Last Updated on Wednesday, August 06, 2008 at 5:03 AM
Measured Progress designs and delivers the 2008-2009 CATS Online system known as iTest to Kentucky. Districts are asked to sign-up for online testing two to three months prior to the test window, allowing adequate time for installation, training and practice at each school. Initially this test was developed for students who use with assistive technology; however, it was expanded to include general education students during the fall 2008 Grade 12 On-Demand Writing assessment.
As technology changes, so do the technical specifications for hardware and software for using CATS Online. Please check the technical specifications on our website to determine if your district or school meets these requirements. If you have other questions, please e-mail them to catsonline@education.ky.gov.
2008-2009 CATS ONLINE
ACCOMMODATIONS
ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY
ELIGIBILITY
GENERAL EDUCATION PILOT
GENERAL QUESTIONS ABOUT TESTING
ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY
What assistive technology software products are compatible with the 2008-2009 CATS online assessment?
Measured Progress ensures iTest compatibility with the following software products:
§ Read and Write Gold 8.1
Note: Although earlier versions of Read and Write should work, they will not be tested or supported by Measured Progress staff.
§ Read and Write Gold Mac 1.0 is required for the Mac OS 10.3 and beyond.
§ MAC O/S X Text Reader
§ JAWS 7.0 (applies only to schools testing blind or have low vision students online)
§ ZoomText 9.0 (applies only to schools testing blind or have low vision students online)
What assistive technology software products should not be used with the 2008-09 CATS Online assessment?
§ Prior versions of Read and Write Gold 8.0 should not be loaded on workstations used for testing because it will not be supported.
§ Read and Write for Mac (not Gold) will not function due to the lock-down browser required for security.
§ Versions of JAWS prior to 7.0
§ Versions of ZoomText prior to 9.0
Which Read & Write Gold tools can students use during CATS Online?
Students may use any tool that is a regular part of their instruction and does not inappropriately impact test content. Teachers should customize the toolbar for each student based on that student's individual needs. Generally, it is not appropriate for students to access the following tools during testing.
§ Dictionary (except during grades 5, 8, and 12 On-Demand Writing)
§ Fact Folder or Fact Finder (may contain content covered on the test)
§ Calculator if content requires measurement conversion
On the other hand, it would be appropriate to allow a student to use the Word Wizard if the student has a documented problem with word retrieval and uses the tool on a regular basis.
As annual reviews are held, the ARC should consider the assistive technology needs (e.g., word prediction software, auditory spell check, scientific calculator with audit trail) of students on an individual basis and should only include those needed by the student in the student's IEP. For more information about who should test online, please refer to the document, Who Should Test Online.
Can students without disabilities use Read & Write tools for writing portfolio development?
Yes. All students, including those in general education, can use any of the tools in Read and Write Gold for portfolio development. The tools in RWG are similar to spelling and grammar check, or electronic dictionaries and are available as a tool for all students. However, only qualifying students with IEPs, 504 Plans, or PSPs can use Read and Write for the On-Demand writing portion of the KCCT.
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2008-2009 CATS ONLINE
Will the Grade 12 On-Demand Writing assessment be available online?
Yes, the Grade 12 On-Demand Writing assessment scheduled for September 15-26 will be available online to both special population and general education students who are part of the pilot program. Rather than testing online, special population students may use other accommodations such as word processing, human readers, audio CDs, or scribes.
When will we know the technical specifications required for the 2008 CATS Online?
The technical specifications were expanded from 2007-08 testing to allow testing of all general education students in a school. Updated technical specifications may be accessed from Fall 2008 Technical Specs or the Online Testing Documents web page.
Will students have an opportunity to practice before the actual test?
Yes, all students must use a practice area before they may take the test online.
If needed, can students receive extended time during testing?
Yes, the system will allow students who need extra time to receive it. General education students may have the amount of extra time that they would receive in the paper testing world while students with IEPs, 504 Plans, or Program Services Plans that specify additional time may receive extended time to the end of the day.
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ELIGIBILITY
Can students whose IEPs require a reader for assessment test online?
Students whose IEPs, 504 Plans, or PSPs include a human reader as a testing accommodation may test online provided they also (1) use the technology as a regular part of instruction and (2) access the practice tests prior to the live test. For more information about who should test online, please refer to the document Who Should Test Online.
Must online testing be stated in a student's IEP?
No, if reader is an accommodation in the student's IEP, 504 Plan, or PSP and a textreader is used as a regular part of instruction, the student may participate in online testing. The ARC should not amend the student's IEP just for assessment.
Assistive technology is constantly changing and it is impossible to predict a year ahead of time what type of technology will be available for a student to use. The ARC should include assistive technology and online assessment in the IEP at the next annual review.
Is it possible for school staff to decide that all special needs students will or will not take CATS online?
No, that determination CANNOT be made for a whole group of students by anyone. The ARC must determine on an individual basis which students are eligible to participate in online testing.
If a student needs a reader to understand rather than decode the message, would this student qualify for CATS Online?
Yes, if the student is an auditory learner and needs a reader as an accommodation for comprehension rather than decoding, the student is eligible to participate in CATS Online. As part of the IEP, the student must use a textreader as an accommodation for instruction on a routine (i.e., daily or weekly) basis.
Is it okay for a student who uses a textreader for all writing assignments but turns the volume off and works with just the visual cues to use the textreader for testing?
Yes, the student may use the textreader during testing if it is routinely used as an accommodation for visual attention in the classroom. Although using it in a different way, the student still meets the requirement of using a textreader for instruction.
May a student who only requires a scribe take the test online?
If a student only needs a scribe, there is no need to test online. Students may use a word processor or other technology to answer open response questions and then print and insert the answers in the test booklet.
Can LEP students participate in CATS Online?
Yes, if the student meets all three (3) CATS Online eligibility criteria:
1. The accommodation is a part of the student's Program Services Plan (PSP).
2. The use of a textreader is embedded in instruction.
3. The student spends time in the practice area prior to the live assessment.
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ACCOMMODATIONS
If a child's IEP, 504 Plan, or PSP says assessment with a scribe, can the scribe use an AlphaSmart or word processor to do the scribing?
The use of a scribe is not limited to paper and pencil. If a student has scribe as an accommodation in the IEP, it can be a keyboard scribe if that is what the student uses in instructional settings on a routine basis. If the scribing is done on the computer, the student can use the tools of Read and Write to listen and edit the open-response answer. However, as with any other accommodation, these tools must be routinely embedded in instruction and not introduced at the time of assessment.
We have a couple of students who use AlphaSmart and have scribe and technology on their IEPs but do not require a reader. Can these students still use the AlphaSmart or a word processing program during the testing?
Yes, but they do not need to test online to use the AlphaSmart or word processor during testing. If using the AlphaSmart, be sure all stored files in the AlphaSmart are deleted before the test. In addition, during each day of testing, the proctor must download and print the open responses and then delete the responses. The printout must follow the requirements in the assessment manual. If file transfer is done through the infrared device, disable it during testing.
Is it necessary, for the purpose of testing to change the IEPs of students who do not have "reader" listed in their IEPs because they are using technology such as JAWS or audio CDs?
Students whose IEPs specify the use of assistive technology such as JAWS, ZoomText, or audio CDs may also participate in CATS Online. Although the IEP does not need to list a reader as an accommodation, the student must use this assistive technology as a regular part of instruction. If the IEP meets this condition, it does not need to be modified for online testing.
Can special population students take CATS Online without using Read & Write Gold (RWG) if they don't have a reader as an accommodation but are using technology as an accommodation?
If students only need the computer to word process open-response questions, they do not need to test online since they can use a word processor to compose and print their answers without being in the online testing system. If the school is a part of the General Education Pilot in September 2008 for Grade 12 On-Demand Writing, then a special population student may participate in online testing if it is the best accommodation for that student.
You can, however, justify testing online without using the textreader under certain circumstances. The ARC should decide on a case-by-case basis if online testing is appropriate for the student. Below are a few situations in which it might be appropriate to test online without using RWG:
a) A student who is EBD uses the computer during instruction because of difficulty focusing or attending in groups.
b) A student with autism uses the computer with headphones to reduce stimulants in the classroom.
c) A student with ADHD uses the computer with headphones to focus attention to the task at hand or needs the test presented one question at a time.
d) A student with physical limitations uses the computer to read books (visually) because of the inability to turn pages.
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GENERAL QUESTIONS ABOUT TESTING
What if a student is registered to participate in CATS Online but realize after practicing that the student isn't ready to test that way?
Creating a user account for the student in the CATS Online system obligates neither the student nor the district or school to participate in CATS Online. Additionally, it is possible for the student to take some parts of the test online and some parts with pencil and paper. For example, the student may be comfortable taking the social studies test online but prefer to take the mathematics test in the test booklet.
Likewise, a student may prefer to answer the multiple-choice questions online while answering the open-response questions in the test booklet. When answering an open-response question, the student always has the option of answering in the booklet rather than online.
Since the online assessment doesn't translate the test to other languages, how does testing online benefit LEP students?
Although the textreader does not translate the test, having English text read to the LEP student can increase reading comprehension and reinforce speaking skill by providing simultaneous auditory and visual input. The use of a textreader is most appropriate for LEP students whose listening and speaking skills in academic English are at the beginning or lower intermediate levels.
Do students have to answer open response questions online? What if they can't type?
No. Students can answer in the way that works best for them and has been their typical accommodation in instruction. Students may write in the test book, type in the online textbox, use electronic dictation, or dictate to a scribe who either writes in the test book or types online. Typing in a word processor can only be done if the student is not testing online. The online system will block the student from using any other programs on the computer. A template for typing in Microsoft Word can be downloaded from the KDE website.
If a human scribe types the student's response in the online textbox, the student can still use the textreader to hear and edit the response.
How does a student respond to open response questions that ask for a diagram or other type of drawing that cannot be done online?
Open-response questions that can't be answered online must be answered in the test booklet. The test will instruct students to answer the question in the test booklets. This situation occurs mainly in the mathematics and science parts of the test.
Can the test be administered to multiple grade levels at the same time?
Yes. The online testing schedule should mirror the traditional testing schedule, and the test should be administered to all grades being tested with paper and pencil at that time.
If testing multiple grades in the same room, you need to ensure:
§ Students at the same grade level do not sit together.
§ Enough proctors are available to supervise, adequately, students.
§ Each student has headphones.
§ No student requires a scribe. These students must be tested separately.
Will staff and students involved in online testing be requested to complete the CATS Online survey again this year?
Yes, as in previous years we will ask school and district staff as well as students involved in the CATS Online assessment to complete a brief, online survey. KDE uses survey data to evaluate the impact of online testing as well as to make improvements to the following year's test.
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GENERAL EDUCATION PILOT
We are not testing our General Education population online this fall, but we just received a student from a school that is testing online. The student has completed part A online. What do we do?
Contact Measured Progress to determine the form that the student was using online and test part B in that form. You will need to return the paper form to Measured Progress in your Special Handling Envelope with a letter explaining the situation and identifying the school at which the student completed part A online.
We are testing our General Education students online and just received a student from another school that is not testing online. How should we proceed?
Continue in the paper booklet that the student began working in. If the student has not started the test at the previous school and there is time to practice online and the student is comfortable using the computer to test online, then you may add the student to the schedule. You will need to add this student to your roster in ODVS, which will automatically add the student to CATS Online. The school administrator will need to add the student to a test session.
Our school is participating in the General Education Pilot, but we have some students that prefer to write the answer in a paper media. May those students use paper and pencil?
Yes. The DAC will need to order the materials from Measured Progress for these students. Those materials will appear in iEnrollment beneath the heading of Regular Test Booklets and be deducted from the Number of General Population Students Testing Online column.
Our school does not have enough equipment to test, all of our general education students online simultaneously. Can we still participate in the pilot?
Yes. For the General Education Pilot, the school may use an altered test schedule that has been approved by the Office of Assessment and Accountability (OAA). Students testing on paper will be required to follow the same schedule as the rest of the building. Please contact OAA via e-mail at catsonline@education.ky.gov or call the Division of Assessment Support at (502) 564-4394.
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