on school letter head.
The School Test Coordinator
must notify Jo Lynn Tompson.
If a student’s cell phone
rings and is with the collected phones, students contin-
ue to test.
If a test administrator’s cell
phone rings during testing,
the students continue testing. An investigation will be
User has clicked on the EOC icon, not the DRC icon. Student must use the DRC
Insight Client icon.
conducted to determine if
the tests are voided due to
Administrator Error.
3
ACTIVELY
MONITORING
Active monitoring means
that test administrators
should be actively engaged in observing students’ behavior at all
times during the administration of state assessments.
Practices to ensure active
monitoring:
Move about testing area
so students’ actions can
be viewed from multiple
vantage points.
Do not engage in other
activities like crossword
puzzles, reading a book,
etc...
SPANISH MATH
Students taking the Spanish Math version of the LEAP assessment must take all
three sessions of math in Spanish once they begin.
It is an Administrator Error if the student takes one part in Spanish than is assigned the English version for the next two sessions.
Students with Spanish Math and Read Aloud Accommodation:
School test coordinators MUST check the accommodations of Spanish Math
and text to speech for each student with these accommodations. The computer
will read the test in Spanish to the students.
ACCOMMODATIONS
Test administrators testing students with accommodations MUST be provided
with a list of the accommodations each student is set to receive and when they
should receive them.
LEP students do not receive the read aloud accommodation for ELA unless they
have an IEP or IAP and they qualify for the accommodation.
Students with the accommodation of calculator use, must be given a hand held
calculator to be used during the non calculator sessions.
Students with the text to speech function can modify the volume and speed, and
turn on or off the highlighted tracking feature once logged in to their test.
SECURED TEST ITEMS
Definition: Test materials that contain administration test items or student
responses and to which access is restricted.
Secure test materials include student test tickets, scratch paper with student
responses and any other materials containing test items or student responses.
Secured items are kept in the locked secure testing area.
Test Administrators count and sign the materials out before testing and return
them immediately to the secured area after testing is over or during extended
breaks.
NO SECURED ITEMS ARE TO BE LEFT UNATTENDED
AT ANY TIME.
4
UNLOCKING TEST SESSIONS
Only the District Test Coordinator can unlock test sessions.
Reasons for unlocking a test session:
Student becomes ill, goes home and can not continue the assessment.
Student reads the directions, clicks the next button and receives a message
“complete”.
Student exited the test by using the End Tet function in Insight prior to completing the test.
What to do?
Test Administrator alerts the School Test Coordinator and fills out a testing
irregularity report.
School Test Coordinator contacts the District Test Coordinator to unlock the
session.
School Test Coordinator emails the testing irregularity report to the District
TESTING IRREGULARTIES
Definition: A testing irregularity is any incident in test handling or administrations that leads to a question regarding the security of the test or the accuracy of the test data.
Some examples of testing irregularities:
Inability to complete a testing session due to an emergency.
Student was not provided with proper accommodations.
Secure test materials were left unattended in a non-secure area.
Unlocking a test session
Electronic devices
Losing a test ticket.
Unauthorized visitors
Reading or viewing test items before, during, or after testing.
Coaching students in any way.
This is just a few.
Please review pages 1-4 in Test Administrator
Manual or pages 2-3 in the Test Coordinator Manual.
5
TIMED
TESTING
5TH GRADE SESSIONS AND TIMES
All computer-based
tests are strictly
timed.
Subject
Session
Time
English Language Arts
Session 1: Literary Analysis Task + 1 passage set OR
Research Simulation Task
90 minutes
No additional time is
allowed except for
students receiving
the accommodation
of Extended Time.
Mathematics
Session 1
75 minutes
English Language Arts
Session 2: Research Simulation Task OR Narrative
Writing Task + 1 reading set with one or two texts
90 minutes
Mathematics
Session 2
75 minutes
English Language Arts
Session 3: Reading Literary and Informational Texts
45 minutes
Mathematics
Session 3
75 minutes
Social Studies
Session 1: Item Sets
90 minutes
Social Studies
Session 2: Task SetsCaption describing picture or graphic
45 minutes
Social Studies
Session 3: Item Sets and Discrete Items
90 minutes
Test Administrators
keep a record of the
start and end times.
The student clicks
submit when they
have completed their
test session.
6TH GRADE SESSIONS AND TIMES
Subject
Session
Time
English Language Arts
Session 1: Literary Analysis Task + 1 passage set
OR Research Simulation Task
90 minutes
Mathematics
Session 1: Non Calculator
75 minutes
7TH
GRADE SESSIONS
AND TIMES
English Language Arts
Session 2: Research Simulation Task OR Narra-
90 minutes
tive Writing Task + 1 paired passage set
6
Mathematics
Session 2: Calculator
75 minutes
English Language Arts
Session 3: Reading Literary and Informational
Texts
70 minutes
Mathematics
Session 3: Calculator
75 minutes
Social Studies
Session 1: Item Sets
90 minutes
Social Studies
Session 2: Task Sets
45 minutes
Social Studies
Session 3: Item Sets and Discrete Items
90 minutes
7TH GRADE SESSIONS AND TIMES
Subject
Session
Time
English Language Arts
Session 1: Literary Analysis Task + 1 passage set
OR Research Simulation Task
90 minutes
Mathematics
Session 1: Non Calculator
75 minutes
English Language Arts
Session 2: Research Simulation Task OR Narrative Writing Task + 1 paired passage set
90 minutes
Mathematics
Session 2: Calculator
75 minutes
English Language Arts
Session 3: Reading Literary and Informational
Texts
70 minutes
Mathematics
Session 3: Calculator
75 minutes
Social Studies
Session 1: Item Sets
90 minutes
Social Studies
Session 2: Task Sets
45 minutes
Social Studies
Session 3: Item Sets and Discrete Items
90 minutes
8TH GRADE SESSIONS AND TIMES
Subject
Session
Time
English Language Arts
Session 1: Literary Analysis Task + 1 passage set
OR Research Simulation Task
90 minutes
Mathematics
Session 1: Non Calculator
75 minutes
English Language Arts
Session 2: Research Simulation Task OR Narrative Writing Task + 1 paired passage set
90 minutes
Mathematics
Session 2: Calculator
75 minutes
English Language Arts
Session 3: Reading Literary and Informational
Texts
70 minutes
Mathematics
Session 3: Calculator
75 minutes
Social Studies
Session 1: Item Sets
90 minutes
Social Studies
Session 2: Task Sets
45 minutes
Social Studies
Session 3: Item Sets and Discrete Items
90 minutes
7