USBE explains assessment rostering changes and WIDA screener sharing to reduce duplicate tests

Maureen Reshing of USBE’s assessment department gave a practical briefing on assessment rostering and where Utrecks data intersect with vendor rostering. She said there are three rostering types: grade-based (Utah Aspire Plus, ACT), designation/program-based (DLM for 1% students, WIDA for EL students) and course-based (RISE, Acadiance). She explained tiebreakers for dually enrolled students and that many systems use nightly data exchanges.

Reshing said: "Starting next school year, Acadiance reading will only be administered through ALO; we are not going to be dealing with Amplify anymore." She also described the teacher-account workflow: vendor-created teacher accounts currently pull email addresses from the state SIS known as Cactus, and USBE requires vendors to use those emails only to create accounts. She warned that many teacher emails in Cactus are outdated and advised LEAs to plan alternatives when Cactus is retired.

On WIDA screener sharing, presenters said the state will collect screener proficiency scores and dates in the data gateway so receiving LEAs can check a student’s recent screener before re-administering tests. Access will be role-restricted because the screener data contain PII; presenters asked LEAs to identify which roles should have access and to train staff to use the gateway.

USBE emphasized that students with fatal errors on their records do not roster for assessments and that correcting fatal errors can take 24–48 hours to populate rosters. Resources and rostering manuals referenced in the session will be shared after the meeting.