Preparing for the Vermont-PASS
Science Assessment

Detailed Administration Manuals will accompany the VT-PASS assessment. However, there are several things that would be beneficial for teachers, administrators and test coordinators to consider ahead of time and are therefore included in this Blueprint. It is also important for test coordinators and teachers who will be administering the assessment to attend pre-assessment training sessions that will be conducted regionally prior to the testing window.

VT-PASS Test Coordinators:
It is the responsibility of the test coordinator to ensure that all teachers administering the assessment understand the test administration and security procedures. The test coordinator must receive, store in a locked facility, and return all test booklets. The test coordinators will also be responsible for distributing the hands-on materials for the performance task investigations. These materials will be shipped in bulk, and will need to be separated into individual student set ups. In small elementary schools, this task will not be very time consuming. However, in larger schools, particularly high schools, a test coordinator might be dealing with hundreds of student hands-on material sets. It is recommended that adequate time be set aside for this organizational task. Larger schools might also consider utilizing student lab assistants to help organize the hands-on materials.

Students:
Teachers are encouraged to share the VT-PASS Practice Tests with their students in order to familiarize them with the components of the test. Teachers might also want to remind students that although scientists frequently work in collaborative groups, students will be asked to work alone on the assessment performance task. This is to provide an accurate measure of what each student knows and is able to do.

Teachers:
It is recommended that teachers administering the VT-PASS assessment become familiar with the test, particularly the performance task investigation prior to the scheduled administration time. It is also recommended that the performance task be administered in a regular lab or classroom environment. When teachers review the task and materials they can decide if they want to use their customary materials management strategies or devise something different for the VT-PASS materials.

Scheduling:
As mentioned above, it is recommended that the performance task be administered in a science lab or classroom environment even if the school needs to combine groups for the other parts of the assessment. This strategy also alleviates problems associated with providing non-supplied materials such as water or eye protection.