March 14, 2024
New Teacher Center (NTC) and Smarter Balanced Professional Learning Series
The Oregon Department of Education (ODE) is excited to announce a professional learning series developed in partnership by the New Teacher Center (NTC) and Smarter Balanced. This collaborative initiative is designed to help district teams create a system of interim and formative assessment practices customized to their local needs. Smarter Balanced resources, including Tools for Teachers and the Interim Assessment Blocks within the Oregon Statewide Assessment System (OSAS), will be utilized as connections are made between instruction and assessment.
Each team will consist of two teacher cohorts from grades 3-8 (one ELA and one Math) and work directly with NTC throughout the 2024-25 school year. More information, including FAQ and registration details, can be found in the
recruitment flier. Registration remains open through
April 5, 2024.
On-Demand Course: Effectively Using OSAS Results
As the OSAS summative test window fully opens this spring, ODE has partnered with Southern Oregon ESD to create an on-demand asynchronous professional learning course to help district leaders, school administrators, and teachers use their OSAS results effectively. The course,
Effectively Using OSAS Results, consists of five one-hour modules delivered through Canvas. Participants will gain a greater understanding of the following key concepts:
- Understanding OSAS test design is key to understanding how to use OSAS test results.
- Student performance across assessment targets, not overall proficiency rates, provides the most helpful data for use in continuous improvement.
- Trends in target results can inform curriculum planning, instructional pacing, and professional learning.
- Connections can be made between assessment targets and standards that can help educators implement powerful formative assessment practices in the classroom.
The course is available now at no cost to Oregon educators. Details and registration can be
found here.
2023-2024 OSAS Science Summative Assessments In-Person and Remote (Grades 5, 8, and 11) Are Now Available (REPEAT)
The window for administration of the OSAS Science In-person and Remote Test for all grades (5, 8, and 11) is now open. As a reminder, prior to beginning a test session, verify that appropriate student accommodations and supports have been accurately set in TIDE. See the
Oregon Accessibility Manual for more information about accommodations and supports. Please contact your
District Testing Coordinator or
Regional ESD Partner with any questions regarding test administration.
2023-2024 OSAS SEED Survey In-Person and Remote (Grades 3-11) Are Now Available (REPEAT)
The statewide test window for in-person and remote (Grades 3-11) Student Educational Equity Development (SEED) Survey is now open for the 2023-2024 school year. Please refer to the
SEED Survey web page for more information about administering the SEED Survey. See the
Oregon Accessibility Manual for more information about accommodations and supports. Please contact your
District Testing Coordinator or
Regional ESD Partner with any questions regarding test administration.
ELPA
Future K ELPA Screener and Remote ELPA Testing Window (REPEAT)
The test window for the 2024-25 Future K English Language Proficiency Assessment (ELPA) Screener opens 3/1/24 and extends through the remainder of the 2024 calendar year. As a reminder, this test should be administered to students for whom a Language Use Survey has indicated the ELPA Screener needs to be administered, and who will enter Kindergarten in the 2024-25 school year. Students who need screening and are enrolling in Kindergarten in the final months of the 2023-24 school year test using the Grade K form instead.
The remote ELPA Summative test window opens 3/5/24 and closes 4/12/25. Participation in the remote ELPA Summative is appropriate for schools offering primarily remote instruction. For more information, consult the Remote Test Administration Resources found in the Training Modules accordion of the Assessment Training Materials page.
Please contact Ben Wolcott, ELPA Specialist, with questions or concerns regarding ELPA testing.