Last Updated on Tuesday, November 04, 2008 at 5:05 AM
The Kentucky Department of Education has provided CATS Online, an online accessible version of the Kentucky Core Content Test (KCCT), since 2002, as an accommodation for students with disabilities or limited English proficiency who use technology in their everyday instruction. For additional information regarding online assessment for students with disabilities or limited English proficiency, go to CATS Online for Special Populations.
With improvements in network capacity and expanded school technologies, sufficient resources are now becoming available to offer CATS Online to all students. In September 2008, the Department will expand CATS Online to include the Grade 12 On-Demand Writing for general education students.
The iTest or CATS Online testing system requires that only one piece of the system be installed at the school system, the Test Delivery System (TDS). The proctor and student workstations do not require additional software to be installed locally, unless the student is using assistive technology. All assistive technology should be used throughout the school year by the student and should not be installed just prior to testing.
Expectations, scoring standards, and test content remain the same for students testing online as students testing on paper. Likewise, the scores of students taking the state assessment online are included in the school's accountability index, a measure of the school's progress toward reaching or exceeding the target index of 100.
To learn how students, teachers, and administrators feel about online testing, click here.
OTHER RELATED LINKS
CATS Online for General Education StudentsIn September 2008, the KCCT On-Demand Writing was available online for all students taking the grade 12 assessment. The department began the general education pilot with writing because of feedback from schools that suggests students use computers for most of their writing; therefore, using computers to measure student performance in writing ...
More
CATS Online for Special PopulationsThe CATS Online assessment is available to special populations as an accommodation. It provides eligible students with disabilities or limited English proficiency (LEP) a way to take all portions of the Kentucky Core Content Test online.
CATS Online Frequently Asked QuestionsMeasured 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 ...
More
CATS Online SurveyAt the completion of the assessment in April 2006, students, teachers and administrators involved with CATS Online complete a brief online survey. The following are some of the comments taken from the surveys.
Online Testing DocumentsAny changes to online testing documents appeared first through the Data Administration System (DAS), which was available to districts and schools who tested online. The documents below are current as of August 18 and designed for the Fall 2008 Kentucky Core Content Test (KCCT). All documents are reviewed and released prior to each testing window. The ...
More