DAC Newsletters and Informational Handouts

This is a new communication tool designed by the Office of Educational Accountability (OEA) specifically for District Assessment Coordinators (DACs). Our goal in designing this newsletter is to keep DACs informed on important and relevant information related to assessment and accountability.

Newsletters will be produced quarterly during the school year: early fall, late fall, mid winter, and late spring. The contents of each newsletter will provide relevant information and resources for that portion of the school year. While the content will change throughout the school year, the format will remain the same. Below is a description of the format:

• Page One:
  OEA Calendar - This is a list of upcoming important dates for assessments and accountability.
  OEA Update - This is current information and updates on the Wisconsin Student Assessment System and important reminders for DACs.
  
• Page Two:
  From the OEA Mailroom - This is a response to a reoccurring issue related to the topics on page one.
  FAQ - This is a summary of frequently asked questions that often arise at that time during the school year.
  
• Page Three:
  Building Assessment Literacy - This space is dedicated to building assessment knowledge and understanding of the Wisconsin Student Assessment System.
  

DACs will continue to receive emails regarding urgent actions or information. While most of the information contained in the newsletter can be located on our website, the topics have been applied to highlight situations that DACs experience in the school setting.

• Previous Newsletter Issues:
  
  Issue XIII, February 2010 Topics included in this issue - Dissemination of Student Reports, Communication of Testing Information to Staff, Important Dates, Assessments for English Language Learners Update, ACCESS for ELL® Update, Commercial Products and Workshops Promoting Test Prep and Improved Scores, NAEP Updates, From the OEA Mail Room “What is happening related to our 'next generation of assessments'?”, FAQs About Test Results, and Building Assessment Literacy “The Process of Developing a State Assessment”
  
  Issue XII, November 2009 Topics included in this issue - Successful Administration of the 2009-10 WSAS, ISES Deadline, Record Editing System Window, Important Dates, ACCESS for ELL® Update, Assessments for English Language Learners Update, NAEP Updates, From the OEA Mail Room “Is this the last year of the WKCE?”, FAQs About Shipping and Packing Test Materials, and Building Assessment Literacy “What is computer-adaptive testing and why am I hearing so much about it?”
  
  Issue XI, September 2009 Topics included in this issue- 2009 Testing Window and H1N1, Reminder to Update WSLS Data, Commercial Products and Workshops Promoting Test Prep, Delivery of Testing Materials, New District Assessment Coordinators, Students Moving During the Testing Window, WAA-SwD Update, NAEP Update, Assessments for English Language Learners Update, Accountability for the Progress and Attainment of English Language Proficiency, FAQs About WSAS Test Participation, and Special Education Assessment Research.
  
  Issue X, May 2009 Topics included in this issue- Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) Update, Remember to Update your DAC Information, WSAS Update, WAA-SwD Update, WSAS: Earlier Electronic Reports, Assessment Accommodations Matrix, ELL Translation Accommodation Update, ACCESS for ELL® Update, NAEP Update, Next Generation Assessment Task Force Information, FAQ About Test Materials and IPRs, and ACCESS for ELLs® Data Flow Process.
  
  Issue IX, February 2009 Topics included - Dissemination of Student Reports, WKCE Update, Earlier WSAS Summary Reports and Press Release, Communication of Testing Information to Staff, ELL Translation Accommodation Update, ELL Accountability Update, Next Generation Assessment Task Force Update, Test Security-What does it mean and why is it important, FAQ About Test Results, and OEA Web Page Finds.
  
  Issue VIII, November 2008 -Topics included –ISES Deadline, Record Editing System Window, Special Education Grant Update, Wisconsin’s Standard and Assessment System Receives Full Federal Approval, Next Generation Assessment Task Force Update, ELL Accountability Update, ACCESS for ELL Update, Survey Results, NAEP, , FAQ's regarding Shipping and Packing Test Materials, and Role of the WKCE Test Administration Proctor, and “Some Answers to Growth Model Questions”.
  
  Issue VII, September 2008 - Topics included - New DACs, 2008 Testing Window, Students Moving During the Window, Delivery of Test Materials, Reminder to Update WSLS Data, ELL Update, Assessment Accommodation Matrix, New ACCESS for ELL Test Administration Training, New Kindergarten ACCESS for ELL, New Option for the Kindergarten W-APT Screener (MODEL), Accountability for the Progress and Attainment of English Language Proficiency, Commercial Products Promoting Test Prep, FAQ's regarding Test Participation, and Which Assessment to give a Student - WKCE or the WAA-SwD.
  
  Issue VI, May 2008 - Topics included - WAA-SwD Updates, DAC Contact Information and Confidentiality Agreement Updates, ELL Update, Accommodation Matrix Update, WKCE Shipping and Packing Updates, NAEP Update, What does a Large Scale Assessments Measure, and What do the WKCE scores tell about a student.
  
  Issue V, February 2008 - Topics included - WAA-SwD Test Window Closed, WAA-SwD Standard Setting Workshop, Fall Testing Window, Communication of Testing Information to Staff, Dissemination of Student Reports, DAC Corner, ELL Update, NAEP Update, WKCE Test Item - Development and Scoring Process.
  
  Issue IV, November 2007 - Topics included - WKCE Test Window Closed, Student Reports to Arrive Earlier, WAA-SwD Update, ELL Translations, ACCESS for ELLs Assessment, ISES Deadline, Record Editing System Window, NAEP Update, Balanced Assessment.
  
  Issue III, September 2007 - Topics included - Changes to the WAA-SwD, Update on WAA-ELL, Test Security Training Modules, Information for new DAC's, Update WSLS, Student Moving During Testing, Commercial Products Promoting Test Prep, New Accommodations Approval Form, Accommodation vs. Modification.
  
  Issue II, May 2007 - Topics included - Changes for the WAA-SwD, Update on WAA-ELL, Regional Workshops on Formative Assessment, Notification for NAEP 2008, Changes to the Assessment Matrix, Updating your DAC information, Launch of the New OEA Website, Test Security, Responding to Questions about Assessment Results.
  
  Issue I, February 2007 - Topics included - Wisconsin Teacher Involvement in the WKCE, RES Critical to AYP Determination, ELL Task Force Update, Thank You to NAEP Schools, WKCE Results Used to Determine Eligibility for Gifted and Talented Program
  
  

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Handouts

• The Process of Developing a State Assessment - This handout explains the process (in a diagram with a link to more information) of developing a state assessment.
• ACCESS for ELLs® Data flow process - This handout depicts the data flow process for classifying an English language learner (ELL) in Wisconsin.
• WKCE Proctor Guidelines - This handout describes the role and responsibilities of the Proctor.
• Some Answers to Growth Model Questions - This handout answers some commonly asked questions regarding Growth models.
• How do I decide which assessment to give a student? - This handout explains how educators should make the decision to either give a student the WKCE or the WAA-SwD.
• What do WKCE scores tell me about a student? - This handout explains WKCE scores and their uses.
• WKCE Items - Development and Scoring Process - This handout explains each step in the life of an item from development through scoring.
• Balanced Assessment System - This handout explains What a balanced assessment system is and gives examples of the use of assessments in the system.
• Understanding Constructed Response Items on the WKCE - This handout explains how the "long-answer" handwritten items are scored and provides suggestions on helping students be successful with this type of test item.
• How to Respond to Questions about Assessment Results - This handout useful when trying to explain results to parents.
• Test Preparation Guidelines for the WKCE - This handout provides suggestions for districts, teachers, and parents, to help their students prepare for the WKCE.
• What is an Accommodation vs. a Modification? - This handout was created to clarify for staff and parents the difference between an accommodation and a modification and what is allowable for use on the WKCE.

For questions about this information, contact oeamail@dpi.wi.gov

Last updated on 2/2/2010 9:44:34 AM