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PARA-PROFESSIONAL
ASSESSMENT
Frequently Asked Questions
Prepared by the RI
Department of Education
In consultation with the
Educational Testing Service (ETS)
What will
be the primary method of test administration?
Will there
be a paper and pencil version of the test?
What can
people do to prepare for the test?
Will there be
special accommodations?
§
Test
developed by the Educational Testing Service (ETS). This will be an academic
assessment of knowledge of, and the ability to assist in instructing, reading,
writing, and mathematics.
§
The
ParaPro assessment will be delivered in two
formats/delivery methods: (1) paper and
pencil assessment provided 6 times a year and (2) on demand via the internet at
participating school districts.
§
At
the beginning of the test, there is a 30 minute tutorial to help people get
oriented to taking a test on the computer.
This is followed by the actual test that takes lasts 2.5 hours. The assessment
has 90 items. It is a continuous
test. This means that persons taking the
test can go back and forth among sections of the test while they are taking it
regardless of the delivery method.
§
The
test will yield one overall score which will be the score used to determining
passage. The test will also yield 6
sub-scores – 3 related to content knowledge and 3 related to application of
knowledge and skills to classroom instruction.
This will assist the person taking the test to assess his/her strengths and
needs and, if needed, target areas of remediation if they need to retake the
test.
§
The
RI Department of Education will be represented by a team of RI teachers and
teacher assistants in a standard setting process that will be carried out by
ETS in Fall 2002.
The resulting state standard score (passing score) will be recommended
to the Board of Regents. It is
anticipated that the Board of Regents will adopt the state standard score by
the some time after the first of the year (2003).
§
ETS
recommends that an individual wishing to retake the test wait 30 days to allow
time for that individual to access some type of remediation to help them be
better prepared.
§
The
test is available only in English.
§
Cost
- $40
§
The
most common method of test administration will be by school districts via
Internet linkages. In early Fall 2002,
ETS will contact each district in RI to see if they would like to participant
in the ParaPro Assessment. Each district that chooses to participate
will have an identified contact person who will oversee test administration.
The computer test can only be administered by school districts. The locations for where the test can be
administered will be limited to the schools within each district.
§
It will be available over the Internet by mid-November 2002.
§
Persons taking the test over the Internet will be able to get
immediate unofficial scores and subscores. These scores will also be immediately
available to the district.
§
Starting
in January 2003, ParaPro will be administered 6 times
during the school year in conjunction with Praxis Test (ETS test for teacher
licensure). This testing will
accommodate people who prefer a paper and pencil test and people who may want to
take the test on their own rather than through a school district as well as
those who require Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) accommodations during
the 2002-2003 testing year. Persons
taking the paper and pencil test will be able to get test results in about 4
weeks.
§
By
mid-Fall 2002, people can find out more about this test including testing dates
and locations; deadlines and procedures for registering; etc., on the internet
by going to the ETS website. Go to this site directly or also by way of
linkages on the website at the RI Technical Assistance Project
(RITAP) at RI College. Testing starts promptly at
§ Test-At-A-Glance – This is a 14-page mini workbook on how to prepare for the test. It includes 15 sample questions with answers and explanations. You can access the Test-At-A-Glance over the Internet at the ETS website. Go to this site directly or also by way of linkages on the website at the RI Technical Assistance Project (RITAP).
§
Tutorial
– In October 2002, the ETS website will have a tutorial that you can access
at no charge to practice taking the test via computer.
§
Study Guides
– By the end of January 2003, ETS will have
available an in-depth Study Guide that includes a 90-question practice test and
various instructional materials. You will be able to purchase the guide for $25
per guide. It is designed for use
individually but could also be used with groups.
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