Welcome Back, Welcome Back, Welcome Back...
The end of another successful MS ACTE Summer Conference signals the start of another school year and renewed energy for eager students looking to explore the career pathways our statewide CTE centers offer.
As with the start of any new year, there is always some semblance of change. For our team, we bid farewell to Roslyn Miller, Dana Seymour, and Nithya Arumugam. I am proud to consider them both colleagues and friends
. Their presence at the RCU will be sorely missed.
Roslyn is outstanding with PBA, research, online learning, and much more; Dana is a tremendous evaluator, statistician, and presenter; and
Nithya is one of the best programmers I have ever had the luxury to be around. Nithya played a major role in developing the Assessment Verification Process web application, the
MATT web tool
, and most of our other web applications. If you have a moment, please take time to wish each of them the best of luck in their future endeavors. We will introduce new hires next month.
The 2018-2019 testing dates and assessment events calendar is available on our website and below. The direct download link for the PDF file is
here. We will also conduct a one-day new test coordinator training for secondary schools here at the RCU on Oct. 1. Additional information will be released in the next newsletter.
Have a great start of the school year!
Sean Owen, PhD
Assessment Manager
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2018-2019 MS-CPAS
Testing Dates for Secondary Schools
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Event
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Dates
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Fall 2018 New Test Coordinator Training
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RCU, Starkville: Oct. 1
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MS-CPAS Demo Period
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Demo testing is open year-round.
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Fall Roster Submission Period (Fall Only)
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Oct. 29-Nov. 9
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Fall Verification Deadline
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Nov. 9
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Fall 2018 Testing
Note: National certification testing will occur between Nov. 12 and Dec. 7. The RCU will publish MDE certification reports in January contingent on the release of results by certification companies.
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Normal testing:
Nov. 12-15
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Makeup testing: Nov. 16
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Final reports available: 5 p.m., Nov. 30
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Spring Roster Submission Period
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Jan. 28-March 22
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SEC Test Coordinator Training
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Hunter Henry Center, MSU: Feb. 19-20
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Location TBD, Hattiesburg:
Feb. 21
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MS-CPAS Demo Period
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Demo testing is open year-round.
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Practice Testing
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Feb. 14-March 29
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Spring Verification Deadline
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March 22
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Spring 2019 Testing
Note: It is not necessary to wait until the makeup day to test students who need to make up an assessment.
National certification testing will between April 1 and May 10. The RCU will publish MDE certification reports that summer contingent on the release of results by certification companies.
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SEC performance-based assessment scoring and interview portion:
April 1-26
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Congressional districts 1 & 3 (SEC): April 8-16
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Congressional districts 2 & 4 (SEC): April 17-25
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Makeup testing (SEC): April 26
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SEC final reports available: 5 p.m., May 10
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National Certifications Update
First- and second-year students in the carpentry, electrical, HVAC, heavy equipment operation, industrial maintenance, masonry, and welding pathways will take an NCCER baseline between Aug. 13 and Sept. 7. Watch our
national certification page and listserv announcements for an early August webinar that will explain the ins and outs of baseline testing and NCCER's new testing-management system.
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Performance-Based Assessment Update
The 2018-2019 school year will see a continuation of the performance-based assessment revision. While the format for architecture and drafting and simulation and animation design will remain the same, polymer science is undergoing a significant change and will have three new scenarios added to its Year 2 assessment. Keep an eye on the
RCU's performance-based assessment web page
for more information.
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Staff Spotlight: Leanne Long
"One of my favorite parts of my job is building relationships with all the educators we encounter."
Read more about Long, who leads professional development efforts for career and technical education teachers and administrators, here.
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For the sixth consecutive year, the Manpower Institute has found that skilled trade positions, including welders, electricians, and mechanics, were the most difficult for companies to fill. The biggest challenge reported by business owners is simply a lack of applicants, and many are increasing salary packages to entice workers.
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Assessment Manager ..............................
IAD Meetings ...........................................
National Certification ...............................
PBA .........................................................
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Have assessment needs not addressed in this issue?
Create a Help Desk ticket, and we'll get right on it!
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