Download SLO FAQs 2014-2015 - Forsyth County Schools

SLO FAQs
2014-2015
1. Do the AP classes (such as AP World History) take the SLO designed for the non-AP
course? Do honors and accelerated classes take the regular SLO for a course (for
example Honors Chemistry)?
Most tests were designed for the course itself. We aligned Honors courses to on-level course
titles, so Honors students will take the on-level SLO assessment. SLO assessments for AP
and Accelerated courses will be developed separately, unless specifically stated otherwise.
To date, the following courses will also take the on-level SLO:
 Accelerated Pre-Calculus
 Honors 10th Grade Lit
 Honors World History
 Honors Chemistry I
Unless listed above, no other courses (AP, Accelerated, or Honors) will take the on-level
SLO.
2. How do we order the tests?
We based copy sets for middle school on projected student enrollments; we based high
school numbers on the number of teachers x 40 booklets per teacher. Please note that
printing occurred prior to roster completion, so count the number of tests you receive and
denote any additional needs on the inventory sheet you return to Paula Smith within 24-48
hours of the day you receive materials.
3. When will the student answer sheets be available for assignment for teachers to print?
We are trying to have all SLO and Interim answer keys available in Learning Station by the
afternoon of August 4th, one week prior to the opening of the window.
4. Can counselors administer on-line make-ups for new students?
Certified staff, including Counselors, Media Specialists, and ITS, may administer SLO
assessments as long as they have attended SLO pre-administration training.
5. Will all courses, including CTAE, eventually have prioritized standards like Math and
ELA?
Yes, eventually all courses will have prioritized standards created by SLO Development
Teams. Teachers will access the Table of Specifications (TOS), uploaded to the TOS folder
in the SLO Course in itslearning, to identify the prioritized standards to be assessed in the
SLO test.
REMINDER: Prioritized standards, as indicated in the TOS for each course, are a sampling
of the required standards for the course. Teachers MUST be reminded that they are
responsible for teaching ALL associated standards for the course, not just those listed as
prioritized.
6. Our students who are MIMO in a self-contained classroom, are they supposed to take
the SLOs?
Yes. Unless a student is on GAA, he/she will take the SLO as assigned to all students
enrolled in the particular course for which the SLO was written.
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SLO FAQs
2014-2015
7. We have K-2, non-verbal, self-contained, autism classes. They are not on GAA. Will
these classes administer the SLOs?
If not on GAA…
State Assessments: students would take GKIDS (state-mandated assessment for K) or
Georgia Milestones (state-mandated for 3-8). There is no state assessment for Grades 1-2.
SLOs: K-3 F&P
Interims: for Grades 2-5 only (optional – school decision)
8. We teach Geography as a semester course AND as a year-long course. The year long
course is a blend of world geography and some US history content to help students later
when they take US history EOCTs and AP US history tests. Will this cause any
problems with how the SLO Geography pre and post tests will be administered?
No, this should not cause a problem as long as the teacher instructs the World Geography
standards as indicated on the state website, regardless of whether it is a semester or year-long
course.
9. Are these the ONLY copies of the test books that we’re going to receive or will we be
provided with new materials periodically throughout the year?
For year-long courses, you will return materials at the end of the pre-assessment window;
Paula Smith will send via outlook invite and email the date that Warehouse will be out to
collect year-long materials from schools. For year-long assessments, we will deliver
materials again one week before the post-window and collect again at the end of that
window.
Middle School Only: For quarter-long courses, middle schools will secure the materials at
the school site between pre- and post-administrations. (returning these materials would cause
too much back and forth frustration!).
10. I’m assuming that since we’re being given the same tests as pre and post that we’ll be
using the same test books… has any consideration been given to students marking in
books or materials being damaged by casual use?
Copies for 6th-8th grade were calculated by student enrollment; copies for high school courses
were calculated by the number of teachers per course (at 40 tests/teacher). Because of
previous testing guidance (under CRCT and EOCT), students taking CRCT were allowed to
write in their books. HS students tested online (with the exception of IEP/504/TPC paperpencil accommodations); thus, we give class sets and scratch paper where appropriate.
Middle School: For example, Spanish I is a high school course, but in the past, we’ve left it
up to middle schools to decide whether they order by student or by teacher when
administering high school course tests in the middle school. For middle school quarterlength assessments, you will have to return the used booklets for new IF you have to. (See
question below)
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SLO FAQs
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11. There are likely to be students with classroom accommodations who have permission to
write on their tests… will we be able to receive new materials on that condition?
When you return year-long pre-assessment materials, you will be asked to wrap all booklets
in sets of used and unused. We will keep the unused booklets for the post-test AND run
additional copies as needed (most likely based on numbers you turn into Paula in the spring).
You should utilize classroom accommodations (not state test accommodations) with the SLO
assessments.
Middle School: For quarter-long assessments, you’ll need to return used and request new.
(Quarter-length assessments are new for us, so we may make some tweaks along the way!
We may also tweak the write-in test booklet option over the course of this year as well!)
12. What about high school students who write on tests? Can they write on the test
booklet?
Students should be encouraged not to write on the test booklet, unless an IEP/504/TPC
indicates mark-in-book accommodation. Please review the Test Examiner Manuals to ensure
which tests require scratch paper. If students do write in test booklets, the teacher will
remove these booklets from the set and replace with extra test booklets from the 40/teacher
set he/she was given. The SLO/Interim coordinator will contact us (Paula Smith – SLOs,
Darlene Alberson – Interims) for replacements as needed.
13. I’m assuming that students will be given instructions not to write in their test books (it’s
not in the examiner’s manual, but may be on the test materials?), but if that is the case,
will we need to provide scratch paper? If so, what is the protocol for that scratch
paper?
Students in middle school may write in the test booklet. We would love to save paper but
the precedent was set with CRCT. When we transition to online, students will be able to use
highlighters and other marking features within the online platform as well as scratch paper,
given scratch paper is deemed appropriate for the test.
Currently, if the Examiner Manual calls for scratch paper, then it states this in the materials
section on page 5. Also, directions for scratch paper are in the script portion of all manuals
(“If this assessment calls for scratch paper…). All scratch paper must be collected and
turned into the School SLO Coordinator at the end of the test session.
Continue to next page…
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2014-2015
14. Per the SLO Examiners Manual, Accommodations section: Students who have
accommodations in their IEP, IAP (504), or EL TPC should be afforded those
accommodations on this assessment. Follow classroom accommodations, rather than
state testing accommodations, as specified for this subject in the student’s IEP, IAP, or
TPC, if applicable. Schools have the flexibility to provide accommodations on this test
during an alternate date or in collaboration with another colleague. Per the SLO
Administration Guidelines: SLO Assessments should be administered in the regular
classroom, using classroom accommodations if the student has an IEP, IAP, or TPC.
Does classroom testing include all courses? (SLO’s) Typically those listed in classroom
testing mimic the state testing and we have not been specific in the IEP as to what
specific subjects those accommodations are needed.
Yes. Classroom testing accommodations does cover CTAE courses and connections.
For the End of Course Pathway assessments in high school, we count these as the GA
Milestones End of Course Assessments.
We have a statement that HS teachers must include in the IEP since the accommodations
allowed vary by the industry standards: End of Course accommodations written in the IEP
will be considered for the End of Career Pathway Assessment; however, these
accommodations will be subject for approval based on vendor and skills requirements for
that particular career pathway. Only the accommodations written in the IEP for EOCT’s will
be considered.
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