FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

T-PRO BASICS & ADMINISTRATION QUESTIONS
SHIPPING AND RECEIVING OF T-PRO MATERIALS | STUDENT LABELS
T-PRO SCORING | PRO-REPORTS

• What does T-PRO assess?
  The Test of Primary Reading Outcomes (T-PRO) is an assessment designed to be used for diagnostic and intervention purposes. It tests the five key reading skills (phonemic awareness, phonics, vocabulary, comprehension and fluency) identified by the National Reading Panel as scientifically-proven to influence reading achievement.

T-PRO BASICS & ADMINISTRATION QUESTIONS

• How often is T-PRO administered?
  T-PRO is designed to be administered two times a year. A Diagnostic Assessment is administered in the fall, and an Outcomes Assessment is administered in the spring.
• How long does it take to administer the test?
  It takes 1-2 hours per day over the course of one week.
• When is the 2009 Spring testing window?
  The testing window begins on March 30 and ends of April 17.
• Can we change the spring testing window for our school?
  The window may NOT be changed or extended. This year’s spring testing window was designed to allow schools more flexibility for when they test based upon spring break calendars. Schools will NOT lose a week of testing time because of their spring breaks. The designated timeframe for testing is two weeks; however, a school may test the week prior to its spring break and finish the week after its spring break, as long as it falls within the testing window.
• Where can I find instructions for giving T-PRO?
  All instructions for administering T-PRO are included in the teacher’s manual for each grade
  level (K-3).
• I am a new intervention teacher, how will I be trained to administer the T-PRO test?
  CIA is hosting a Webinar session for new RTA staff. The Webinar, T-PRO Basics and Updates, will be available three different times: Wednesday, March 25 at 3:15 PM, Thursday, March 26 at 1:30 PM, & Friday, March 27 at 10:00 AM. It is only necessary to participate in one of the three sessions. Each Webinar session is limited to 20 participants (first come/first serve). A schedule of sessions will be available March 9 at: http://www.cia.indiana.edu/TPRO/webinars.shtml. A link to the Webinar site can be accessed within the schedule.
• Is there a suggested schedule for administering the test?
  Yes, from the T-PRO website menu, select Resources, then Teacher Tools for Test Administration, and then choose your grade level. Click on "Suggested Schedule for Administration of T-PRO" to download a guide.
• Several new students have just enrolled in our school. Should they take the test?
  All enrolled primary students must take the test according to grant requirements. Extra test booklets are provided. A blank label should be attached to the front of each test booklet and all requested information must be completed (see label information).
• If a student had an extended absence and missed the T-PRO testing window (March 30-April 17) and the shipping deadline (April 23). What should I do?
  It is important that all primary students complete T-PRO testing. If students are absent during the testing window, or if new students are enrolled after the end of testing, contact CIA at tpro@indiana.edu to request a secure electronic copy of the test and a scoring guide. School personnel will be responsible for scoring these tests and for recording test data.You will need to score this student’s test booklet at the school level. The test booklet cannot be returned to CIA.
• Do I have to follow the test directions exactly?
  Yes. For consistency and validity reasons, the directions for the test must be read exactly as written in the teacher manual.
• Is T-PRO a high-stakes test?
  No, T-PRO is not a high-stakes test, however this test is the required assessment tool for the Read to Achieve: Reading Diagnostic & Intervention Grant Program and must be administered in order to remain in compliance of your grant.
• Do students have a time limit on the T-PRO?
  There is no time limit for how long students can spend on the test. In the fluency section, students are given a specific amount of time to read aloud. If a student does not finish in the allotted amount of time, he or she can continue reading in order to answer the comprehension questions, but words read after one minute do not count toward the fluency score.
• How do I know on which level to test students when the directions are to test students on-level?
  Students should be tested based on the classroom assignment noted on the official school roster. For example, a student assigned to a P2 (traditional first grade) would be administered the first grade test.
• If a student is unable to read the fluency passage, should I continue to tell him or her the words after the minute is up?
  No. After one minute, allow the student to attempt to complete the passage, but do not tell him or her the words. We need to maintain the validity of the comprehension section. When the student has completed the passage to the best of his or her ability, proceed to the comprehension section.
• How long should I allow the student to attempt to read the passage after one minute is up?
  You should allow a student enough time to read the complete passage. Move onto the questions when the student is finished or you find that the student is frustrated and unable to continue.
• Are students allowed to have accommodations for the T-PRO?
  Accomodations are not allowed due to the diagnostic nature of the T-PRO assessment.
• How many times am I allowed to repeat a question in administering T-PRO?
  You may repeat a question up to 2 times (so that a question is read a total of 3 times) only when prompted by a student.
• Is there a writing component to the test?
  Yes, however it is optional and is scored at the school level. The scoring guide is located on the CIA web site under Optional Writing Assessment.
• My school is interested in purchasing tests to administer mid-year. Can we purchase additional tests?
  At this time, CIA does not have any tests for purchase.
• Do you have a T-PRO for the intermediate grades?
  T-PRO was designed specifically to meet the assessment needs of primary grade classrooms. CIA does not currently offer an assessment for the intermediate grades, although we hope to soon.

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SHIPPING AND RECEIVING OF T-PRO MATERIALS

• What are the responsibilities of the classroom teacher once testing is completed?
  Check to be sure there is a booklet (both complete and incomplete) for every student in the class, and that the classroom teacher's name is on each booklet. Paperclip loose pages together. Organize student booklets alphabetically by last name. Set aside blank and/or damaged booklets. Print out a class roster. When arranging: begin by placing blank/damaged booklets on bottom, alphabetized booklets next, and place the CLASS ROSTER on top. Place all in a Ziploc bag. Give to RTA staff.
• What are the responsibilities of the RTA staff (intervention teacher and data coordinator) once testing is completed?
  The RTA staff MUST check bags to ensure all booklets are accounted for and materials are organized per testing instructions. Then bags should be placed inside boxes. Boxes should be securely taped, and pre-paid labels affixed over the old labels.
• Do schools have to return teacher’s manuals?
  No. Teacher's manuals do NOT need to be returned.
• How do I order additional test materials?
  The ordering deadline has passed. If you need additional materials, please contact CIA at tpro@indiana.edu.
• What should we do if a student needs a booklet with large print?
  Large print booklets were available upon request for students receiving classroom instruction in large print. The window for ordering large print booklets has expired for spring 2009. All large print materials that were ordered by specific schools were shipped out as of Wednesday, March 18th. Please allow approximately 5 days for delivery.
• When will I receive T-PRO testing materials?
  All testing materials were shipped out to schools as of Wednesday, March 18th. Please allow approximately 5 days for delivery.
• What materials will be included in the shipment to schools?
  Each school will receive one box that will include all teacher manuals, an insert with a correction to page 5 (same for all grade levels) of the Teacher’s Manual, a set of fluency cards for each grade level, pre-printed and blank student labels, Student/Parent Information Guides, and several FedEx pre-paid shipping labels. Each school will also receive a number of boxes that will contain student test booklets.
• Will we receive pre-printed student labels for spring testing?
  Yes. They are included in the original shipment. Each pre-printed label will include detailed information to ensure accurate identification for reporting purposes. Student labels will be organized by grade level first, then alphabetically by last name. Pre-printed student labels include a blank for the teacher’s name. The teacher's name MUST be completed to ensure that the school reports are sorted by teacher/classroom.
• Who pays for return shipping of student booklets?
  CIA provides the pre-paid shipping labels to cover the cost of shipping. All student booklets must be shipped by FedEx.
• What are the instructions for using the pre-paid shipping labels?
  A pre-paid FedEx shipping label MUST be placed over the original shipping label on the box. Pre-paid labels were provided in original shipment. Print the schools return address in the space provided. Retain the small receipt located at the top of the pre-paid label. This receipt contains the tracking number and will serve as verification of shipping . Call FedEx to arrange pickup, or materials can be taken to a FedEx location for return to CIA. FedEx pickups can be scheduled online at http://fedex.com/us/, or by calling 1-800-463-3339. Boxes should be picked up by FedEx no later than April 23, 2008.
• Where do I get boxes for return shipping of student booklets?
  Schools should SAVE the original shipping boxes.
• Do I need to return all student booklets, or only those that have been used/completed?
  Yes, for security reasons, it is important that all student booklets be returned. This includes booklets that are blank and/or damaged.
• What is the deadline for shipping booklets to CIA?
  Schools must ship student testing materials to CIA no later than April 23.
• What should RTA staff do to prepare materials prior to the testing window?
  The RTA staff should work collaboratively to organize test materials for distribution. The RTA staff should check the contents of each box as soon as it is received. Contact CIA at tpro@indiana.edu if there is a problem with the number of booklets. Ziploc bags will need to be purchased for each teacher to use when shipping test booklets back to CIA. Meet with classroom teachers by grade level to prepare booklets. A STUDENT LABEL MUST BE ATTACHED TO EVERY STUDENT BOOKLET. CLASSROOM TEACHER'S NAME SHOULD BE PRINTED ON THE LABEL.

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STUDENT LABELS

• Why is it important for the teacher's name to be written on every student label?
  In order for the school to receive the 2009 Spring score reports according to classroom/teacher, the teacher information MUST be included for identification purposes.
• What if there is NO pre-printed label for a student?
  If a student does not have a pre-printed label, place a blank label on the front cover of the student booklet. All information (e.g., grade level, first name, middle initial, last name, SSID, date of birth) must be complete and neatly printed, including the teacher’s name.
• What if information is INCORRECT on the pre-printed label?
  The pre-printed student label must be placed on the front cover of the student booklet despite the error. If the information (e.g., grade level, first name, middle initial, last name, SSID, date of birth) is NOT correct, place a blank label beneath the pre-printed label. On the blank label neatly print the corrected information only for the incorrect items. In addition, print the teacher’s name on the blank label. Do not make any other additions or corrections to the blank label.
• How can we get the MGT ID for a new student that does not have a pre-printed label?
  Contact Nick Gustin (project manager for KDE/RTA) via email at Nick.Gustin@education.ky.gov.

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T-PRO SCORING

• Can I have Kindergarten students circle the answers then have a teacher fill in the bubble after the test?
  Since all booklets will be hand-scored, a student's answer will be marked as correct whether they bubble, mark an X, or circle the correct picture. Students should begin bubbling answers when they are developmentally ready to do so.
• In the Fall, score reports compared students to an “average.” Is this an average from my class? school? the nation?
  For the Diagnostic (Fall) Assessment, a group of RTA schools served as the norming population. The size of this sample (several thousand students per grade level) was as large as any national norming sample used by a major testing company. Score reports will indicate each student’s average on the test and its sections/subsections, as well as the average of all other test takers in the RTA sample. This same sample will be used again in the spring to help schools track progress.
• Fall scores did not include national norms. Are the results reliable?
  Nationally-normed results are one way of interpreting student test data and monitoring growth. They are not, however, a necessary marker of the reliability or validity of test measures. CIA has extensive experience in test development, and all T-PRO items have undergone considerable psychometric analysis. You can be assured that you are using reliable and valid data from the Diagnostic (Fall) Administration to make student intervention plans.
• How can I get a copy of the T-PRO Technical Manual?
  All schools will automatically receive a copy of the Technical Manual in advance of the receipt of spring scores.
• When will I receive my student scores?
  CIA will ship school’s hard copies of student scores in early August along with score interpretation guides for parents. Scores will also be available online.
• Is there information available on how to interpret scores?
  ou may view/review the webinar online at any time on the training tutorials section of our website, or download training resources here.

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PRO-REPORTS

• What is the PRO-Reports website?
  The PRO-Reports website contains the results from T-PRO testing. It can be found at https://tpro.cia.indiana.edu.
• When I go to the PRO-Reports website, it asks for my username. What is my username?
  You username is your school email address.
• I need a username, what do I do?
  Be sure that you are listed as principal, data coordinator, or RTA intervention teacher for your school in MGT. Then contact tpro@indiana.edu and request a username.
• I am trying to access the PRO-Reports website and I forgot my password.
  Please click on the phrase, "forgot password" on the main site, then enter your district email address. An email will be sent to you with a link to enter a new password.
• What if it says that my username/email/password is invalid?
  Please check your username/email/password and re-enter it. If you forgot your password, please follow the direction to reset your password.
• I am a district coordinator; how do I get access to more than one school?
  Only three accounts are currently set up for each school (one for the principal, one for the intervention teacher, and one for the data coordinator). Contact the RTA office if you have a special request.
• What if it says that my username/email/password is invalid?
  Please check your username/email/password and re-enter it. All passwords are case sensitive. If you forget your password, please follow the directions for resetting your password.

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