Maryland HSA Government and HS MISA Assessments Updates
Maryland HSA Government and HS MISA Assessments Updates
January 27, 2021
Maryland HSA Government and HS MISA Assessments Updates
February 10, 2021
January 2021 Administration Window
The January 2020 HS MISA and Government HSA window for both online and paper will close on Friday, February 5, 2021.
Scheduling UPS Pick Ups
The window for scheduling UPS Pick Ups opened on January 13, 2021. You are now able to submit requests within the HSA Portal to have UPS pick up any paper test materials that need to be returned. If you need a refresher on how to schedule a pick up, please refer to the UPS Pick Up Requests Quick Start Guide on the HSA Help & Support site (https://maryland.onlinehelp.cognia.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/15/2019/10/Instructions-for-UPS-Pick-Up-Requests_MD.pdf). The standard UPS pick up window closes on February 5, 2021, with a late pick up period ending on February 12, 2021. All test materials, including ancillary materials for online students, must be picked up by February 12, 2021. Shipments scheduled for pickup after February 12, 2021 will be paid for by the school/LSS.
Spring HSA Government Early Pre-ID Window
The Pre-ID window for the early Spring 2021 HSA Government Administration will open on Monday, February 8 and close on Friday, February 12, 2021. This Pre-ID window will allow LACs to bulk upload students who will participate in early testing for the HSA Government between February 22 and May 2, 2022.
- The enrollments loaded during this early Pre-ID window will not automatically order manuals or secure test materials. All manuals and secure test materials needed for early HSA Government testing must be manually ordered using the additional materials ordering process within the HSA Online Portal. A quick step guide showing an overview of the additional materials ordering process is available on the Help and Support site (https://maryland.onlinehelp.measuredprogress.org/guides/).
- If students do not need to participate in the early portion of the Spring HSA Government window, LACs may wait to submit Pre-ID files for both HSA Government and HS MISA together between March 1 and March 18, 2021.
- The enrollments loaded during the March Pre-ID window will automatically order administration manuals and paper test materials for both HSA Government and HS MISA. For any enrollments loaded after this time, you will need to order materials through the Additional Materials application.
Spring Administration Manuals
The digital copies of Spring 2021 Test Administration Manual for HSA Government and Test Coordinator Manual have been posted to the Help and Support site: https://maryland.onlinehelp.cognia.org/guides/.
Additional Materials Order Process Open
The window for ordering additional manuals and test will remain open through February 2, 2021. You can access the Online Materials Management tab within the HSA Portal. A Quick Start Guide is available on the Help and Support Site showing the steps for ordering additional materials: https://maryland.onlinehelp.cognia.org/guides/.
January 19 Refresher Training Recordings Available
The January 19 LAC and LEA 24 STC Refresher Trainings were recorded and have been posted to the Help and Support Site: https://maryland.onlinehelp.cognia.org/training/.
Key Dates Document
The 2020-2021 Key Dates Document can be found on the Help and Support site: (https://maryland.onlinehelp.cognia.org). Click the Printable Document link within the Key Dates section to locate the Key Dates PDF document.
Returning Unused Test Material
If you received materials for the January administration, but will be unable to complete in-person testing during the window, please register students for the upcoming spring administration. All unused January secure testing materials must be returned to Cognia. New materials must be ordered for the Spring administration.
- We have opened the UPS Pickup Window early. Beginning on Wednesday, January 13, you may use the Materials Management tool within the HSA Online Portal to schedule UPS Pickups for unused test booklets.
- You do not need to return manuals or unused answer sheets. All test booklets must be returned. Manuals and unused answer documents should be discarded after the January testing window ends.
Scheduling Test Sessions
You are now able to schedule test sessions using the HSA Portal. As a reminder, there is a small tutorial on the Help and Support site about creating classes and test sessions: https://maryland.onlinehelp.cognia.org/training/.
Statewide Schedule Tool
School Test Coordinators (STC) are expected to enter their testing schedule for HS MISA and Government on https://itempra.org/schedule. Schedules should be updated as changes occur due to weather or other events.
- The STC will need the password in order for the schedule to be saved on the tool. The password should not be shared with other staff needing to view the testing schedule. For assistance with the Statewide Schedule Tool please contact your LAC, MSDE (pauline.carey@maryland.gov), or view the training video at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DlxcniNph7A&feature=youtu.be.
January 2021 Paper Testing
We have created an ancillary document for the Paper Test Administration that provides the page numbers for the start of each session. This was mentioned in the January 2021 Test Administration Manual on page 1. That document has been posted to the Help & Support site (https://maryland.onlinehelp.cognia.org/reference-sheets/). Please be sure to share this document with the STCs in schools administering a paper test.
Data Cleared from Portal Following January Administration
The January HSA administration will close on February 5, 2021 at 4:00 PM EST. All student data including classes and test sessions will be cleared out of the portal over the weekend in preparation for the opening of the pre-ID window for Spring HSA Government which is February 8 – 12, 2021. The Spring HSA Government test window will open February 22, 2021.
January 2021 Test Manuals
The January 2021 Test Coordinator Manuals, Government Test Administrator Manuals, and HS MISA Test Administrator Manuals were shipped to each LSS and school on December 11, 2020. You can track this shipment on the Materials Management page in the HSA Portal. If you have not received your manuals, please contact the HSA Help Desk.
January 2021 Paper Test Materials
The paper test materials for January 2021 were shipped to each LSS and school on December 11, 2020. These materials were ordered based on the upload files submitted in the first Pre-ID window for students marked for accommodations requiring paper. You can track this shipment on the Materials Management page in the HSA Portal. If you have not received your test materials, please contact the HSA Help Desk.
January 2021 Administration Presentation
We have posted the January 2021 Administration Training PowerPoint to the Help & Support site for your use. You can locate the document in the PowerPoints section near the bottom of the Training page: https://maryland.onlinehelp.cognia.org/training/.
January Administration Manuals
The digital copies of January 2021 Test Administration Manuals and Test Coordinator Manual have been posted to the Help and Support site: https://maryland.onlinehelp.cognia.org/guides/.
HSA Help Desk Information
MSDE and Cognia are monitoring calls and emails to the Help Desk to assure responses are accurate and timely. Please continue to encourage that your STCs utilize this valuable resource.
- Email: HSAhelpdesk@cognia.org
- Phone number: 866.207.8804
Please let us know if you have questions or concerns.
