Test Security

Test Security Affidavit Guidance

This topic provides guidance for TAs regarding the CAASPP Test Security Affidavit. This information is to be used only when an assessment is administered remotely. There is no additional guidance for assessments administered in person. (The CAAs, which are administered by a test examiner, are not administered remotely, so they are not part of this guidance.)

The TA for the CAASPP is a role assigned in TOMS. All TAs must sign the Test Security Affidavit that is presented in TOMS the first time they log on. TAs should work to follow all the requirements listed in the affidavit.

It is understood that remote testing brings test security challenges. Remote administration removes some of the TA’s ability to monitor what students are doing during testing. The information that follows outlines expectations:

It is expected that the TA monitors students to the best of the TA’s ability during any test session; the CDE asks that TAs control test security to the best of their ability. What follows are general guidelines for TAs:
- The TA should watch for any signs of outside assistance being given to the student. If noticed, the TA uses the Test Administrator Interface to attempt to end any interactions between the student and others. If it does not stop, the TA should pause the student from the assessment and contact the site CAASPP coordinator.
- Because of individual distance learning conditions, a student might have others in the same room while testing. This is not a security issue as long as others are not interacting with the student, looking at the test screen, or assisting the student in any way.
- It is understood that TAs have less control over the actions of the students and those in the same location as the student than they would during an in-person administration at the school site.
- It is expected that any issues or events that the TA feels deviates from standard security should be reported to the test site coordinator.
- TAs will not be held responsible for any incident outside of their control during testing.
It is expected that the TA looks for signs of unauthorized technology being used during the assessment. If noticed, the TA uses the available communication tools to direct a student to shut down the unauthorized technology. If the student continues to use unauthorized technology or it is clear that the security of the test is compromised, the TA should pause the student from the assessment and contact the CAASPP test site coordinator who may make the decision to open a STAIRS case based on a scenario in table 1 of the STAIRS Common Scenarios for Remote Testing subsection.
The TA should not share SSIDs with students in a way that would allow for another student to hear, see, or otherwise access the given SSID. Instead, SSIDs are to be shared with students through the methods described in the SSIDs subsection of this topic.
TAs should adhere to the following rules regarding scratch paper:
- At the end of a CAT test session, the TA should ask all students to show any used scratch paper on camera. The TA should then instruct the students to tear up all scratch paper while still on camera.
- Students being administered a PT can keep any scratch paper until the end of the PT, even if the PT runs over multiple sessions. Then, once students have completed the PT, the TA should instruct the students to tear up all scratch paper while still on camera. (Refer also to the Using and Securely Destroying Scratch Paper for PTs subtopic.)
All TAs should watch the remote testing videos available on the Videos and Quick Reference Guides web page.

Test Security Audits

Test security audits will be conducted in person for the 2023–24 CAASPP administration. Audits are conducted by Intouch Insight, which will contact selected LEA CAASPP coordinators by phone to schedule the audit when it is convenient for the school and all necessary personnel.

View the CAASPP and ELPAC Test Security Audit Questionnaire to preview a list of questions that will be asked by the test security auditor.

STAIRS Common Scenarios for Remote Testing

STAIRS, which is available in TOMS, is the means by which a coordinator reports a qualifying summative test security incident. The Identifying Testing Improprieties, Irregularities, and Breaches topic of this manual provides an overview of CAASPP test security and the STAIRS/Appeals process. The Security Incidents and Appeals Procedure Guide provides definitions and instructions for CAASPP LEA and site coordinators who file reports of testing improprieties, irregularities, and breaches that are encountered. Table 1 presents the guidelines for common remote testing scenarios in STAIRS.

Table 1. STAIRS Common Scenarios for Remote Testing
Testing Scenario	Incident Type	STAIRS Guidelines
A parent/guardian or another individual enters the room while the student is testing. The parent/guardian does not interact with the student.	None	No STAIRS case is needed.
A parent/guardian or another individual enters the room while the student is testing. The parent/guardian does interact with the student or assists the student with answering a test question.	Breach	If the TA can confirm that the student’s interaction with the individual who was in the room during the test session was about the test content or the interaction has affected the student’s responses, the CAASPP test site coordinator or LEA CAASPP coordinator should submit a STAIRS case using the “Validity Issue” incident type. This will result in an Invalidate Appeal.
A student or another individual takes a picture of the student or the student’s monitor or device during testing.	Breach	The TA should ask the student or individual to delete the image while on camera. Then, the TA should pause the student’s test. If the TA can confirm that the picture also captured secure material, the CAASPP test site coordinator or LEA CAASPP coordinator should submit a STAIRS case using the “Exposing Secure Materials” incident type. This will result in an Invalidate Appeal if the source of the breach is the student.
The student used an unauthorized device, application, or software during testing.	Irregularity	The TA should ask the student to put the unauthorized device away or close the unauthorized application or software. Then, the TA should pause the student’s test. The CAASPP test site coordinator or LEA CAASPP coordinator should submit a STAIRS case using the “Student Cheating or Accessing Unauthorized Devices” incident type. This will result in an Invalidate Appeal.
The student or TA loses video or chat access during testing.	Impropriety	The TA should pause the test and allow the student to join with video access enabled. If the test is a Smarter Balanced for ELA or mathematics CAT or the CAST, was paused for more than 20 minutes, and the student needs to return to previous items, the CAASPP test site coordinator or LEA CAASPP coordinator should submit a Grace Period Extension Appeal using the “Technical Issues” incident type. If the TA did not pause the test within 20 minutes, the CAASPP test site coordinator or LEA CAASPP coordinator should submit a STAIRS incident. This will result in a nonappealable STAIRS case.
The student’s test expired.	Impropriety	If the test needs to be reopened, the CAASPP test site coordinator or LEA CAASPP coordinator should submit a STAIRS case using the “Expired or Accidentally Submitted Test” incident type. This will result in a Re-open Appeal.
The wrong test administration option was selected, resulting in an in-person test session type being selected instead of the Remote or Hybrid test administration option.	Irregularity	The CAASPP test site coordinator or LEA CAASPP coordinator should submit a nonappealable STAIRS case using the “Administration Error” incident type when an incorrect test type was selected.
Administration of a remote test session was supervised ineffectively by qualified, trained personnel.	Irregularity	The CAASPP test site coordinator or LEA CAASPP coordinator should submit a STAIRS case using the “Administration Error” incident type. Indicate that “there was a failure to ensure administration and supervision of the assessment(s) by qualified, trained personnel.” This will result in a nonappealable STAIRS case.