Contact Information
Catherine Palmer
(307) 777-5296
catherine.palmer@wyo.gov
Jessica Steinbrenner
(307) 777-8568
jessica.steinbrenner@wyo.gov
ACT Portal
The ACT is administered each spring to all Wyoming public school grade 11 students except for students with significant cognitive disabilities who participate in alternate assessments per their IEPs. The ACT is a standards-based exam that assesses academic readiness for college. The College and Career Readiness System (ACT and ACT WorkKeys) measures a student’s skills in English, math, reading, writing, and science.
The ACT will still be administered statewide and WorkKeys will continue to be provided as an option for interested juniors (and seniors), but it cannot be substituted for ACT participation.
Districts may administer the ACT either online or paper/pencil.
Creation of the Wyoming ACT Scale
With the September 2014 release of ACT results for school accountability, WDE developed a Wyoming ACT scale for reporting. While the traditional ACT scale has been successfully used for years for college entrance, its 36 point scale has proven unsuitable for use in determining student performance levels and school accountability as required under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act. With assistance from experts on its Technical Advisory Committee as well as the Legislature’s consultants on assessment and accountability issues from the National Center on Improvement of Educational Assessment, the WDE developed the Wyoming ACT scale to establish student performance levels for use in school accountability calculations. A paper that fully describes the rationale for the new scale and its suitability for use in school accountability measures can be found here.
ACT RESOURCES
PAnext User Guide for ACT
Quick Start Guide for Requesting Accommodations/Supports
Test Accessibility and Accommodations User Guide (TAA)
Technical Requirements for the ACT Online Test
ACT Test Coordinator Information Manual for Paper Testing
The ACT Administration Manual for Online Testing
The ACT Administration Manual for Standard Paper Testing
The ACT Administration Manual for Accommodated Paper Testing
The ACT Administration Manual for Non-College Reportable Accommodated Paper Testing
Initial Test Date:
Paper Test Date: April 2
Online Test Dates: April 2-4, 9-11
Accommodation Test Dates for Paper: April 2-5, 8-12, 15-16
Accommodation Test Dates for Online: April 2-4, 9-11
Makeup Test Date:
Paper Test Date: April 24
Accommodation Test Dates for Paper: April 24-26, 29-30
Further Reading
In the early fall of 2014, WDE worked with research scientists at the ACT to develop written descriptors of each of the performance levels that reflect the recommendations made by the standard-setting panelists in August of 2014. As you can see from the descriptors below, the proficient cuts in the content areas were developed in a way that results in approximately a 50% probability (range: 44-53%) of students earning a B or higher in entry-level credit bearing courses in college and about a 60% chance (range: 57-65%) of enrolling in college the fall after high school graduation. Given the emphasis of our state’s adopted standards on college and career readiness – and given that ACT’s research indicates that the skills necessary for most careers are very similar to those required for success in higher education, these PLDs and associated cuts are appropriate for adoption in Wyoming. More information can be found in the link below.
Grade 11
Mathematics
Basic: Students meeting the Basic standard in math have a 22% probability of earning a B or higher in a first-year credit-bearing college course in math, and a 51% probability of earning a C or higher in the course. Thirty-six percent of the 2013 ACT-tested graduating class in Wyoming who met the Basic standard in math enrolled in college the fall after high school graduation.
Proficient: Students meeting the Proficient standard in math have a 44% probability of earning a B or higher in a first-year credit-bearing college course in math, and a 69% probability of earning a C or higher in the course. Fifty-seven percent of the 2013 ACT-tested graduating class in Wyoming who met the Proficient standard in math enrolled in college the fall after high school graduation.
Advanced: Students meeting the Advanced standard in math have a 73% probability of earning a B or higher in a first-year credit-bearing college course in math, and a 85% probability of earning a C or higher in the course. Seventy-two percent of the 2013 ACT-tested graduating class in Wyoming who met the Advanced standard in math enrolled in college the fall after high school graduation.
Reading
Basic: Students meeting the Basic standard in reading have a 33% probability of earning a B or higher in a first-year credit-bearing college course in social science, and a 63% probability of earning a C or higher in the course. Forty percent of the 2013 ACT-tested graduating class in Wyoming who met the Basic standard in reading enrolled in college the fall after high school graduation.
Proficient: Students meeting the Proficient standard in reading have a 53% probability of earning a B or higher in a first-year credit-bearing college course in social science, and a 76% probability of earning a C or higher in the course. Sixty-two percent of the 2013 ACT-tested graduating class in Wyoming who met the Proficient standard in reading enrolled in college the fall after high school graduation.
Advanced: Students meeting the Advanced standard in reading have a 69% probability of earning a B or higher in a first-year credit-bearing college course in social science, and a 85% probability of earning a C or higher in the course. Seventy-four percent of the 2013 ACT-tested graduating class in Wyoming who met the Advanced standard in reading enrolled in college the fall after high school graduation.
Science
Basic: Students meeting the Basic standard in science have a 26% probability of earning a B or higher in a first-year credit-bearing college course in science, and a 59% probability of earning a C or higher in the course. Forty-seven percent of the 2013 ACT-tested graduating class in Wyoming who met the Basic standard in science enrolled in college the fall after high school graduation.
Proficient: Students meeting the Proficient standard in science have a 49% probability of earning a B or higher in a first-year credit-bearing college course in science, and a 77% probability of earning a C or higher in the course. Sixty-five percent of the 2013 ACT-tested graduating class in Wyoming who met the Proficient standard in science enrolled in college the fall after high school graduation.
Advanced: Students meeting the Advanced standard in science have a 77% probability of earning a B or higher in a first-year credit-bearing college course in science, and a 91% probability of earning a C or higher in the course. Seventy-two percent of the 2013 ACT-tested graduating class in Wyoming who met the Advanced standard in science enrolled in college the fall after high school graduation.
Archived Materials
ACT Suite Portals
The ACT Suite portal provides administrators and teachers with access to calendars, forms, instructions and other documents that are needed to coordinate the ACT Suite of assessments. The portal can be accessed here.
ACT
- Welcome to ACT State and District Testing
- Manual for State and District Testing
- Manual for State and District Testing (Special Testing)
- Schedule of Events
- Accommodations on the ACT
- Test Accessibility and Accommodations (TAA) User Guide
- Re-testing With Accommodations
- Accommodations Q & A link
ACT WorkKeys
- Welcome to ACT State and District Testing
- WorkKeys Manual for State and District testing (Standard Time, Paper)
- WorkKeys Manual for State and District Testing (Special, Paper)
- Summary of Requirements
- Understanding Your WorkKeys Scores
- Using Your WorkKeys Scores
- 2015 The Condition of College & Career Readiness
- 2014 The Condition of College & Career Readiness
- ACT Profile Report – Wyoming Graduating Class 2014
- Instructional Support Workshop PowerPoint
- Core Practice Framework
- College Readiness Benchmarks
- Research Publications
The ACT Suite
As we move forward with preparations for our spring 2016 assessment windows, we would like to share an overview of the status of the ACT Suite (ACT Plus Writing, ACT Aspire, ACT WorkKeys, and COMPASS).
ACT Plus Writing
At this time, schools are established and should be entering their assessment counts in the portal. ACT has enhanced the writing portion of the assessment. here is a link to the changes that have been implemented.
ACT Aspire
Schools now have access to the Aspire portal. There is an Infrastructure Trial webinar available which teaches districts how to test the local infrastructure, work with simulated student data, set-up practice test sessions, and print authorization tickets. Schools should now be reviewing student data, focusing on the Personal Needs Profile (PNP), and identifying any student accommodations. Additionally, schools can begin configuring local technology. It is also possible to begin setting up testing sessions in the portal. Please visit the Test Management System for tutorials and other information about the administration steps.
Aspire Testing Times
ACT has made available a timeline (with relevant resources) of the administration steps for the ACT Aspire assessment.
- Spring 2016 Readiness Resources
- Tech Readiness Training – PowerPoint
- Computer-Based Testing Step-By-Step
- Paper/Pencil Testing Step-By-Step
- Room Supervisor Checklist
- ACT Aspire End-to-End Test Administration Flow Chart
- Aspire Infrastructure Trial Guide
- Aspire Avocet
Aspire Training Videos
- Aspire Training Management System Requires log-in
- Aspire Test Administration Training Video
- Test Nav 8 Overview Requires log-in
- Monitoring Test Sessions Requires log-in
- Monitoring Dashboard & Registered/Returned Status Report Requires log-in
ACT COMPASS
The spring and fall 2016 COMPASS administrations will be the final administrations.
In the meantime, please watch the newsletter for further information and updates. For more information about these assessments please visit this page.