ACT District Testing

The ACT: Early Spring Administration

The ACT® District Testing program provides students the opportunity to earn college-reportable ACT scores by taking the test in their own classrooms. 

Test Dates

The ACT Taken on Paper

  • Initial Test Date: February 25, 2020
  • Initial Accommodations Testing Window: February 25-28, 2020 and March 2-6, 2020
  • Makeup Test Date: March 10, 2020
  • Makeup Accommodations Testing Window: March 10-13, 2020 and March 16-20, 2020

The ACT Taken Online*

  • Initial Online Testing Window: February 25-27, 2020 and March 3-5, 2020
  • Makeup Online Testing Window: March 10-12, 2020 and March 17-19, 2020
    *All dates listed are on a Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday

 

Quick Links

PearsonAccessnext
Test Accessibility & Accommodations System (TAA)
To search variety of district testing content click here 

 

Contact Information

ACT General Questions:
Phone: 800.553.6244, ext. 2800
Email: actdistricttesting@act.org

Accommodations:
Phone: 800.553.6244, ext. 1788
ACTStateAccoms@act.org

Welcome to Your Testing Program


Tips for Success

  • Bookmark this web page and check back frequently for updated content. Content will be added as it's available.
  • Mark important dates from your Schedule of Events on your calendar and set reminders for deadlines.
  • Familiarize yourself with the seven stages of the testing cycle (Orientation, Configuration, Verification, Preparation, Administration, Transportation, and Interpretation) by browsing the sections for the ACT. You can see a brief description, action items, and resources associated with each stage to help you get a feel for the testing timeline. Content will be linked as it becomes available.
  • Watch for emails from ACT with important reminders. Add our email address to your contacts to prevent emails from going to spam/junk folders.

Test Administration Process Overview

Select your current phase of the test administration process to see resources related to that section, or simply scroll down the page.

  1. Orientation - Get oriented with the testing program.
  2. Configuration - Configure testing setup and systems.
  3. Verification - Verify needs for accommodations and/or supports.
  4. Preparation - Prepare for testing.
  5. Administration - Administer the test successfully.
  6. Transportation - Transport materials and data to ACT.
  7. Interpretation - Interpret score reports and test data.

Orientation

Get oriented with the testing program.

Activity: Make Staff Arrangements

1. Confirm School Test Coordinator Assignment

Resources to complete this activity:

Tip: When the district test coordinator changes the school test coordinator in PearsonAccessnext, remember to deactivate the existing test coordinator’s user account. Updates need to be completed in two places; the manage contacts screen and creating a new user account.

2. Select Test Staff

Resources to complete this activity:

Activity: Manage Participation

Resources to complete this activity:

Activity: Verify the Shipping Address

Resources to complete this activity:

Activity: Learn about District Testing

Resources to complete this activity:

Configuration

Configure testing setup and systems.

Activity: Upload Student Data

Resources to complete this activity:

Activity: Verify Enrollment for Test Materials

1. Verify the enrollment count (the number of examinees expected to test) in PearsonAccessnext listed for:
  • Standard Time Testing
  • Accommodations Formats, Braille Formats, and Translated Test Instructions for English Learners
2. Check that all newly-enrolled students are in PearsonAccessnext by going to Setup, then Students
3. Enroll/unenroll examinees if the enrollment is not accurate

Resources to complete this activity:

Tip: To verify accommodations/supports counts, run an Accommodations and Supports Roster in PearsonAccessnext.

Activity: Site Readiness for Online Testing

Resources to complete this activity:

Activity: Order Test Materials

  • Additional standard time materials for the initial test date
    • for an enrollment increase after the Verify Enrollment for Test Materials deadline
    • if after receiving materials, more are needed
  • Standard time materials for the makeup test date

Resources to complete this activity:

Tip: If additional materials are needed for examinees authorized by ACT to test with accommodations/supports, call the ACT Accommodations team.

Tip: You can track test materials shipments using Orders & Shipment Tracking. See the View Status and Shipment Information section in the PearsonAccessnext User Guide.

Verification

Verify needs for accommodations and/or supports.

Activity: Request Accommodations and/or English Learner (EL) Supports

Resources to complete this activity:

Tip: The test coordinator can select one or more test accommodations coordinator(s) (TAC) to help identify examinees who may be eligible for accommodations and/or supports. The TAC may gather supporting documentation and parent/guardian consent to release information to ACT forms. Additionally, the TAC may enter requests in to the TAA system. Once the TC has access to the TAA system, the TC grants access to TACs.

Tip: Pay close attention to the dates that ACT is asking you to select in TAA. National test dates are also listed, so be sure to select the test dates for your administration.

Tip: If selecting the Late Consideration date in TAA, make sure to attach the Late Consideration Form in the request.

Tip: If requests are not authorized by ACT, you have the option to test these examinees with accommodations and/or supports, for non-college reportable scores. The test coordinator needs to order non-college reportable materials in PearsonAccessnext.

Preparation

Prepare for testing.

Activity: Prepare for Testing

1. Complete Non-Test Activities

Resources to complete this activity:

2. Prepare Your Examinees

Resources to complete this activity:

3. Prepare Your Facility, Staff, and Test Materials

Resources to complete this activity:

4. Verify and Update Examinee Information

Resources to complete this activity:

5. Prepare for Online Testing

Resources to complete this activity:

Administration 

Administer the test successfully.

Activity: Administer the Test

Resources to complete this activity:
Forms
Administration manuals
Supplements
Video

Tip: Ensure you are using the correct materials for your test date and type to avoid cancellation of scores.

Tip: If you are testing an examinee authorized for English learner supports, have the ACT-Authorized Bilingual Word-to-Word Dictionaries list handy to verify at check in that the examinee’s dictionary can be used for testing.

Transportation

Transport materials and Data to ACT.

Activity: Return Test Materials

Resources to complete this activity:

Tip: Do not return unused answer documents from initial testing. Use those for makeup testing.

Tip: Return answer documents following testing so they arrive at ACT by the receipt deadline listed on the Schedule of Events and can be scored.

Tip: Return all ACT-authorized accommodations materials at the end of the testing window, rather than returning materials for individual examinees as they complete testing.

Tip: If you receive an additional order, write your high school name and code on the return shipping labels.

Activity: Verify Enrollment for Invoice and Request to Unenroll Examinees

Resources to complete this activity:

Activity: Conclude Online Testing

Resources to complete this activity:

Interpretation

Interpret score reports and test data.

Activity: Access and Understand Score Reports

Resources to complete this activity:

Activity: Share Information with Examinees

Resources to complete this activity: