Please see below an email that went to DACs today regarding Interim Test Reports for 2009 and Test Windows for 2010, 2011 and 2012.
Office of Assessment and Accountability
Special DAC E-Mail
May 22, 2009
The following message will be sent to all state Superintendents later today.
Interim Test Reports for 2009 and Test Windows for 2010, 2011 and 2012
Although the Kentucky Department of Education had planned an early May 2009 test window, the 2009 testing window was moved to late May in order to help schools recover as many instructional days as possible in light of the severe windstorms in September, the severe ice storm in January and the flooding in eastern Kentucky in May.
Movement of the testing window to late May makes it impossible, both fiscally and logistically, to return results prior to September. The public release of test scores is tentatively scheduled for the week of September 21-25, 2009.
In April 2009, Arne Duncan, secretary of the U.S. Department of Education, clarified that the federal requirement to return scores to schools prior to the beginning of the 2009-10 school year remains in effect. Therefore, the testing window for spring 2010 must be scheduled for the last two weeks of April due to fiscal and logistical issues. This date allows reports to be returned prior to the beginning of school.
Test Windows and Reports 2009-2010
EXPLORE, PLAN and Writing On Demand (12th grade) September 14–25, 2009 (no change)
ACT Test Day March 9, 2010
ACT Make Up Day March 23, 2010
First Day of Spring Core Content Test April 19, 2010
Close of Spring Core Content Test Window April 30, 2010
Test Reports to Schools July 2010
As a reminder, the 2010 testing window will comprise six days of testing and four additional makeup days. The Office of Assessment and Accountability will work with district assessment coordinators (DACs) on the “six-day schedule” for the 2010 window. Please use these dates when considering schedule issues for the spring of 2010. (Note: The new Norm Referenced Test for grades 3-7 may be administered one week prior or one week after the Spring Core Content Tests).
2011 Test Dates
We are investigating how the 2011 test window might be affected by April holidays and spring break. We will work with local DACs to determine their April 2011 school calendars and how those dates will affect possible spring test dates.
2012 and Beyond
In 2012, the five-day testing window will occur during the last 14 instructional days of a district’s school year. Districts should begin to plan their calendars for 2011-12 with this requirement in mind.
If you have questions, please contact the KDE Office of Assessment and Accountability at (502) 564-2256.