Frequently Asked Questions - Firefly
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What tools are available to help my students practice with online testing?
Online Tutorials and Online Tools Training (OTT) are available to familiarize students with the online testing engine. All students should view the Online Tutorials, which are videos that describe the different features of the DRC INSIGHT Assessment Software. The OTTs provide students with hands-on experience with logging into a test, selecting and composing responses, and using accommodations. https://wbte.drcedirect.com/PA/portals/pa
Will student data be uploaded from a PIMS snapshot?
No. Student information will not be provided by PIMS. Similar to CDT, students must be uploaded to student management prior to adding students to test sessions. See the Before Administration - Students section on the Firefly Administration Training page.
Are the same file layouts used for Firefly and CDT?
The file layouts for student management and teacher management are the same.
The file layout for test session management is also the same but content areas and assessment values are different between Firefly and CDT. These will need to be adjusted.
See the Before Administration - Students section on the Firefly Administration Training page
How often can a student take the Firefly assessments?
Students can be given a Firefly assessment up to three times per year.
When should Firefly be administered?
When to administer Firefly within the test window is a decision for each LEA. It is recommended that the assessment be administered once in the fall, winter, and spring to allow for more meaningful score interpretation relative to the milestones throughout the school year.
Can a student be administered the assessment over multiple days?
Because the Firefly is predictive of the PSSA and Keystone assessments, it is recommended that students complete the assessment within one period.
If a student cannot complete the assessment on the same day, the test ticket will lock overnight and need to be unlocked prior to the student completing the assessment.
Who can unlock test tickets for online administration?
The DAC or their designee (such as the SAC) may unlock test tickets. The DAC has the permissions to unlock test tickets. The DAC can grant these permissions to the SAC. If for some reason the DAC or their designee cannot unlock the test ticket, DRC Pennsylvania Customer Service should be contacted for assistance. The DRC help line number is 1-800-451-7849 and the email is pacustomerservice@datarecognitioncorp.com
Are there any open-ended items or text dependent analysis (TDA) writing prompts?
No. There are no open-ended items or TDAs on the Firefly assessment.
The online assessments include multiple-choice, technology-enhanced, and evidence-based selected response items.
What accommodations are available?
There are no paper accommodations offered for the Firefly assessments. All online accommodations must be selected prior to a student being added to a test session to ensure the student receives the accommodation. The online accommodations are:
Text-to-speech audio accommodation – Available for Grades 3-8 Math and Algebra
Color Preferences
How do teachers access student level data?
For the 2024-2025 school year, Firefly roster report is offered at the district and school level only.
Individual Student Reports can be downloaded to the session level with district or school level access.
Information on these reports can be found in the After Administration section of the Firefly Administration Training page
If a student takes a specific grade/subject assessment multiple times, will I see the results on the same report?
For 2024-2025 school year, the Firefly roster report will display all results for a student. The Individual Student Report will only display results from the last test completed.
Are calculators permitted on the Firefly assessments?
Calculators are permitted for all items on the Grades 4-8 Math and Algebra I Firefly assessments. Calculators are not permitted for Grade 3 Math. There are no non-calculator items on the Math assessments.
Why is the audio not working?
The most common cause of a an online accommodation not working is because the accommodation was not added to the student’s record before the test tickets were printed. (Online accommodations will only be available during testing if the name of the accommodation is printed on the student’s test ticket.) If a student needs an accommodation added after the test has been started, the school assessment coordinator will need to contact DRC for resolution.
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