Preparing for Administration

This section provides an overview of the various tasks and actions LEAs should complete to prepare for administering the CAASPP System of Assessments. Additional preparation resources for the CAAs and CSA, including the PFAs, are available on the California Alternate Assessments (CAAs) web page (for the CAAs for ELA and mathematics and the CAA for Science) and the California Spanish Assessment web page (for the CSA).

Student Data

CALPADS is the authoritative source for student enrollment, demographic, and program information for TOMS. The student-level data from CALPADS will be used for the Smarter Balanced assessments (summative and interim), CAAs, CAST, CSA, as well as the computer-based ELPAC. The use of CALPADS data for these assessments underscores the importance of keeping CALPADS up to date and accurate.

The minimum data that needs to be correct in CALPADS for a student to start testing is as follows:

  • Name
  • Grade
  • School and LEA information
  • CALPADS enrollment status of 10 (primary) or 30 (short-term)
  • US school entry data (if the student is an EL)
  • Parent/Guardian address (to be printed on SSRs)
  • The education program field (if the student is to take the CAA or receive designated supports, accommodations, unlisted resources, or any combination of these)

Accurate student demographic data for the final, downloadable student data file must be entered before the end of the LEA’s selected testing window. CALPADS documentation, including field names and field codes, and information about CALPADS support are available on the CDE California Longitudinal Pupil Achievement Data System (CALPADS) web page.

Using TOMS to Prepare for Administration

TOMS is a secure website where authorized users from LEAs can perform tasks for CAASPP, including (but not limited to) the following:

  • Add and delete users
  • Assign students’ test settings
  • Manage test administration
  • Access CAA DFAs, and optional testing materials for remote testing, such as Teacher Answer Books and Student Writing Response Sheets
  • Access STAIRS to submit testing incident reports
  • Download data, including student files and test reports

Usernames and Passwords

Usernames and passwords are created in TOMS after an LEA CAASPP coordinator or CAASPP test site coordinator has entered users for access. Having a username and password allows TAs and TEs to log on to the Test Administrator Interface, which is necessary to generate a test session ID and approve students for testing.

For more information about the different user roles in TOMS, refer to the CAASPP and ELPAC TOMS User Guide web manual.

Student Test Assignment in TOMS

LEA CAASPP coordinators and CAASPP test site coordinators must use TOMS to verify that all eligible students have been assigned to take the assessments for which they are eligible. Student eligibility is based on the student demographic data from CALPADS that is uploaded into TOMS on a nightly basis; students are automatically assigned to take the general assessments based on this data. It is important for LEAs to keep CALPADS data up to date.

LEA CAASPP coordinators or CAASPP test site coordinators are responsible to assign the CAAs to eligible students, as needed.

Information about setting up student test assignments in TOMS, including using the bulk upload option, can be found in the Upload Student Updates: Overview subsection of the CAASPP and ELPAC TOMS User Guide web manual.

Student Test Settings in TOMS

Embedded and non-embedded accommodations and designated supports that do not affect student scores are available for students taking an assessment. Configuring student test settings in TOMS ensures that students receive the assigned embedded accessibility resources for the computer-based assessments. These accommodations and designated supports must be assigned in the [Test Settings] tab of the student’s profile in TOMS. For more information about available accessibility resources and helpful videos about test settings, refer to the Accessibility Resources web page on the CAASPP website as well as the CAASPP and ELPAC Accessibility Guide.

Any changes to student test settings in TOMS must be completed before the student can test. The update, once made, may take up to 24 business hours to appear in the Test Administrator Interface. Failure to correct test settings before testing, which is a testing irregularity, could result in the student not being provided with the needed accommodations, designated supports, or both at the time of testing.

Information about assigning student test settings in TOMS can be found in the Student Profile—Test Settings Overview subsection of the CAASPP and ELPAC TOMS User Guide web manual.

Technology Infrastructure

Prior to assessment administration, LEA CAASPP coordinators, CAASPP test site coordinators, technology coordinators, TAs, and TEs should review the technology infrastructure at their schools to ensure it meets the minimum requirements for administering the CAASPP computer-based assessments.

The CAASPP and ELPAC Technical Specifications and Configuration Guide for Online Testing web manual provides the technical specifications for computer-based testing. This includes information about internet and network infrastructure requirements, hardware and software requirements, and secure browser installation.

The Secure Browser

All students must use a secure browser to access operational assessments. Most devices that will be used for testing must be equipped with version 16 of the secure browser prior to the assessment. The secure browser is updated each year and must be downloaded and installed or updated prior to assessment, even if the device was used for testing in a prior year.

The secure browser is designed to support test security by prohibiting access to external applications or navigation away from the assessment.

School technology coordinators are responsible for ensuring that each device to be used for testing at the school has the most current secure browser version installed. Secure browsers are available for download on the Secure Browsers web page. Instructions for installing and configuring the secure browser on student devices can be found in the CAASPP and ELPAC Technical Specifications and Configuration Guide for Online Testing.