Description of TIDE

CAI's TIDE system supports state, district, and test coordinators throughout the testing process, from test preparation, to test administration, to post-administration. TIDE includes features that allow users to manage user and student information, order testing materials, track orders, monitor test progress, and execute administrative functions such as test resets or reopens.

Figure 1 illustrates TIDE's operational functions and their place in the assessment process. At its core, TIDE contains a list of students enrolled in Connecticut’s schools. TIDE receives the vast majority of this student information from uploads from the Public School Information System (PSIS), although TIDE has features for adding students manually. TIDE then distributes this information to the appropriate system. TIDE sends to the Test Delivery System (TDS) students' eligibilities, settings, and accommodations; this enables TDS to deliver the appropriate test to any given student in the required format. TIDE sends to the Online Reporting System (ORS) students' institutional associations; this enables ORS to aggregate scores at the classroom, school, district, and state levels.

Figure 1: TIDE's Position in the Assessment Process