USBE gives assessment operations updates: item types, training tests, DLM monitoring and ACT retest vouchers

USBE assessment staff used the meeting to walk assessment directors through operational details for upcoming administrations and training resources, and to highlight monitoring tools and vendor timelines.

Item types and training tests: staff reviewed ELA, math and science item types (multiple choice, multi-select, drop-down/inline choice, drag-and-drop, matching tables, hot-text, evidence-based selected response, external content interaction, constructed-response writing, equation/grid items and new graphing tools). Staff emphasized the state training test and item-type tutorials as the place to familiarize teachers and students with interactive tools and to reduce accommodation errors. "If it's not listed it's not allowable," a presenter said about allowed materials and the Test Administration Manual.

Writing benchmarks and field tests: USBE said it needs 1,500 student essay responses per prompt to support benchmark writing items and that fifth grade responses have already met targets; field testing for other grades remains short of targets and is open through June for participation.

Simulations and science: science staff explained how simulation items work and advised students to read prompts carefully. Some simulations allow only a single run (no “trash can” to delete); other simulations permit multiple runs — item authors decide whether to allow retries.

Operational reminders and help desk: staff asked districts to call the vendor help desk for live testing problems rather than email staff; vendor call records help document recurring system issues. Staff also urged entering participation codes before students exit; they noted rosters sometimes drop students for a day after demographic edits, and warned of a window in late Feb–March where some rostering updates did not propagate, leaving students on multiple rosters temporarily.

DLM (alternate assessment) monitoring: staff showed dashboards for first-contact surveys, testing progress, testing outside of hours (state window: 6 a.m.–5 p.m. Monday–Friday), and short-duration flags (testlets submitted in under one minute). They said many LEAs have not opened the test-information (tips) page for testlets and urged its use.

WIDA and PEAP updates: USBE previewed an alternate screener (available July 1) and said trainings/materials will be posted then; PEAP/PEAT windows and data deadlines were reiterated.

Vendor contracts and other updates: staff noted several contracts or sole-source actions on upcoming board consent calendars, including arrangements with Utah Compose (extension to June 2026), the Center for Assessment, University of Wisconsin (WCER) for WIDA, and a planned five-year extension with University of Kansas for DLM if approved.

ACT retest vouchers and unlisted centers: USBE reported more than 7,000 ACT waiver requests and said ACT will allow schools to apply to run an "unlisted" test center (school-only center) on national test dates to serve local students; applications were requested by April 30 with contact and site details.

Ending: Staff closed by encouraging directors to use posted training resources, report vendor issues through the help desk, recruit participants for field testing, and respond to DLM monitoring flags in case investigations are needed.