September 4, 2012
To the District Testing Coordinator Addressed:
Districts may submit student data files to update or add new students who will be participating in the October 2012 TAKS exit level retest. Review this information carefully.
The student data files must be submitted through the Texas Assessment Management System, delivered through PearsonAccess, by September 14, 2012, in order to receive precoded labels. Review the student data file format at prior to submitting files.
INDICATING ONLINE PARTICIPATION
The student data file includes a field to indicate if the student will be testing online. If your district intends to test online, the Test Format field for those students should be marked “O” for online testing. (Marking "O" will ensure that the students are loaded into the testing system; however, you will still receive precoded labels and may choose to test students on paper.) Students may still be loaded into the testing system manually.
CREATING A STUDENT DATA FILE
If your district chose to have Pearson load student data for students who have previously tested in your district, and who still need to take the TAKS exit level retest, you may submit a student data file to update student information for existing students, add students new to your district, or add students eligible to test for the first time. In order to receive precoded labels, this must be done by midnight (CT), September 14, 2012. If your district intends to test online, you should extract all students in the Assessment Management System and then resubmit the file with the students’ Test Format field marked “O” for online testing.
If your district chose NOT to have Pearson load any student data, your district is required to upload a data file containing all students who will be eligible to test in the October 2012 TAKS exit level retest administration. Only student data submitted and successfully loaded will be precoded for your district. If your district intends to test online, the Test Format field should be marked “O” for those students and applicable subjects.
SUBMITTING YOUR DATA FILE
Student data files must be submitted by midnight (CT), September 14, 2012, to receive precoded labels. Districts that are testing online can continue to update student data through the testing window until October 25, 2012. Districts should use the Assessment Management System to transfer the student data file. Refer to the User’s Guide for the Texas Assessment Management System at for specific instructions for submitting and checking the status of student data files.
NOTE: Precoded labels will be produced only for student data loaded by Pearson or successfully submitted through a student data file. If you have student records in error status and they have not been resubmitted through an updated student data file by the deadline, you will NOT receive precoded labels for those students. You will need to hand-grid answer documents for those students who need to test, or if testing online, they must be added manually to the online system prior to the test.
RECEIVING PRECODED LABELS
Precoded labels for students registered for the test administration in the Assessment Management System will arrive in your district by October 5, 2012. Precoded labels will be included in your shipment of testing materials.
If you have questions about creating or submitting your student data file, call the Pearson's Austin Operations Center at 800-627-0225.