2023-2024 Administration Training
New This Year
Consumable Booklets: The PSSA-Mathematics- Grades 4-8, PSSA-Science, Keystone Exams-Algebra I, and Keystone Exams-Biology assessments will be transitioning from separate test and answer booklets to combined booklets this spring. It is important to remind students if using the cross off method when eliminating answer choices that they do not mark through any bubbles.
No More Red Stickers: The non-calculator section in the combined test/answer booklets will not need to be sealed with a red sticker upon student completion. Instead, the section will include a colored border that will be highly visible to both students and test administrators and will alert both to any intentional or unintentional access of the completed section.
Spanish-Translation Materials: Students who require Spanish translation will receive Spanish-only booklets. This updated format will allow the Spanish-translation booklet to match the layout and sequence of the English-language booklet.
Important Reminders!
LEAs should return materials as soon as the majority of students are completed with a subject and/or grade. Used answer booklets can be mixed by subject and/or grade.
Hold incomplete booklets for make-ups!
Make-ups can occur anytime during the PDE-established testing window. Make sure to return exams held for make-up and that all sections have been completed.
For students using large-print or Braille transcription accommodation, make sure that all items in all sections have been completely transcribed.
Check that all booklets that require scoring have a precoded label or district school label affixed to the booklet.
Return Dates
Important PSSA Dates
Deadline to return materials - early reporting - May 3, 2024.
Deadline to return materials - regular reporting - May 15, 2024.
Important Spring Keystone Dates
Deadline to return materials -regular reporting - May 30, 2024.
PAPER AND PENCIL TESTING ADMINISTRATION TRAINING
Click on the dropdown arrow beside each section to learn more and access the videos
Before Administration
User Management
Make sure anyone who needs access to the DRC INSIGHT Portal has an account and the correct access.
A video on how to manage users is located here: https://youtu.be/huVDDm7bUwk
Receipt of Materials
When the secure test materials arrive, the boxes should be immediately opened and inventoried. The District Assessment Coordinator may distribute unopened boxes to the schools for inventory by the School Assessment Coordinator.
To indicate the receipt of these secure materials, the assessment coordinator must indicate the date of receipt on the Materials Receipt Notice found on the DRC INSIGHT Portal.
A completed Materials Receipt Notice certifies that your LEA has received its secure testing materials and that any discrepancies from the packing list have been reported to DRC.
A video on how to use the Materials Receipt Notice is located here: https://youtu.be/nckejh9CAJc
Additional Materials
Additional materials are ordered via the Additional Material Ordering System found on the DRC INSIGHT Portal.
Ensure you have inventoried your materials prior to placing an order.
The system is open two weeks prior to a testing window.
Use the Additional Materials Ordering system to order materials including District/School labels, UPS Return Shipment labels, Spanish Booklets, and Large Print Booklets.
Additional Braille materials must be ordered via email at pacustomerservice@datarecognitioncorp.com.
A video on how to use the Additional Materials ordering system is located here: https://youtu.be/_liMuoe9Smk
During Administration
Barcode Labels
Barcode Labels help DRC identify and sort answer documents for accurate processing, which leads into accurate reporting.
Do not make copies of any barcode labels.
Each barcode label has a unique barcode assigned to it.
Making copies will cause delays in processing that answer booklet.
If additional labels are needed, submit an order through the Additional Material Ordering System.
All used answer booklets must have either a Student Precode label or a District School label affixed to the cover.
This includes completed booklets, partially completed booklets, or incomplete booklets due to an exclusion.
Because all answer booklets have a pre-printed barcode on the front cover which identifies the booklet as blank, never return a used answer booklet to DRC without a barcode label affixed to the front cover.
A video on how to properly use the barcode labels is located here: https://youtu.be/W50TeRPU968
Accommodations
If a student uses an accommodation, page 3 of the answer booklet will need to be completed, regardless of label type. Accommodation information is not received from PIMS.
The 2024 Accommodations Guidelines is located on the PDE website.
Forms Matching for ELA and Literature
When distributing answer and test booklets, it is imperative that the form numbers match.
Each time test and answer booklets are distributed to the students, the test administrator should have the students confirm that the forms match.
Mismatched test and answer booklet forms result in the student responding to an answer key for different items. Click here for more information.
Math and Science assessments are in a combined test and answer booklet. Forms matching only applies to Grades 4-8 ELA and Keystone Literature.
After Administration
Materials Accountability Form
The Materials Accountability Form is located on the DRC INSIGHT Portal and must be completed after testing materials have been inventoried for return to DRC.
The form is used to document the number of materials being returned, and to report any discrepancies between what the school received and what is being sent back.
A video on how to use the Materials Accountability Form Notice is located here: https://youtu.be/nARued3dvVY
Returning Secure Materials
There are two different types of UPS/DRC return shipment labels but only one type of label will be affixed to each box.
One return shipment label will be used on all boxes containing answer booklets.
The answer booklet return shipment label will be identified by a lilac stripe on the bottom of the label.
The second type of return shipment label will be affixed on all boxes containing test booklets and shrink-wrapped packages.
A video on how to package materials for return is located here: https://youtu.be/mSpPMNkuJtk
If you do not have a daily, scheduled UPS pickup,
Access the PA Assessment Box Return System at www.astship.com
Call UPS at 1-866-857-1501.
For both methods, you must arrange the pickup at least one day prior to the day on which you will ship your materials.
ONLINE TESTING ADMINISTRATION TRAINING
Click on the dropdown arrow beside each section to learn more and access the videos
Before Administration
DRC INSIGHT
User Management
The DRC INSIGHT Portal is used to download testing software, establish online test sessions, manage student test tickets, and review status reports.
Make sure anyone who needs access to the DRC INSIGHT Portal has an account and the correct access.
A video on how to manage users is located here: https://youtu.be/huVDDm7bUwk
DRC INSIGHT Online Assessment Software
Must be installed on all devices used for testing.
Allowable devices include desktops, laptops, iPADs, and Chromebooks.
The software downloads are located on the Downloads tab found on the DRC INSIGHT Portal.
The District Assessment Coordinator will need to provide permission to the Technology Coordinator to access these downloads.
Technology user guides and presentations can be accessed through the DRC INSIGHT Portal under General Information and then Documents.
Before Administration
Student
Tutorials and Online Tools Training (OTT)
Time should be allotted to prepare the students for the online assessment. Students should be given an opportunity to review the online tutorials and to practice using the online tools.
Tutorials use pictures, motion, and sound to present visual and verbal descriptions of the properties and features of the DRC INSIGHT Assessment Software.
OTTs give students hands-on experience with logging into a test, selecting and composing responses, and using accommodations.
Both the tutorials and OTTs are available in the DRC INSIGHT Assessment Software or publicly available at: Pennsylvania Online Assessment Tutorials and Online Tools Training.
Student Management
Adding Student Records
Students must be available within the DRC INSIGHT Portal to be placed in a test session.
Student records provided to DRC from PDE’s Pennsylvania Information Management System (PIMS) are automatically uploaded to the DRC INSIGHT Portal
Student records that were not included in the PIMS file need to be manually uploaded to the portal before a student can be added to an online test session.
When adding a student record, the student’s name, date of birth, and PAsecureID must match PIMS to ensure accurate reporting.
A video on how to manage students is located here: https://youtu.be/jqG5HmPdhxM
Accommodations
Students requiring an accommodation that is delivered by the online test engine (e.g., audio) must have the accommodation selected prior to creating test tickets.
The accommodation will not be available during online testing unless it is printed on a student’s test ticket.
An online accommodation cannot be added to a test that has been started. The test will need to be regenerated to add the accommodation and the student’s responses will be lost.
District Technology Coordinators must confirm that the test content for these accommodations has been selected for automatic download within the Central Office Services-Service Device.
Other accommodations, such as setting and timing accommodations, can be selected after the student has completed testing.
A video on how to how to add or remove accommodations is located here: https://youtu.be/VX1DMUDuhno
Teacher Management
Each test session must be assigned to the Test Administrator (TA) who will be administering the assessment.
Test Administrators must be added to the DRC INSIGHT Portal through the Teacher application prior to creating a test session.
The TA/teacher assigned to a session can be changed if testing has not started.
A video on how to add teachers is located here: https://youtu.be/EmjtkG9l87U
Test Management
Creating Test Sessions
Creating a test session generates the test tickets and rosters that are used for online testing login.
Creating separate test sessions for different classes, times, etc. can improve ticket management and can assist with testing status management.
A video demonstrating how to create test sessions is located here: https://youtu.be/nWPqhobdpdY
Printing Test Tickets
Student rosters should be closely reviewed prior to testing to confirm that the students within a test session have accurate accommodations and that the students’ names, PAsecureIDs, and dates of birth are correct.
A video on how to print test tickets and rosters is located here: https://youtu.be/pOsY8k1746I
For additional step-by-step instructions on using the DRC INSIGHT Portal, a DRC INSIGHT Portal User Guide is available for download.
During Administration
Student Status Dashboard
Assessment coordinators are responsible for
Managing the status of the online test sessions
Actively monitoring sessions to identify students who require make-ups along with students who are receiving extended time.
The Student Status Dashboard is available to assist with managing test sessions.
This tool provides student-testing status in real-time.
Allows the user to filter by Testing Status - Not Started, In Progress, and Completed.
A video demonstrating the Student Status Dashboard is located here: https://youtu.be/aPzE_wJVVuo
Excessive Logins
Assessment coordinators are to actively monitor and record student logins.
An excessive login is recorded electronically when a student logs into a test section more than two times.
There are legitimate reasons for multiple logins, but for test security purposes, PDE requires documentation for each excessive login.
All login and unlock documentation must be kept on file at the school and district.
To assist with monitoring student status, excessive logins, and unlocked tickets, District Assessment Coordinators have access to status reports. These reports are available on the DRC INSIGHT Portal under Report Delivery and then Status Reports.
Non-assessed Student
If an enrolled student is expected to take the online test, but is not participating in the assessment, a non-assessed code must be selected in the DRC INSIGHT Portal.
The student MUST be in a test session before any testing codes can be added.
If a student is removed from a test session or a non-assessed code is not provided, there will be no record of this student for the assessment.
A video demonstrating how to add or update an assessment code for a student is located here: https://youtu.be/gEK2jWs5AY0
After Administration
After each session
Test Administrators must return all student login information and scratch paper to the School Assessment Coordinator.
The School Assessment Coordinator must keep the test tickets in a locked, secure storage area.
After testing is complete
The School Assessment Coordinators must destroy the all printed test tickets and scratch paper to ensure that secure data is not compromised.