DAC Newsletters

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Previous DAC Newsletter Issues
Informational Handouts

The DAC Newsletter is a 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 are 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 - A list of upcoming important dates for assessments and accountability.
OEA Update - Current information and updates on the Wisconsin Student Assessment System and important reminders for DACs.
Page Two:
From the OEA Mailroom - A response to a reoccurring issue related to the topics on page one.
FAQ - Summary of frequently asked questions that often arise at that time during the school year.
Page Three:
Building Assessment Literacy - A space 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 XXI, February 2012 Topics included in this issue - Dissemination of Student Reports, Important Dates, SMARTER Update, ACCESS for ELLs® Update, Alternate ACCESS for ELLs™ Update, Communication of Testing Information to Staff, Waiver Update, From the OEA Mail Room “Where can I get information that helps me understand Wisconisn Student Assessment System (WSAS) Reports?”, FAQs About Test Results, Building Assessment Literacy “Informational Handouts Available”.
Issue XX, November 2011 Topics included in this issue - Successful Administration of the 2011-12 WSAS, ISAS Deadline, Record Editing System Window, Important Dates, SMARTER Update, ACCESS for ELL® Update, Alternate ACCESS for ELLs® Update, Reminder to Update WSLS Data, ASSETS Grant (Assessment Services Supporting ELLs through Technology Systems), Data & Reporting Updates: DPI Unveils Business Intelligence Tool Name - WISEdash, Accountability Updates (Statewide Accountability Task Force & ESEA Flexibility Waiver), Accommodations Manual, Dynamic Learning Maps, NAEP, From the OEA Mail Room “Where can I get instructions for packing my test materials to return to CTB for scoring?”, FAQs Shipping and Packing Test Materials, Building Assessment Literacy “Using Formative Assessment in Instruction”.
Issue XIX, September 2011 Topics included in this issue - 2011 WSAS Testing Window, SMARTER Update, Important Dates, Students Moving During the Testing Window, Important Reminder – Check names on all test books prior to beginning each session, Reminder to Update WSLS Data, Assessment Accommodation Matrix, New District Assessment Coordinators, Commercial Products and Workshops Promoting Test Prep, WAA-SwD Update, Delivery of Testing Materials, Accountability for the Progress and Attainment of ELP for 2010-11, ELL update, ACCESS for ELL® Update, BI Tool Update, Growth Reports Available, Dynamic Learning Maps Update, From the OEA Mail Room “Is there a new task force on statewide accountability?”, FAQs WSAS Test Participation, Building Assessment Literacy “Response to Intervention (RTI) and Assessment Data”.
Issue XVIII, May 2011 Topics included in this issue - SMARTER Update,Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) Update, Important Dates, Remember to Update your DAC Information, The WSAS (WKCE and WAA-SwD) Update, WAA-SwD Update, ELL Professional Development Update, ACCESS for ELL® Update, BI Tool Update, NAEP Data and Results Tools, From the OEA Mail Room “What Changes will we see with Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) this year?”, FAQs WAA-SwD, Building Assessment iteracy “Communicating AYP Results”.
Issue XVII, February 2011 Topics included in this issue - Dissemination of Student Reports, School District Performance Report Update, Important Dates, ACCESS for ELLs® Update, Alternate ACCESS for ELLs™ Update, Communication of Testing Information to Staff, The New SMARTER Assessment System Webpage, Just released: NAEP 2009 Science Results, The New Graduation Webpage - Improving High School Graduation: Every Child A Graduate, From the OEA Mail Room “Why doesn’t my student sub-group data (such as gender, ethnicity/race, economic status, etc.) include all of the students enrolled?”, FAQs About Test Results, Building Assessment Literacy “Data Retreats with Wisconsin Knowledge and Concepts Examination (WKCE) Online Reports”.
Issue XVI, November 2010 Topics included in this issue - Successful Administration of the 2010-11WSAS Testing, ISES Deadline, Graduation Rate Changes, Important Dates, Record Editing System Window, Students Moving During the Testing Window, Wisconsin Alternate Assessment for Students with Disabilities (WAA-SwD) Update, ACCESS for ELL® Update, NAEP Update, From the OEA Mail Room “When will the Wisconsin assessments be aligned to the Common Core Standards?”, FAQs About Shipping and Packing Test Materials, Building Assessment Literacy “How Assessment Data Informs Response to Intervention (RtI)”.
Issue XV, September 2010 Topics included in this issue - 2010 WSAS Testing Window, Looking to the Future, Assessment Windows for 2010-11, Important Dates, Reminder to Update WSLS Data, Students Moving During the Testing Window, Important Reminder to DACs and Proctors, The Assessment Accommodations Matrix, Wisconsin Alternate Assessment for Students with Disabilities (WAA-SwD) Update, Delivery of Testing Materials, Accountability for the Progress and Attainment of English Language Proficiency (ELP), Commercial Products and Workshops Promoting Test Prep, ACCESS for ELL® Update,NAEP Update, From the OEA Mail Room “Where can I find the complete 2010-2011 Testing Timeline?”, FAQs About WSAS Test Participation, Building Assessment Literacy “How to Use Data for Data-Informed Instruction to Personalize Teaching & Learning”
Issue XIV, May 2010 Topics included in this issue - Wisconsin Takes Leadership Role in Assessment Development, Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) Update, Important Dates, Remember to Update your DAC Information, The Assessment Accommodations Matrix, The WSAS (WKCE and WAA-SwD) Update, ACCESS for ELL® Update, ELL Professional Development Update, NAEP Updates, From the OEA Mail Room “How is AYP calculated for my school and district?”, FAQs About Test Results and Materials, and Building Assessment Literacy “Introducing Student Growth Percentiles”
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

Informational Handouts

Data Use and Reporting

Data Retreats with Wisconsin Knowledge and Concepts Examination (WKCE) Online Reports - This handout explains the appropriate time of year and proper procedures when conducting data retreats using Online Reports.
Reponse to Intervention (RtI) and Assessment Data - This handout give information about the Wisconsin RTI center and the DPI webpage where the RTI using data series presentations are available.
How assessment data informs Reponse to Intervention (RtI) - This handout explains assessment data informs all three of the RtI elements: high quality instruction, Continuous review of student progress, and collaboration.
How Use Data for Data-Informed Instruction to Personalize Teaching & Learning - This handout explains how schools can regularly and openly review data as part of their instructional culture and that the continuous review of data leads to increased student success, deep professional learning, and more collaborative educator teams.
Introducing Student Growth Percentiles - Presents some key ideas about growth models and their use, and introduces student growth percentiles as a model DPI will use for public and secure reports.
Some Answers to Growth Model Questions - This handout answers some commonly asked questions regarding Growth models.
What do WKCE scores tell me about a student? - This handout explains WKCE scores and their uses.
How to Respond to Questions about Assessment Results - This handout useful when trying to explain results to parents.

Test Preparation and Administration Guidelines

WKCE Proctor Guidelines - This handout describes the role and responsibilities of the Proctor.
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.
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.

Understanding an Assessment System and its Components

Using Formative Assessment in Instruction - This handout explains What a formative assessment is and how to use formative assessments in instruction.
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.
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.

Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP)

Communicating AYP Results - This handout gives helpful information to schools about how to communicate AYP results to parents, community members, school boards/staff, and the media.

Special Populations