Monthly Test Coordinator Webinar Registration Links, Presentations and Recordings
These webinars are open to district and school test coordinators and district data managers responsible for coordinating the administration of the Rhode Island State Assessments in their districts and schools. Webinar recordings and presentations will be posted in the table below this list after the webinar.
Webinar presentations and recordings from the previous school year have been posted in the 2019-20 archive section of this page.
Notes:
- In addition to the topics listed below, all webinars include: assessment-specific updates, tasks for the current and upcoming months, State Assessment Calendar for the current school year.
- All Test Coordinator Monthly Webinars are held from 10:00 - 11:00 a.m.
| Date |
Registration and Topics |
Materials |
| 5/8/20 |
SAT School Day Update Webinar: Fall administration of SAT with Essay for students who missed the March and April, 2020 administrations; shipping instructions for SAT materials received for cancelled administrations; 2020-21 State Assessment Schedule. |
|
| 6/17/20 |
June 2020 Monthly Webinar: Fall administration of SAT with Essay; ACCESS for ELs 2019-20 results release; state assessment calendar; test coordinator training calendar, RISAP Test Coordinator Handbook, IEP Team Guidance; new RI Assessment Data Portal; One Percent Rule for alternate asesssments |
|
| 7/15/20 |
Registration Link for July 15 |
posted after webinar |
| 8/19/20 |
Registration Link for August 19 |
posted after webinar |
| 9/16/20 |
Registration Link for September 16 |
posted after webinar |
| 10/21/20 |
Registration Link for October 21 |
posted after webinar |
| 11/18/20 |
Registration Link for November 18 |
posted after webinar |
| 12/16/20 |
Registration Link for December 16: Q&A Session for ACCESS and accommodations |
posted after webinar |
| 1/20/21 |
Registration Link for January 20, 2021 |
posted after webinar |
| 2/10/21 |
Registration Link for February 10, 2021 |
posted after webinar |
| 3/17/21 |
Registration Link for March 17, 2021: Q&A Session for DLM, RICAS, NGSA, NAEP, and accommodations |
posted after webinar |
| 4/14/21 |
Registration Link for April 14, 2021 |
posted after webinar |
| 5/19/21 |
Registration Link for May 19, 2021 |
posted after webinar |
| 6/9/21 |
Registration Link for June 9, 2021 |
posted after webinar |
| 7/21/21 |
Registration Link for July 21, 2021 |
posted after webinar |
Test Coordinator Memos
All memos sent to the assessment listserv for the current administration cycle will be posted here, most recent first. Memos from the previous cycle can be found in the 2019-20 archive section of this page.
RISAP Test Coordinator Handbook
RISAP Test Coordinator Handbook for 2020-21 [PDF] contains the state policies that apply to all of the state assessments. Specifically, this handbook outlines state policies on
- responsibilities of the district and school test coordinators
- criteria for being a test administrator
- participation in student assessments
- cell phone/electronics requirements
- medical exemption criteria
- general information on each assessment
NOTE: This document does not contain information on how to administer specific tests. Please click on the name of the assessment for test administration manuals and other materials.
State Assessment Computer-Based Testing Hardship Wavier Application (docx) is for an LEA that may not have the capacity to administer one or more of the state assessments* digitally (using computers, laptops, or other approved electronic device) to all students. The completed application is due 2020-21 date will be posted soon.
*RICAS, NGSA, PSAT10, RI SAT School Day, DLM, Alternate ACCESS for ELs and ACCESS for ELs are included in this waiver.
Outplacement Schools
Outplacement schools are schools that receive tuition from a Rhode Island public school district for any student enrolled in their school. The outplacement school can be either within Rhode Island or in another state. Outplacement schools are required to administer Rhode Island state assessments, as applicable, to any student enrolled in their school.
Follow the steps below to ensure that you receive the most current information on Rhode Island State Assessment Program procedures and policies.
- Make sure someone in your school has access to eRIDE. This is the portal RIDE uses for registering students, confirming enrollment, creating test coordinator accounts, shipping test materials, and sending communications regarding state testing. If you do not know who has access to eRIDE, or your school does not have an account, contact Mario Goncalves at Mario.Goncalves@ride.ri.gov or (401) 222-8968.
- Review your school's information in the eRIDE Master Directory to ensure it is up-to-date (search by your school's name). It is critical for the school address to be accurate since it will be used to ship test materials and student score reports. Please also make sure the names and contact information for the roles below are accurate (note: eRIDE allows multiple roles to be assigned to one person if that person's responsibilities include them):
- District Test Coordinator: Make sure that the person who fulfills the test coordinator responsibilities for your organization is listed with the District Test Coordinator role, and that their name, phone, and email are correct. If this information changes, please update as soon as possible.
- Technology Coordinator: Most of our state assessments are given using computers. Technology Coordinators are an important part of preparing for computer-based testing and handling mid-test technology needs.
- Data Manager: Most of our state assessments require additional information, such as accommodations, to be entered into an online testing platform after RIDE has registered students for the test. Student data in the assessment systems must be kept up-to-date throughout the testing window.
- Special Education Director: Our state assessments include accommodations and other testing supports for students with disabilities. To ensure that students have the appropriate accommodations and testing supports, RI requires that this information be included in the IEP or 504 Plan.
- Identify which students must participate in the Rhode Island statewide assessments. See the RISAP Participation Requirements for State Assessments tab on this page.
- Review the assessment schedules for each state assessment you will administer, and select testing date(s) for your school. Assessment administration windows can be found at www.ride.ri.gov/Assessment-Schedules.
- Attend test coordinator training for the statewide assessment(s) you will be administering. Registration can be found at: www.ride.ri.gov/Assessment-Training. If you missed the test coordinator training sessions, review test coordinator manuals and posted presentations to familiarize yourself with the tasks to complete before, during, and after testing for each assessment.
- Check the online registration systems to ensure that anyone in your school who requires access, has it. If you do not have access to the online testing system you need, use the Help Desk Information for State Assessments tab on this page to find the appropriate contact person.
- Check the online registration systems for each assessment to ensure all Rhode Island students in your school are registered for the correct assessments in the correct grade level. If you are missing students or students are enrolled by mistake, contact the responsible/sending district(s) for those student(s). It is the responsibility of the responsible/sending districts to update their records, the Enrollment Census, the Special Education Census, and the LEP Census.
- Review information about accommodations and accessibility features in the RISAP Accommodations and Accessibility Features Manual at www.ride.ri.gov/Accommodations and ensure the appropriate accommodations are included in the student’s IEP or 504 Plan and that EL supports are documented, as necessary, for EL students.
- Note that for some assessments (e.g., RICAS, NGSA), paper-based testing accommodations (e.g., paper based, large print paper, Braille paper edition) have earlier student assignment deadlines than accommodations or accessibility features for online tests. This is due to the need to print and ship those materials. Each assessment has a process to handle requests for additional paper test accommodations resulting from changes to IEP/504 Plans after that deadline. Visit the Help Desk Information for State Assessments tab on this page for test-specific contact information.
- If student information in any of the online test platforms is incorrect, please contact the student's responsible/sending district: the district may need to update the student's information in eRIDE.
- Train your test administrators. RIDE has posted an editable presentation with foundational information about statewide assessment in Rhode Island at www.ride.ri.gov/Assessment-Training. Depending on the assessment, there may be additional online modules or certifications necessary for test administrators to be able to give the assessment.
ACCESS for ELLs
Support information and state contacts can be found on Rhode Island's member page for the WIDA Consortium.
Dynamic Learning Maps (DLM) Alternate Assessments
DLM Service Center: Contact the DLM Service Center with questions including Moodle training issues, Educator Portal, and Student Portal:
District Special Education Director or Testing Coordinator: Contact the district special education director or testing coordinator with questions about test administrator training, correct grade level of a student, student eligibility for alternate assessments, and student rosters and teacher accounts in Educator Portal.
RIDE: Contact the RI Department of Education with questions about student data in the Enrollment Census or Special Education Census, accommodations decisions, medical exemptions, test irregularities, or other state testing policies.
National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP)
For information about participating in NAEP, please visit the NAEP website.
Next Generation Science Assessment (NGSA)
Please contact the help desk for questions regarding any AIR online systems including: the portal, the secure browser, TA Certification Course, the Practice Test, TIDE, the TA Interface, or the Student Interface. You may also call with questions about technology requirements and ordering any of the paper tests.
Please provide the help desk with a detailed description of your problem, as well as the following:
- If the issue pertains to a student, provide the SASID and associated district or school for that student. Do not provide the student’s name.
- If the issue pertains to a TIDE user, provide the user’s full name and email address.
- Any error messages that appeared.
Rhode Island Comprehensive Assessment System (RICAS)
Contact the RICAS Service Center with questions about the RICAS Resource Center website, PearsonAccessNext, passwords, and questions about the SR/PNP:
Use the RICAS Resource Center to access PearsonAccessNext in order to submit the SR/PNP. Training modules, manuals, practice tests, and other materials to support test administration can be found here also.
RI SAT School Day with Essay and PSAT10
For state policy questions
- RIDE: Heather Heineke at heather.heineke@ride.ri.gov if you have any questions about the SAT with Essay and PSAT10.
- College Board: Contact the College Board with questions about technology, submitting accommodations using SSD Online, or accessing the K-12 Reporting Portal.
Rhode Island State Assessment Program Participation Policy
Below is the Rhode Island State Assessment System participation policy for the 2020-21 school year which describes who is expected to participate in state assessments. This policy includes LEA responsibilities to ensure that students have the opportunity to participate in the required assessments for their current grade level*. These policies are also included in the Test Coordinator Handbook.
NOTE on Coronavirus-19: Students will not make-up state assessments that were cancelled due to the Coronavirus-19 pandemic. Students will be registered for the state assessments at the grade level shown in the Enrollment Census for the 2020-21 school year.
- Required assessments by grade level: (PDF) This chart outlines the required tests for each grade level.
- Public School Students: It is expected that any student attending public school or charter school in Rhode Island will participate in the required tests for their current grade level* either with or without accommodations.
- Students Attending Outplacement Schools: It is expected that students attending an outplacement school, whose tuition is paid for by a Rhode Island LEA, will participate in the required tests for their current grade level*, regardless of where the outplacement school is located. If a student attends an outplacement school in a state other than Rhode Island, it is the responsibility of the Rhode Island LEA to ensure that the outplacement school has a plan for administering the required assessments for that student's current grade level*.
- English Learners: In addition to participating in the required academic assessments (English language arts, mathematics, science) for their current grade level*, students who are English learners and who are currently receiving, or are eligible for, services are expected to participate in either ACCESS for ELs or Alternate ACCESS for ELs.
- NOTE: English learners who enrolled in school in the U.S. on or after April 1, 2020 (who have been attending school for less than one year) are exempt from taking English language arts tests for one year but are still expected to participate in mathematics and science tests, as appropriate, for their current grade level*.
- Alternate Assessment: Students who qualify for the alternate assessment will participate in the Dynamic Learning Maps alternate assessments for their current grade level in English language arts, mathematics, and science, as appropriate, for their current grade level*. If the student is also an English learner, they will also take Alternate ACCESS for ELLs.
- NOTE: There is no alternate assessment at the 10th grade; students who qualify for the alternate assessments will not participate in PSAT10. Students in the tenth grade who are also English learners will take Alternate ACCESS for ELLs.
- Homeschooled Students: Homeschooled students may participate in any of the state assessments for their current grade level* if the parents and school district have included participation in the state assessments in the student's homeschool plan. Families should contact their local school district office to arrange participation.
- *Notes on Current Grade Level:
- Current grade level is defined as the grade level that is recorded in the Enrollment Census by the LEA. RIDE will register the student for all required tests at the grade level recorded in the Enrollment Census. Testing the student at any grade level other than what is recorded in the Enrollment Census may result in test scores being invalidated.
- If a student skips a grade level, the student does not make up tests for skipped grades.
- If a student is retained, the student takes the tests for their current grade level again, even if the student took the test the previous year.