Overview

Click Here to Watch the Video on this process (PARCC file video)

This guide provides a step-by-step guide to uploading the test result files for NJSLA or NJGPA assessments, and then mapping the results to the new Graduation Requirements for the Class of 2016 and greater.

Because the PARCC/NJSLA/NJGPA score result files contain the scores for all of the test/exam codes (ex: student listed twice for Math & ELA) in one file, this method was designed to allow you to import the assessment results once by mapping the EXAM Code or TEST Code when importing your results.

Importing Test Scores

• Visit the Assessment > Setup > Assessments tab and verify you have an assessment template already created for your latest results file:

• If not, you may use the Add an Assessment Definition button to create a new template/definition as follows: 

• After clicking Add Assessment you will be taken to the Modify Assessment tab.  Click into the Results Files tab instead, to import your score file:

• Click on Upload New Result File button, and use the prompt (above) to choose the file from your computer. Click Upload File when you have finished locating your file with the "Add new results file" option selected. 

NOTE: We recommend using the original results file as received from the state or testing company. Do not attempt to alter the file, as these directions may no longer work for you.

• The screen will then present some properties about the file, as well as a list of all columns detected. A copy of your file is now saved inside of Genesis. 
• Using the Result File portion of the screen, indicate Year Taken and Month Taken, as well as School Year if applicable. Do not fill out Exam Taken, as this information must be captured from within the NJSLA/NJGPA score files:

• Click Save and re-analyze to save the information in the Result File area. Do not click Import scores... until you have completed the bottom portion of the screen as well: 
• Move onto the File Info. portion of the screen. At a minimum, you will need to map the following fields:

• If mapping a column to Date of Birth or Date Taken as the Type of Column, be sure to fill out the Option box as well with the proper date format. See Sample Data column for an example of the format used.
• Click Save Column Mappings to save your work so far. You should now see the message "There are not enough columns...identify a student" disappear. 
• Now scroll further down until you reach the column titled Test Code. For this column, indicate Exam Name as the 'column type'. This will tell Genesis which test(s) the students scores apply to, and helps the system differentiate between the ELA and Math exams: 

• Now scroll further down until you reach the column titled Test Scale Score or Overall Score. For this column, indicate Score (6) as the 'column type'. This will tell Genesis to store the students' scores in the 'generic' score 'bucket' titled "Score" (not subject-specific):

• Push Save Column Mappings again. Now you're ready to import the scores!

• When finished, go back to the top and push Import Scores from Selected File to begin the import. This may take a moment to generate results...

• On the following screen, a list of possible errors may be presented to you. Use the error key to reference what the issue may be. These icons will show up next to students who have that issue:

Issue #1: Student has no score in this file. Check mapping.

This issue is common, and indicates the student is listed in the file, but with no scores in the Scale Score column. 

Issue #2: Student has multiple scores in this file with same key (Assessment Test/Exam/Year/Month). Scores with duplicate keys will NOT be imported.

This could mean there is something wrong with your column mapping. Go back and verify the Result Files screen was configured properly for the import. 

Issue #3: Student already has a score record for this Assessment in the system. Students may only have ONE score per Test Name, Exam Name, Assessment Year, Assessment Month. Score will be skipped.

This is likely because these scores were already imported, and you should check existing student assessments to verify whether this batch of scores was already loaded into Genesis.

• Another issue that could occur, is the student is listed in the file, but was not found within your Genesis. These students will appear with a blank local ID field, which you may use to manually enter the student's ID number. 
• When finished, click Validate Student IDs and Save. Genesis will now load the data onto your student records. Once it's complete, you'll be able to view this data within your students' Assessments tab.

Setting up Graduation Requirements

• Navigate to the ASSESSMENT > GRADUATION tab in Genesis.  If you do not have the Graduation Requirement already, hit the “Create Graduation Assessment Mapping” button to begin.

The first three rows in the dialog box represent the Assessment Graduation rule you are trying to setup.  In this example (below) we are creating the NJ Graduation Requirement involving the Geometry PARCC exam. 

Because this is a  requirement for the MATH subject, we select MATH from the Assessment subject and enter the minimum required score a student needs to fulfill the requirement (which was 725 as of 2016-17 school year).

The next 5 fields tell Genesis where it should pull score information for the Graduation Requirement you are setting up.'

The “Assessment Definition Test Name” dropdown contains all of the tests you have setup in your Assessment Definitions. 

For example, in our instructions for loading in your PARCC results we created a definition call “My PARCC File” and filled in the TEST to be PARCC.

By selecting “PARCC” from the  “Assessment Definition Test Name” dropdown, you are telling Genesis that when searching for PARCC Geometry  scores for graduation, to look at any Assessment Definition that has "PARCC" listed in the TEST field.

Because our PARCC result files may have scores for more than one PARCC test, we need to create one additional mapping.

This is where the “Assessment Test Exam Name” dropdown comes into play.

Since we are looking to map scores for the PARCC Geometry test, go ahead and select “GEO01” from the dropdown.

Lastly, we need to tell Genesis which column you have stored the score for this requirement.  As we loaded all of our PARCC scores into the column 6 (Score column seen below) we will enter a 6 here.

Go ahead and map the rest of your PARCC tests.  The result should look something like this.

Creating a Proficiency Scale per Exam

Because we have loaded all of our PARCC exams into a single assessment, you may choose to setup your Proficiency Scale per exam per score range as a 720, for example, may mean something different on the ALG01 exam than it does the ALG02 exam.  In order to do so, you will need to map the Exam name when creating your scale.  In the image below, you can see how this scale has been set to display different proficiency levels for identical scores on the ALG01 and ALG02 exams. 

If using this method, make sure you create ranges for ALL of the possible PARCC exams (ELA03 - ELA11, MAT03 - MAT08, ALG01, ALG02, GEO01).

Reference for 2014/2015 PARCC scoring http://www.state.nj.us/education/assessment/parcc/scores/Fall14Spring15SRIG.pdf