• Good news! You should be able to catch me at my desk over the next few weeks! ☎️
• March 15-23 - SPRING BREAK
• March 27 - Work Session (register and confirm details in Kickup), See some suggested tasks at the end of this email
• April 18 - HOLIDAY!

If you need to catch up, find links to this newsletter on the Resources page of our PfISD State Assessments website.

Some users are receiving a "sso4.cambiumast.com is blocked" error when logging into various modules of TIDE (LMS, CRS, etc...). This is an error with the user's specific Chrome browser. There are a few potential solutions:

1. Have the user log out of ALL Google accounts (PfISD, personal...).
2. Find the "3 dot menu" in the upper right corner of the Chrome browser, open the menu and navigate to Help > About Chrome. Read the screen and notice if any updates are processing. Wait for these to process and then "Relaunch Chrome browser to finish updating."
3. Quickest Solution: The user can use a different browser. Microsoft Edge is installed on each desktop. Firefox will also work.

In TIDE, you may see a banner with a link to a survey. "The Student Assessment Division at the Texas Education Agency is seeking your input on reporting products provided to districts and campuses for the Texas Assessment Program. This information will assist us in making future enhancement decisions."

The survey is specific to early, preliminary and final reporting files. If you don't know the difference in these reports, your input may not be helpful. If you choose to submit the survey, please ask for the following 2 things in the comment box at the end:

1. Include Rosters with Preliminary Reports (rather than Final).
2. Add state level data to Item Analysis.

On Tuesday, February 11, I added about 200 students to TIDE, updated some EB codes and removed 120 students who are no longer enrolled.

Students will be updated in TIDE later this week. If you must manually add a student, use our "Quick Guide..." available at this link.

🚫❌Campus coordinators will not adjust eligibility for alternate tests, and will not change EB indicator in TIDE.❌🚫

The first TIDE task for TELPAS campus is to verify accuracy and completion of Years in U.S. Schools. This is due complete by February 21. Instructions

Please use the "Advanced Search" function in TIDE to confirm students identified by ARD committee to participate in STAAR Alternate 2 are properly marked in TIDE to participate in TELPAS Alternate.

Do not make any changes to Alternate fields in TIDE. Contact Kelly if you identify a student who is not properly marked in TIDE. Be sure to have the TSDS ID handy when you call.

All campus trainings should be completed and documented by February 21. Find the documentation spreadsheet at this link.

SECURE passcodes for TELPAS calibration sets have been shared with each TELPAS Campus Coordinator in TIDE. In TIDE, click on "Secure File Center" (see below) at the top of the screen to find the document. Contact Kelly at least 1 day prior to calibration if you do not have the code you need.

The document includes a calibration roster, but we do not use this version. Find the PfISD "Monitored Calibration Roster" at this link.

Do not share these secure codes until the day of your scheduled calibration.

The Test Administration Manuals state that, "For EB students who request assistance, test administrators are allowed to paraphrase, translate, repeat, or read aloud these directions and the directions that introduce particular test sections or question types, as long as the substance of the directions is not changed."

In Pflugerville ISD, on test days, we will only allow translations by the test administrator, as stated in the manuals. If a teacher routinely translates directions for a student, please be sure the assigned test administrator is also able to translate on student request. (The student must make the request on test days.)

For students who routinely request directions to be translated and use other means (not the teacher) during instruction, you may choose to translate test administration directions in the weeks prior to testing for a teacher to review with the student prior to the day of the test. This includes the use of an online translation. This must be done by a trained test administrator or the campus coordinator who is responsible for the accuracy of the translation. These directions will not be used on the day of the assessment.

To ensure each campus is well-prepared to begin the upcoming administrations, here are some technology-related tips that may be helpful.

Did you know I receive an email any time a student types alarming text on a state assessment, including interims? The text can be a constructed response or on the sticky note or note pad tools.

If I receive an alert for a student on your campus, I try to notify the campus principal and STAAR coordinator. In some cases, I also include a counselor. You'll receive an email similar to this:

Constructed text a student submits on state assessments is flagged if the text raises a concern for the well-being of the student or others. This includes text in constructed responses as well as the embedded sticky notes and notepad features

Please review the attached text (highlighted in the last column) and follow-up appropriately. How you choose to follow up will depend on prior knowledge of this student.

At the very least, please let the student know that all responses and text on the embedded notepad or sticky notes are read, taken seriously and referred for follow-up if needed.

Reminder: In an effort to assist you in meeting the Safe & Supportive Schools reporting requirements, this incident may need to be documented and reported.

Please respond to this email to confirm that you have reviewed the alert and taken action as you see necessary. (I only need one person to respond.) I do not need to know what action you have taken, just that you have received this alert and followed up appropriately.

STAAR Alternate 2 & STAAR test administrator trainings must be documented here.

Slides for STAAR Alternate 2 Test Administrator Training have been posted. Test administrators should participate in training February 18-28. Training documentation is due complete no later than February 28.

Slides for STAAR Test Administrator Training are posted. Campus trainings for STAAR will not begin before March 25. All trainings and documentation should be complete no later than April 11 (or April 25 for STAAR Mathematics).

Find training slides on the Trainings & Security menu of the PfISD State Assessment website.

STAAR Alternate materials that each campus will receive are listed on this document. Please review this list to ensure you are receiving sufficient materials for all students identified to participate in STAAR Alternate 2. Use the "Enrolled Campus Expected Shipment" column.

Prior to spring break, an Additional Order Form will be shared, and you will have an opportunity to request additional materials if needed. Additional orders are not being accepted at this time. Watch for the order form to be shared in the next few weeks.

I have ordered reference materials to be copied and delivered to the campus coordinator by April 1. Please mark your calendar to expect these in March and notify me no later than April 1 if you do not have these in your hands. (I said at training you would need to order these, but it seemed like everyone wanted copies, so I have already submitted the order.)

You should be prepared to make additional copies if you do not receive sufficient quantities. Find the materials at this link to make copies AFTER you receive the quantities I have ordered.

ES - Mathematics reference materials by grade enrollment and grid paper; a small quantity of Spanish have been ordered for bilingual campuses

MS - Mathematics reference materials by grade enrollment and grid paper; Algebra 1 reference materials by enrollment and grid paper; science reference materials by grade

HS - Algebra 1 reference materials by enrollment

Do you have something to share? Send a photo or video with text!

Always check here first when you are looking for something that I have shared.

Resources from recent trainings as well as other resources for use during each administration are available and periodically updated. Be sure you have this site bookmarked.

👉Ellevation Update:

I've finally found a process that prevents Ellevation from sending accommodations to Testhound. Here's what happens:

• An LPAC administrator asks teachers to make recommendations for accommodations in Ellevation.
• When the teacher goes into Ellevation and makes recommendations, these recommendations override what was previously marked and NOTHING IS SENT TO TH.
• Your LPAC administrator has to go into Ellevation and accept those recommendations.
• When this is completed, TH will receive an update (overnight).

Upcoming Training Opportunities - Preregister at this link (must be logged in to Testhound).

• Testhound Tune-Ups (live work sessions, bring your questions)
• Thursday, February 20, 9:00-9:30 AM CT
• Monday, February 24, 2:00-2:30 PM CT
• Thursday, February 27, 9:00-9:30 AM CT
• Monday, March 3, 2-2:30 PM CT
• Thursday, March 6, 9-9:30 AM CT
• Monday, March 10, 2-2:30 PM CT
• Thursday, March 13, 9-9:30 AM CT
• Changing Your Testing Schedule, Wednesday, February 19, 10-10:30 AM CT
• Test Attributes Report, Wednesday, February 26, 10-10:30 AM CT
• Scanning Test Books Back to Boxes (STAAR Alt 2), Wednesday, March 5, 10-10:30 AM CT
• Test Configuration - Assign by Period, Wednesday, March 12, 10-10:30 AM CT
• Test Configuration - Assign by Capacity, Wednesday, March 19, 10-10:30 AM CT
• Filter by Accommodation, Wednesday, March 26, 10-10:30 AM CT
• Consolidating Rooms on Test Day, Wednesday, April 2, 10-10:30 AM CT

Testhound hanging with Snoop at KLMS. 🐶

Share your puppy pics here, please! Include the name of your campus when you save your photo in the designated folder.

Thursday, March 27, Confirm time and location in Kickup

Individual assistance as needed. TIDE & Testhound support available at all sessions. Attendees may come and go at any time, but all must register in advance. Bring laptops and other necessary resources. Confirm time and location in Kickup.

Suggested Tasks:Final preparations for April/May STAAR administrations