Your monthly update on all things MS-CPAS!
June 2018 Issue
We're Just Warming Up!

With the temperature gauge rising outside and the Mississippi heat coming in full force, the Research and Curriculum Unit's assessment team shifts into another gear. We are finalizing national certification reports, item analysis, item-bank edits, anchor-setting processes, and assessment evaluation reports. Summer provides us time to prepare presentations for the MS-ACTE Summer Conference (July 25-27), create new technology features requested by schools, and build new CTE assessments for the 2018-2019 academic year. I want to extend my gratitude to each one of you, as you have made my eighth year in CTE assessment as successful a year as ever. It could not have happened without our teamwork and collaboration. Please review a few changes to topics outlined in the previous month's newsletter.

  • Interpretive Guide: Typically, we update the MS-CPAS Interpretive Guide each August. This document provides data interpretation guidelines for teachers, administrators, and school districts for all of the CTE reports offered by the RCU. However, we updated the guide to reflect the new style of secondary and postsecondary reports in May. The guide can be downloaded here.
  • Reports: Secondary and postsecondary reports have been separated to allow more customization to each level of CTE assessment. For secondary reports, we have further separated reports due to the new scoring process required by the MS-CPAS3 contract in an Archived Area (Fall 2010 - Fall 2017) and Current Area (Spring 2018 - Present). Reports can be accessed with your RCU district account here.
  • Other Important Dates: Download the exact dates for other testing-related events for the summer of 2018 in a single page format here. The 2018-2019 testing dates calendar will be released in July.
 
Please take the time to relax, recharge, and reflect on the past year's successes. You deserve it!

Sean Owen, PhD
Assessment Manager

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Summer roster submission for postsecondary testing, June 11 - July 3 


MS-CPAS Update
  
If you didn't have the opportunity to complete the CTE Testing Manual Update survey, we would like to encourage you to take a few minutes to share your input. We will soon be in the process of updating the CTE Testing Manual, and your input is important as we strive to make the manual as user-friendly and as helpful as it can be. The survey can be found here.  We look forward to hearing from you.
 
As you look at the new MS-CPAS reports, you'll also want to reference the updated MS-CPAS Interpretive Guide found on the MS-CPAS web page. This guide provides explanations designed to help you as you read and use the reports.

National Certifications Update
  
National certification testing ended May 11. Congratulations to all CTE students and educators on officially completing spring testing! Districts are not required to self-report national certification data to the RCU. Finalized certification results will be posted in the RCU portal as quickly as possible, with an announcement sent via the listserv once certification reports are available for download.

Performance-Based Assessment Update
  
Spring performance-based assessment (PBA) is finished, and 1,545 students in 145 classes took a sunset or revision PBA this year. Thanks to everyone who helped to make PBA successful once again. For revision programs architecture and drafting, digital media technology, polymer science, and simulation and animation design, please be sure to attend the session for your program's PBA at the MSACTE Summer Conference this July.

CTE Students Teach Science to Younger Peers 

In the final episode of Season 1 of Mississippi Ed Talk, we discuss a new program in Hattiesburg, Science Saturdays for Young Einsteins, that is connecting polymer science students with elementary and middle schoolers for exciting science activities. Listen here.

Season 2 will start in September. Until then, catch up on past episodes here
Standard Setting for Automotive  Service Technician Course

 
This past school year, standard-setting studies were conducted to set new proficiency cut scores that would impact about 1,200 Mississippi students who take the Automotive Service Technician course. That standard setting work will dramatically ramp up in the coming 2018-2019 school year, with 13 tests undergoing study, affecting more than 6,000 students. New cut scores are recommended through the work of teachers and stakeholders, so when your course is scheduled, please consider adding your voice to those decisions!
Key Contacts
Assessment Manager ..............................
IAD Meetings ...........................................
National Certification ...............................
PBA .........................................................
Research & Standard Setting...................

Have assessment needs not addressed in this issue?
Create a Help Desk ticket, and we'll get right on it! 

662.325.2510 | rcu.msstate.edu
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