No. In order to maintain assessment validity and to ensure an accurate picture of students’ independent reading, writing, and mathematics skills, it is important that students are given only the time allotted each day and do not return to a previous day’s work.
Yes. Each day teachers may give students an additional 15 minutes—but no more. (This 15 minutes of extra time is not considered an adaptation, and it does not need to be documented.) To maintain reliability of results, it is important that all students across the province are given approximately the same amount of time to complete the assessment.
No. Students are allowed to use a dictionary to look up unfamiliar words. Similarly, students are allowed to use a thesaurus to look up synonyms and antonyms of words. Teachers may read aloud individual words that students may request, but teachers may not read the texts or explain the questions to the students.
In order to ensure an accurate picture of students’ independent reading, writing, and mathematics skills, it is important that teachers do not help students other than by directing them to the appropriate pages on which to work. Teachers can, and should, encourage their students to try their best, to read the instructions carefully, to take their time, and to check all of their work. Teachers may encourage a student to move on to other questions if they notice that a student is spending too much time on a question or task. Teachers could also let a student know if the student has two answers penciled in for the same question.
The substitute teacher should be given the 2012–2013 Nova Scotia Assessment Administration Guide for the specific assessment to become fully acquainted with the administration procedures. If needed, the substitute should direct questions to the School Assessment Coordinator.
If a student is absent for the entire week of the assessment, the student is expected to write the assessment during the make-up period that is noted in the 2012–2013 Elementary Assessment Week: Information Guide. It is recommended that teachers consult with the school’s administration in order to find a convenient time and place for the student to write the assessment. The school's assessment booklets must be returned to the Department of Education by the deadline at the end of the make-up period.
Upon return, the student will write the same part of the assessment as the rest of the class. Previous day(s) missed can be made up during the make-up period. Students may write only one day’s tasks on any single day. All days of the assessment are to be completed.
No. Students should write the assessment in the classroom where they would normally take English language arts or Mathematics; if this is not possible, then they may write the assessment in their home room classroom. Gymnasiums, auditoriums, cafeterias, etc. are not appropriate venues for the administration of the assessment. The assessment should be seen as just another part of the students' day, and students should participate in the assessment in a familiar environment where they can be comfortable and relaxed.
No. Those students will have to be otherwise accommodated during the assessment.
Yes. If it is a documented adaptation for the student, the student may use a speech-to-text program to dictate his or her writing on the assessment. Speech-to-text programs are considered an acceptable adaptation in the writing portions of the assessment. Because the assessment is a secure form, student writing must be deleted from the computer once a hard copy has been printed for submission with the assessment booklet.
If a speech-to-text program is used during the writing portions of the assessment, all spelling, grammar, and word prediction features must be disabled. As with any adaptation used during the assessment, the use of a speech-to-text program must be in place as of the first day of the assessment and be documented in the student's cumulative record file.
The type of assistive technology used during the assessment must be specified in Section 2 of the back cover of the student’s assessment booklet.