What preparations take place to get ready for NWEA testing?

Prior to each assessment window, the curriculum department will set up a class roster file.  It is important that students’ schedules be accurate in DASL so data reports link students to the proper teacher of record.  If a teacher finds an error in his/her class data, s/he should report the finding to his/her building principal and secretary so corrections can be made for the next assessment window.

What happens if a new student is added to my class?

Please notify Dwayne and he will make adjustments to your roster as necessary.  Please note that once a student has taken a test and date is linked to that student, s/he can't be removed as NWEA retains the data in an archived systems in case the student returns.

The assessment windows for the 2015-2016 school year are as follows:

Note:  Once a student has started an assessment during a testing window, it needs to be finished within 10 days of the starting date or it will become invalid and data will not be collected on the assessment.

What should teachers/proctors do while students are testing?

It is important that teachers and proctors carefully monitor the NWEA assessment process.  It is appropriate for teachers and proctors to walk around the room while students are testing. Teachers and proctors should watch students to make sure they are engaged with the software correctly as well as taking their time reading, calculating, and answering questions to the best of their ability.  Teachers and proctors should not sit, check e-mail, read, grade papers, leave the room, talk to other educators, etc... while the students are engaged with the assessment.  Careful proctoring will encourage students to do their best and will secure the best results.  Students that do not take the assessment seriously can be reassessed if necessary.

What are the General Guidelines for Accommodations?

• Responsibilities: Scribes, page-turners, educational assistants, and other people supporting a student during testing must be neutral in responding to the student during test administration. Assistance in test administration must not lead a student to the correct answer. The student’s response must accurately represent the student’s own choice.
• Reading Tests: Do not read aloud any portion of the reading test to any student.
• Symbols: Do not pronounce or explain math or science symbols.
• Definitions: Do not define any words within test questions. 

Accommodations on an IEP are meant to be used for a student during instructional time as well as when engaged with assessments.  If a student has an IEP with accommodations in the classroom, then the IEP accommodations should also apply to the NWEA assessments.

In order to keep data consistent with local and national norms, it is important that we follow NWEA’s recommendations listed below for allowable accommodations when administrating the NWEA assessment to students on an IEP. 

·        Read math and science (not reading or language usage) text portions aloud to students.  

·        Dictate responses to a scribe

·        Point to responses to a scribe

Scribes, page turners, educational assistants, and other people supporting a student’s test must be neutral in responding to the student during test administration.  Assistance in test administration must not be leading a student to the correct answer.  The student’s response must accurately represent the student’s own choice.

What accommodations can any (IEP or Non IEP) student have when engaged with the NWEA assessment?

In order to keep data consistent with local and national norms, it is important that we follow NWEA’s recommendations listed below for allowable accommodations when administrating the NWEA assessment to all students.   

Response Accommodations

• Assign scribe to record responses
• Dictate responses to a scribe
• Point to responses for a scribe
• Respond in native language

Setting Accommodations

• Test an individual student in a separate setting
• Test a small group of students in a separate setting; for example, in a Title I room or counselor's office
• Minimize distractions; for example, use a study carrel

Timing / Schedule Accommodations

• Administer test over multiple sessions in a day
• Administer test over a number of days (within the limits of your district's test administration guidelines)
• Administer test at a particular time of day
• Allow flexible schedule
• Extend time allotted by proctor or test administrator (although all MAP assessments are designed to be untimed for all students)
• Allow stop-the-clock breaks
• Administer at time of day most beneficial to student
• Offer breaks

Materials or Devices Accommodations

• Provide scratch paper
• Allow the use of a comparable calculator when one is provided on screen with the test question

Miscellaneous Accommodations

• Provide drink during testing
• Provide snack during testing

Should I retest a student?

If you feel a student did not do his/her best or was not able to perform well due to an illness or another interruption, s/he may retake the test within the testing window.  Note:  Once an additional test appears for the student in the report, one row will be in normal font (this is the valid test report).  The other row for the student will appear in gray font (this is not the valid test report).  Of the two rows with student scores, NWEA reports the student’s score with the lowest standard error not the highest RIT score.  Many times teachers feel if a student retakes the test, they will score higher the second time; improving their overall class passage rate.  This is not always the case as NWEA looks for the lowest standard error indicating the more valid of the two assessments.

How do I access data?

Data will begin to generate within 24 hours of your students completing the assessment.  Use your log-on information to access all student reports.