ACT Aspire “Rocks”

2015 ALERTS FOR PAPER ROOM SUPERVISORS

“Rock” with your Guides

ACT Aspire ALSDE Alerts

General Alerts

All Paper Room Supervisors must read the Room Supervisor Manual: Paper Summative Testing.

Upon receipt of an ACT Aspire Test Coordinator Manual, ACT Aspire Room Supervisor’s Manual (Paper Summative Testing or Online Summative Testing), read, sign, and date the statement located on the cover of each manual.

No relative of a student who is taking the test may serve as a Room Supervisor or Proctor for that student.

No student or student teacher may serve as a Room Supervisor or Proctor

Policies and ProceduresProhibited Staff Behavior

Accessing or obtaining a test booklet or test questions prior to the test for any reason.

Photocopying, making an electronic copy, or keeping a personal copy of the test or of any test items (An exception is provided for students who need to utilize digital scanning magnification for test items. See the ACT Aspire Accessibility User Guide.)

Taking notes about test questions or any paraphrase or test questions to aid in preparing students for testing.

Aiding or assisting a student with a response or answer to a secure test item, including providing formulas.

Rephrasing test questions for students.

Creating an answer key or “crib sheet” of answers to test questions

Policies and ProceduresProhibited Staff Behavior

Editing or changing student answers after completion of the test, with or without the student’s permission.

Allowing students to test in an unsupervised setting

Leaving test materials in an unsecured place or unattended

Failing to properly report or document incidents of prohibited behavior involving students, staff, and others

Allowing students to test longer than the permitted time.

Failing to return and account for all testing materials after the test session has ended

Policies and ProceduresPossession of Prohibited Items by Testing Staff- ALSDE Policy

School personnel involved in administration of state testing may not use digital devices (including but not limited to telephones, cell phones, MP3 players, cameras, or other telecommunication devices capable of capturing or relaying information) during test administration. Violations may result in disciplinary action/certification revocation. Additional disciplinary action may be taken by the LEA.

All electronic devices, including computers located in the testing room, must be turned off before testing materials are brought into the room, and they must remain off until testing materials are removed from the room. This rule does not apply to the designated teacher workstation for online testing.

All copiers, scanners, printers, telephones and other electronic devices must be disabled or removed from the testing room before test materials are brought into the room.

Test Security

No test booklet should be opened by any person other than the examinee on the test date.

Testing materials should be distributed for the exact number of students being tested in each setting. The directions for completing the demographic information and test do not require the use of a test booklet or answer folder for demonstration purposes.

Calculators

Students taking the Grades 3-5 Mathematics subject tests cannot use a calculator. All problems can be solved without the use of a calculator.

Students in Grades 6-8 are allowed, but not required, to use an approved calculator on ACT Aspire Mathematics (only) tests. Calculator guidelines are described on pages 6-7 of the Room Supervisor’s Manual.

Please refer to http://www.actstudent.org/faq/calculator.html (Avocet) for information on approved and prohibited calculators.

Scratch Paper

Students may use scratch paper if they request it. The following information must be written at the top of each sheet of scratch paper: first and last name, school name, subject they are currently testing, and school grade.

The scratch paper must be collected and returned to the Test Coordinator, who will include it in the nonscorable shipment of materials.

Test Format

ACT Aspire Assessments consist of selected-response questions (English, Reading, Mathematics, and Science) and constructed response questions (Writing, Reading, Mathematics, and Science).Online tests also have technology-enhanced items.

Exemplar ACT Aspire online test questions can be accessed online at tn.actaspire.org.

Visit Avocet for exemplar supporting documents and answer keys.

ACT Aspire Policy

If a mistiming on a subject occurs and is noticed on the same day, allow the students to make up the shortage of time in that section before dismissal. If a mistiming is noticed after dismissal, the tests will be voided. Report any mistimings on the Test Irregularity Report, and return the report to the Test Coordinator along with the answer documents.

Students are not allowed to have cell phones, tablets, or any electronic communication devices on their person.

Students must use a No. 2 pencil when completing all information sections and gridding answers. Responses gridded in ink will not be scored.

ACT Aspire Policy

Specific instructions about guessing on multiple-choice items are included in the verbal instructions of each test. If students ask about guessing, staff must refer them to these instructions.

Neither the Room Supervisor nor Proctor may comment on or add to the printed directions or items in any way.

Staff may NOT answer questions regarding individual test items. All staff in the room during an administration should respond to questions with, “Do the best you can.”

Bathroom Breaks and Student IllnessALSDE Policy

Bathroom Breaks Students will need to complete a test in a single sitting.

Please allow time for restroom breaks and material handling prior to each test session.  Unauthorized breaks will be handled the same for ACT Aspire as they are for all other standardized assessments.  Examinees who leave the room during a timed test to go to the restroom may NOT make up lost time.  The room supervisor should record on the ALSDE irregularity form the time that the student left the room and the time the student returned.   

Before the examinee leaves the room, the room supervisor must collect the examinee’s test booklet and answer document; the materials must be returned to the examinee when he or she is readmitted

Student Illness When a student becomes sick and must leave the

room, the room supervisor will note the time and reason the student left the room.  The hall monitor should ensure that the student does not interact with other students while he or she is out of the room; the student may not have access to any materials or unauthorized devices during the time out of the room.  If the student remains in school and is able to continue testing on the original test date, The Building Test Coordinator may arrange for a make-up session.  The room supervisor assigned to administer the make-up session will allow the student the documented time remaining to finish the test.

Prohibited Items for StudentsALSDE Policy

The possession of a digital device (including but not limited to cell phones, MP3 players, cameras, or other telecommunication devices capable of capturing or relaying information) is strictly prohibited during the administration of a secure test. School personnel will collect such devices before students can enter the testing room. If a student is observed in possession of a digital device during the administration of a secure test, the device will be confiscated.

If a student is observed using a digital device during the administration of a secure test, testing for the student will cease, the device will be confiscated and is subject to search, the student will be dismissed from testing, and the student’s test will be invalidated. Additional disciplinary action may be taken by the LEA.

Prohibited Student Behavior

A full list is available on Page 7 of the Paper Room Supervisor’s Manual

If you SUSPECT a student is engaged in any of the prohibited activities, discreetly warn the student that these actions are prohibited, direct the student to resume testing, and continue to observe the student closely.

If you OBSERVE any of these behaviors, collect the student’s answer documents and test booklet. Inform the student that his or her test will be voided.

All prohibited behaviors must be documented using the ALSDE Testing Irregularity Report. The ALSDE must be notified of any prohibited behavior resulting in invalidation of a student’s test.

Irregularities

If an irregularity occurs, the RS must complete an AL Irregularity form. Once the AL Irregularity form is received by the BTC, he/she must enter the information on an ACT Aspire Irregularity form using the correct coding in the Portal.

The SDE must determine if answer documents should be voided. Do not bubble “VOID,” without SDE permission.

Failure to report any irregularity is a test security violation.

Irregularity Forms

ACT Aspire ALSDE

Accessibility and Accommodations

Please read and become familiar with the Accessibility User’s Guide(Avocet).

When making decisions related to accommodations/accessibility features and specifically for read-aloud accommodation, please refer to Understanding Accessibility Supports for ACT Aspire, http://www.alsde.edu/sec/sa/Special%20Populations/Understanding%20Accessibility%20Supports%20for%20ACT%20Aspire.pdf .

Large print and braille materials are ordered through the ACT Aspire portal.

Desirable Conditions

All students in a room must take the same grade and subject tests.

Lapboards must not be used.

Seats must be arranged so that all students face the Room Supervisor. If tables are used, students must be seated on the side of the table facing the test administrator. No students may be seated at ends of tables or facing other students. Distance between students must be wide enough to allow Proctors to circulate during the examination without disturbing students.

Test Administration Procedures

If any students are testing with accommodations, mark the accommodations that will be administered in advance of testing.

Check students’ calculators in Grades 6-8 via ACT calculator policy for the mathematics test.

Students should not be able to do other work or look at any materials if they finish the test early.

No one except the students should be allowed to examine the contents of any test booklet or answer document.

All students in a room must take the same subject and grade tests.

Test Administration Procedures

Prior to the scheduled test administration, the Room Supervisor will complete a seating chart from the Test Assignment Roster. Students’ names must be recorded on the seating chart, and students must be seated according to the seating chart. Students should not be allowed to select their own seats.

Once students are checked in, the Room Supervisor will write ABSENT in the box on the seating chart for any student who is not present for testing.

Test Administration Procedures

Materials must be handed directly to the student. The Room Supervisor must ensure that each student receives his or her own test booklet and answer document.

After materials are distributed, the Room Supervisor will record the booklet numbers in the boxes with the students’ names on the seating chart.

At no time may the Room Supervisor leave the room unattended.

The Room Supervisor may NOT admit anyone to the testing room once the timed tests have begun. (The Building Test Coordinator will determine how makeup exams will be handled for late arrivals.)

Verbal Instructions

Before the Test Instructions—pages 12-13 of the Paper Summative Manual

Verbal Directions for students who are missing preprinted demographic information. Directions are located on pages 4-5 of the alerts.

Color-coded Subject Guide —page 14

Directions by Subject- pages 15-31

Before testing, students will be asked to fill in boxes D, G, and H on the front and back covers of the answer document.

If the student has a pre-gridded answer document, he/she cannot add to or alter any information in boxes A, B, C, E, F, and I. The pre-gridded information will override anything students try to change.

Please refer to the Change Table on the third page of the Paper Room Supervisor’s Manual. The Change Table provides additional information and/or instructions.

Verbal Instructions

The following list indicates the purpose for each box:

Box A- Leave blank

Box B- District/School Name

Box C- Student Name

Box D- Test Form

Box E- Date of Birth

Box F- ACT Aspire Portal ID Number

Box G- Statement

Box H- Today’s Date

Box I- State Student ID Number

After each Test Session…

The test booklets and used answer documents should be placed in Test Assignment Roster order. All test materials must be collected and confirmed before students are allowed to leave the testing room.

Please follow these steps:

Make sure that the test form number has been gridded on all used answer documents.

Turn all answer documents the same direction with the same side up.

Turn all test booklets the same way with the cover up.

Large print and Braille must be transcribed onto an answer document.

Attach all Irregularity Reports.

Account for all answer documents and test booklets.

Return all scratch paper to the Test Coordinator.

Returning Testing Materials

Materials that must be returned to the Building Test Coordinator include the following:

Room Supervisor’s Manual

Test Booklets (placed in numerical order)

Answer Documents (placed in Test Assignment Roster order)

Class Roster

Seating Chart

Scratch Paper

Irregularity Forms (if applicable)

ACT Aspire “Rocks”