Research, Evaluation and Accountability

1. Preparing Your School’s FCAT WRITING Field Test For Return – December 9, 2011 Student Achievement - Our Number One Priority Research, Evaluation and Accountability

2. As You Receive WRITING TEST MATERIALS from the Test Administrators, do the following: __1. Verify that all distributed secure materials (Writing Folders and planning sheets) have been returned. Notify the district coordinator immediately if any secure materials are missing. __2. Remove any stray Planning Sheets from the Writing Folders. Planning sheets left in folders interfere with the scanning process. __3. Verify that you have collected all required administration information (see page 18 of the manual). Make a copy for your files. __4. Verify that you have collected all Administration Record/Security Checklists. Make a copy for your files. __5. Verify that your Security Log and Seating Chart have been completed correctly. Make a copy for your files. __6. Verify that each student has completed the required information (Student Name, School Name, District Name) in the upper left corner of the student grid sheet, even if a label has been affixed in the lower left corner. __7. Check for and erase stray marks ONLY in the student grid sheets. Any marks outside the information boxes, especially on or near the registration marks and timing tracks, will adversely affect the scanning of Writing Folders.

3. As You Receive WRITING TEST MATERIALS from the Test Administrators, do the following: • __8. If a Writing Folder has been invalidated for any of the reasons listed on pages 16-17, verify that the DNS bubble has been gridded and the Writing Folder is placed with the “TO BE SCORED” materials. • __9. If a Writing Folder is “TO BE SCORED”, verify that NO DNS bubbles have been gridded by mistake. If a DNS bubble has been gridded by mistake, verify that the DNS bubble has been erased and the UNDO bubble has been gridded, and place the folder with the “TO BE SCORED” materials. • __10. If a Writing Folder is “NOT TO BE SCORED”, verify that the DNS bubble has been gridded on any defective Writing Folders (see page 17) and place the folders with the “NOT TO BE SCORED” materials. • __11. Organize your Writing Folders into stacks as follows: • Your School’s Writing Folders • Grade 4 Writing Folders • Grade 8 Writing Folders • Grade 10 Writing Folders

4. Preparing Your School’s “TO BE SCORED” Answer Documents • ___12. Complete a separate • Document Count Form for each grade level. (page 49) • DO NOT combine Writing Folders for more than one grade level under the same form. • Verify that you have included all Writing Folders from make-up tests before you complete the forms. It is important to verify the accuracy of the NUMBER OF “TO BE SCORED” DOCUMENTS • (Box 5) on your Document Count Form. An inaccurate number on the form will delay the scanning process. • The Count Form is scannable and must not be photocopied. • Place each completed Count Form on top of the first stack of corresponding “TO BE SCORED” Writing Folders. (page 57)

5. __13. Documents for each grade level must be banded separately. You may use more than one paper band per grade level, if necessary. Follow these steps for each paper band that you use: • Write the district/school number and the school name on the Paper Band. • Count the number of “TO BE SCORED” Writing Folders that will be banded in each paper band. Write that number under Number of “TO BE SCORED” Documents Contained in This Paper Band. • Under Number of Banded Stacks per Document Count Form, number the paper bands 1 of n, 2 of n, etc., where n is the school’s total number of banded stacks per Document Count Form. • Place a paper band around each stack of “TO BE SCORED” Writing Folders.The Document Count Form must be under the paper band on top of the stack labeled 1 of n. • Seal the Paper Band and be sure that it securely holds the Writing Folders. Do not use staples, paper clips, or tape to seal the bands. Complete Paper Bands

6. Paper Band

7. Packaging Writing Field Test Materials • You will be preparing the following types of boxes for return to the District Coordinator: • “TO BE SCORED” Writing Folders – RED Labels Due December 9, 2011 • “NOT TO BE SCORED” Materials – YELLOW Labels Due December 9, 2011 • District Coordinator ONLY Box – Create your own label Due the week of December 12, 2011 • It is your responsibility to package all materials correctly for processing and score reporting. Mispackaged materials will delay reporting of student results.

8. Packaging “TO BE SCORED” Materials Red Labels • Banded stacks containing DOCUMENT COUNT FORMS and your school’s “TO BE SCORED” Writing Field Test Folders by grade level. • Place your school’s “TO BE SCORED” materials in boxes. You may place materials for more than one grade level in a box. 3. Seal the box(es). • 4. Use the space on the labels marked BOX _ OF _ to number the boxes 1 of n, 2 of n, etc., where n is the school’s total number of boxes with red labels. • Return the red-labeled box(es) to the District • Coordinator by December 9, 2011.

9. Packaging “NOT TO BE SCORED” Materials Yellow Labels • Place all “NOT TO BE SCORED” materials in boxes. This would include: • Unused non-preidentified Writing Folders • Preidentified Writing Folders • Defective folders 2. Seal the box(es) • Place the YELLOW LABEL in the square on the top of each box that reads “Apply return shipping label here.” • Use the space on the labels marked BOX _ OF _ to number the boxes 1 of n, 2 of n, etc., where n is the school’s total number of boxes with yellow labels • Return the box(es) to the District Coordinator by December 9, 2011

10. Preparing Your School’s District Coordinator Box For Return • District Coordinator Only Box • Unused Planning Sheets • Unused Planning Sheets (with signed student pledge) • Original Administration Record/Security Checklist • FCAT Administration and Security Agreement • Original Records of Attendance • Original Seating Charts • Original Student PreID Rosters • Original Security Logs • Original Test Group Codes • Return the box to the District Coordinator by • December 16, 2011

11. Packaging Non-Secure Test Materials Box • Non-Secure Materials include: • Test Administration Manuals – Store at your school for the Spring 2012 FCAT Writing test administration. • Unused paper bands – Keep for Spring test administration • Unused Document Count Forms – Trash • Unused return labels – Trash • School Cover Memo – Trash • Packing and Shipping Lists – Store at your school until 2012 FCAT Missing Materials Reports are received from DOE • Clear Plastic bag – Trash • Unused Pre-Id Labels - Shred

12. Sealing The Boxes Points To Remember 1. Make sure the packing tape does not cover the label. 2. Labels are scannable and should not be photocopied. 3. Do not place labels over the meeting point of the two flaps.

13. QUESTIONS Nereida Gonzalez – Testing Technician gonzalezn@osceola.k12.fl.us 407-518-2902 Ext. 66158