Your monthly update on all things assessment

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FEBRUARY 2022

Here at the RCU, we are increasing our coffee intake and getting in the proper state of mind for testing season. As most of you are likely aware, testing is the culmination of many months of detailed preparation. Our team is diligently finalizing assessments, completing quality control and making certain we are ready for the beginning of practice testing.


Of course, we realize testing may not be met with a level of zeal but rather one of trepidation. We do hope the following small friendly reminders of important time frames and dates alleviate some of those concerns.


The following information has guided our MS-CPAS strategy for many years and serves as our version of a gentle reminder of things you should be aware of in the coming months.


  • Keep in mind we did things differently this year compared to previous years in terms of uploading rosters. Districts should have already uploaded their rosters for testing during the fall. Our portal for finalizing those rosters will reopen from Feb. 7-18 so any potential roster changes can be updated.
  • Nearly all pathways ending with an MS-CPAS assessment have practice tests available in our online testing system, Questionmark. Practice testing begins Feb. 22 and concludes March 24. You must verify your students/classes in the RCU submission and verification system to schedule a set of practice tests.
  • National certification testing opens March 21 and extends through May 13. For students to receive their vouchers for their certification tests, you need to verify your students and classes. There are national certification tutorials and other resources to assist you on the Student Certification page under the Assessment tab on the RCU website.

 

If you have problems or need questions answered, reach out to us at helpdesk@rcu.msstate.edu.


Ben Alexander

Research Associate III

If your CTE center has a new director or 

testing coordinator for the 2021-2022 school year, please 

let us know by submitting a Help Desk ticket with the

name and contact information of this new hire.

Important Dates

MS-CPAS Demo Period

Demo testing is open year-round.

Window for Testing Roster Changes

Feb. 7-18

Spring Practice Testing for MS-CPAS

Feb. 22 to March 24

Spring 2022 Testing

Note: It is not necessary to wait until the makeup day to test students who need to make up an assessment. National certification results will be available by midsummer, contingent on the release of results by certification companies.

April 1-28: MS-CPAS testing

April 29: Makeup MS-CPAS testing

March 21 to May 13: National certification testing

May 13: Final MS-CPAS reports available

To view a full calendar, visit the MS-CPAS resources page and log in to the RCU website.

MS-CPAS

We will reopen the RCU portal on Feb. 7 to allow districts to make minor roster edits. Please do not uncheck any boxes in step one. Complete all edits by Feb. 18. You will notice that your fall testers have been removed from rosters. Do not be alarmed by this. They do not need to be added back. They have been removed so that they will not show up on spring reports. If you need to add or remove a student from a national certification roster, submit a Help Desk ticket about this and get guidance from us before making any edits. If you have any questions about this, please contact us.


When students are verified in our testing system, those students who are in programs with available online MS-CPAS practice tests will have the opportunity to take two practice tests between Feb. 22 and March 24. For a list of available practice tests, navigate to Assessment > MS-CPAS > MS-CPAS Resources > 2021-2022 Practice Test List on the RCU website. Instructions for practice tests, as well as a script to use in administering practice tests, are available in the CTE Testing Manual.


Practice test reports will be available for test coordinators to access and to share with teachers 24 hours after a class takes a practice test. Class practice test reports, located by navigating to Assessment > Reports on the RCU website, will provide both class unit averages and individual student unit averages and are helpful as teachers plan remediation before the MS-CPAS is taken in April.



We suggest taking the first practice test early within the practice test window so you have time to analyze class reports and remediate before taking the second practice test. 

National Certifications

If you have national certification pathways, you should locate the survival guides for each certification and complete any additional steps that may be required for each company. You can find these survival guides on the RCU website by navigating to Assessment > Student Certification > Certification Tools. 


ASE:

ASE vouchers have been purchased. If you have not submitted a Help Desk ticket to receive the purchase order information, please do so immediately.

 

Certiport:

Certiport certifications will have practice exam vouchers emailed directly to the instructors and testing coordinators the week of Feb. 21. It is imperative testing coordinators receive these practice exam vouchers because exam vouchers will be sent to the same email. Be on the lookout for them and submit a Help Desk ticket if you do not receive the vouchers.

 

Early Childhood (Pre-PAC):

Pre-PAC vouchers are ready. The testing coordinator should follow the instructions in the survival guide to prepare for testing. Vouchers are already loaded into your accounts.

 

Health Science and Sports Medicine:

All vouchers have been purchased. Please follow the survival guide instructions to create accounts and prepare for testing.

 

NCCER:

If you have not completed an NCCER import template or accommodations, you will need to submit this by Feb. 18. You can find this template by navigating to Assessment > Reports > Testing Tools. Download your template, enter the students’ NCCER ID numbers and send the template to the RCU via Help Desk.


NCCER proctor training occurred in late January. More training will occur at MS ACTE. Be on the lookout to sign up for these trainings later this semester.


NIMS:

NIMS schools have been contacted with information and instructions to follow. If you are the testing coordinator and have not been contacted, please submit a Help Desk ticket immediately.


ServSafe:

All ServSafe vouchers will be sent to testing coordinators in early March. Please have student accounts created by then. You can follow the survival guide for help with this process.


SolidWorks:

Engineering programs using SolidWorks will find updated resources (CSWA Mechanical Academies by SolidWorks Survival Guide and SolidWorks Academic Certification Provider Program) on the Student Certifications page of the RCU website. These resources give guidance on student practice exams and how exams will be assigned.



TestOut:

TestOut training will be Feb. 10 at 1:30 p.m. for testing coordinators via Zoom. If you did not get a link emailed to you, please submit a Help Desk ticket.


If you have a question or need assistance, reach out to us by sending a Help Desk ticket or by calling 662.325.2510. 

Assessment Manager

Ben Alexander

National Certifications

Cliff Thames and Mandy Scarpulla

Data and Research

Sean Owen and Ben Alexander

MS-CPAS

Riesa Blackwell

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