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Your monthly update on all things assessment

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JANUARY 2024

Important Dates

Deadline for Testing Roster Changes to be Submitted via Help Desk

Feb. 1

Spring 2024 Testing

National certification reports released by mid-summer, contingent on the release of results by certification companies

March 18 – May 17 National certification testing

May 26 – Last day to submit embedded work-based learning (WBL) hours in AET (agriculture and health science)

If your CTE center has a new director, student services

coordinator, counselor or test coordinator for the

2023-2024 school year, please let us know by submitting

a Help Desk ticket with this new hire's name and contact information.

Important Information

Health science and agriculture courses will continue the embedded WBL requirement. More information about this requirement can be found in the WBL rubric.

 

All districts will continue to utilize PULSE this year. One-year, two-year and credit-bearing work-based learning programs funded by the Mississippi Department of Education (MDE) will complete the PULSE Quality Performance Rubric (QPR). The second PULSE submission for teachers is due Feb. 29 and includes indicators 3-4. The second submission for directors, counselors and SSCs is also Feb. 29 and includes indicators 5-8.

Coordinating Your Center's Tests

Test Coordinator To-Do List

Remember to complete the following steps as you prepare for the 2023-2024 testing season:



  • Submit any roster changes to the RCU via Help Desk by Feb 17.
  • Read the Survival Guide that has been created for each national certification exam that you will have and complete any steps that are possible at this point.
  • Create your testing calendar. Be sure to consider any retesting waiting periods that are specific to the national certifications that you will have. These can be found in the National Certifications Manual.


Testing Information

If the 2023-2024 academic year is the first year your school district offers a CTE course that requires national certification, please send us a Help Desk ticket so we can ensure we have the proper number of resources and testing inventory on hand for all CTE students in our state.

 

Please make sure you have reviewed all testing Survival Guides and have followed the steps to ensure your school is ready for testing when the window opens. All Survival Guides have a customer support phone number at the back for help with any issues that might arise.

 

ASE Testing

ASE testing can now be completed throughout the school year. Please make sure all testing and retesting has been completed by May 17.


NCCER Module Testing

The NCCER Import Template should be submitted via Help Desk by Jan. 31. You can find this template by logging into the RCU website and going to Assessment > Reports > Testing Tools > NCCER ID Import Template. 

 

Accommodation forms should be sent in now. You can find this form on the RCU website by going to Assessment > Student Certification > Certification Tools > NCCER Testing > NCCER Accommodation Documentation Form (the fifth link listed under NCCER). Please have all accommodation forms submitted by Jan. 31.

 

For the 2023-2024 school year, the MDE requires that one of the following options be followed regarding proctoring NCCER module tests:

 

Option 1: Any NCCER-certified proctor who is not an NCCER teacher can give a module test alone. There is no need for a second person if the proctor is not an NCCER teacher.



Option 2: If an NCCER teacher proctors the module test, a second person must be in the room. This person does not have to be NCCER certified; however, a document provided to the district must be signed and filed explaining the rules of the testing environment. (The second person could be another NCCER teacher.)


ServSafe Testing

All ServSafe scores must be reported to the RCU via Help Desk. To complete the form for submitting scores, log in to the RCU website and go to Assessment > Reports > Testing Tools. > ServSafe Score Import Template. Remember all templates must be accompanied by screenshots of the actual student scores. The deadline to submit those scores is May 31.

Assessment Manager

Courtney McCubbins

National Certifications

Allison Crowson

Data and Research

Ben Alexander

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