November 27, 2006

CALENDAR OF EVENTS FOR 2007 TESTING
ISAT, IMAGE, IAA, and ACCESS

The following are dates for ordering test materials, conducting pre-ID label conference calls and delivering test materials. This is a bullet point calendar for your quick reference. More details will be mailed to district superintendents or test coordinators in the next few weeks from our testing contractors and Student Assessment at ISBE.

For the Prairie State Achievement Examination (PSAE), please see the “Spring 2007 PSAE Checklist of Dates” and the “Spring 2007 PSAE Accommodations Checklist of Dates” that are posted on the ISBE Web site at www.isbe.net/assessment/psae.htm under “Information for PSAE Test Supervisors/Accommodations Coordinators.”

TESTING CONTRACTORS FOR EACH ASSESSMENT

Each of the following contractors may contact you by letter regarding the assessment:

ISAT reading, mathematics, and science: Pearson Educational Measurement is the new contractor for the production, printing, and delivery of the ISAT. Harcourt remains the contractor for test development of the ISAT.

ISAT writing: Measurement Incorporated is the contractor for the ISAT writing assessment this year at grades 5 and 8.

PSAE writing - ACT Inc. is the contractor for PSAE writing at grade 11. The PSAE Writing Test will include the ACT English Test and the ACT Writing Test, both of which will be given on Day 1. See the test administration schedule posted at www.isbe.net/assessment/psae.htm.

IAA reading, mathematics, and science: Measured Progress is the contractor for the portfolio assessment. This is the last year of the portfolio. The IAA collection periods and deadline to return portfolios for scoring are located at www.isbe.net/assessment/iaa.htm.

IAA writing – for grades 5, 8 and 11: Pearson Educational Measurement is the contractor for the IAA writing assessment in grades 5, 8 and 11.

IMAGE – for grades 3 – 8 and 11: Questar Educational Systems is the contractor for the ordering, printing, and delivery of the IMAGE tests.

ACCESS – Kindergarten through grade 12: MetriTech is the contractor for ordering, printing, delivery, and scoring of the ACCESS for ELLs©.

TEST WINDOWS

The test windows for all tests can be found at the Student Assessment Web site – www.isbe.net/assessment/pdfs/Chart2007.pdf.

ORDERING MATERIALS DATES

ACCESS for ELLs©

November 17, 2006, was the last day for ordering ACCESS materials. For more information regarding materials for ACCESS for ELLs, please contact MetriTech at 1-800-747-4868.

IMAGE – Grades 3 – 8 and Grade 11

December 1, 2006 – Letters will be sent to District Superintendents and Chicago District 299 School Principals to provide information regarding online ordering for IMAGE. Logins and included in this mailing.

December 4, 2006 – January 15, 2007 – Ordering window for IMAGE test materials.

ISAT/IAA

December 12 - Letters will be sent to District Superintendents, Chicago District 299 School Principals, Directors of Special Education, and Regional Superintendents/ISC Executive Directors to provide information regarding online ordering for ISAT (all content areas) and IAA writing. Logins and passwords are included in this mailing.

December 14, 2006 – January 22, 2007 – Ordering of test materials for ISAT (all subjects) and IAA writing.

January 29 – February 14, 2007 – Ordering window for additional IAA portfolio materials.

PRE-ID LABELS - CONFERENCE CALLS

We will be holding four statewide conference calls on the following dates to explain the Assessment process through the Student Information System (SIS). These calls will cover pre-ID files, uploading, reports, and correction files. Dates and deadlines will also be discussed. Each session will repeat the same information. A PowerPoint presentation will be available online at www.isbe.net/assessment on Friday, December 1, 2006.

The following are the times, phone numbers and confirmation numbers for the state-wide conference calls:

December 4, 2006
1:30 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.
1-800-559-2403
Confirmation # 1 6 3 4 4 2 9 9

December 5, 2006
9:00 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.
1-800-559-9370
Confirmation # 1 6 3 4 4 3 0 4

December 7, 2006
9:00 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.
1-800-640-9765
Confirmation # 1 6 3 4 4 3 0 7

December 7, 2006
1:30 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.
1-866-686-6743
Confirmation # 1 6 3 4 4 3 0 9

SHIPPING OF MATERIALS TO SCHOOLS/DISTRICTS

ISAT Non-Secure Materials Shipment – District and School Coordinator Packets, Answer Documents (Grades 4-8), Student ID labels, Testing School ID labels (new this year-to be used for students who have no Pre-ID label) and a separate Pre-ID label for writing only are due to arrive in districts and schools on or before Friday, February 9, 2007.

ISAT Secure Test Materials – Test booklets and test administration manuals are due to arrive in districts and schools no earlier than 2 weeks prior to the scheduled test administration date, but no later than 1 week prior to the test administration date.

ISAT Writing Test Materials – Test booklets and test administration manuals are due to arrive in districts and schools no earlier than 2 weeks prior to the scheduled test administration date, but no later than 1 week prior to the test administration date.

IAA Writing Test Materials – District and School Coordinator Packets, Answer Documents, Pre-ID labels are due to arrive in districts and schools on or before March 21, 2007. An Online Manual outlining procedures for online score submission will be available electronically via Pearson Educational Measurement’s Assessment Network and the IAA Web site.

IMAGE Non-Secure Materials – Coordination Manuals will arrive in districts and schools on or before February 14, 2007.

IMAGE Secure Materials – Due to arrive in districts and school no earlier than 2 weeks prior to the scheduled test administration date, but no later than 1 week prior to the test administration date.

FOR MORE INFORMATION

ABOUT THE ASSESSMENT DATES:

PLEASE CALL 217-782-4823 or 217-558-3600 or email rmccabe@isbe.net.

ABOUT ORDERING MATERIALS:

PEARSON EDUCATIONAL MEASUREMENT (ISAT and/or IAA writing):
Pearson Educational Measurement Customer Support Center
800-627-7990, state code 814
Monday through Friday 7 a.m. – 7 p.m. (CST)
E-mail: isat@pearson.com (ISAT users); iaa_pearson@pearson.com (IAA users)

QUESTAR (IMAGE):
Questar Educational Systems Customer Service
866-997-0695
Monday through Friday 7:00 AM - 5:00 PM (CST)
Email: IMAGE@QuestarEd.com

MEASURED PROGRESS (IAA portfolio):
877-732-5306
Attn: Steven Eaton
Monday through Friday 7:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. (CST)
E-mail: seaton@measuredprogress.org

back to 2006 Archive

Illinois State Board of Education
100 North First Street
Springfield, IL 62777