Test Security

Test Security Affidavit Guidance for the ELPAC

This section will provide guidance for TEs regarding the Test Security Affidavit. It covers information for the ELPAC. This information is to be used only when an assessment is administered remotely. There is no additional guidance for assessments administered in person.

The TE for the ELPAC is a role assigned in TOMS. Please note that all TEs must sign the Test Security Affidavit that is presented in TOMS the first time they log on. TEs should work to follow all the requirements listed in the affidavit.

It is understood that remote testing will bring challenges when it comes to test security. TEs will be working to assess students in a fashion that removes some of the ability to monitor what students are doing during testing. The information that follows outlines expectations:

During test sessions, the TE selects the videoconferencing application that best allows the TE to view the student video continually during testing to monitor students.
It is expected that the TE monitors students to the best of the TE’s ability during any test session. The TE should watch for any signs of outside assistance being given to the student. If noticed, the TE uses the videoconferencing tools to attempt to end any interactions between the student and others. If it does not stop, the TE should pause the student from the assessment and contact the site ELPAC coordinator. Please note that 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 screens, or assisting the student in any way.
It is expected that the TE looks for signs of unauthorized technology being used during the assessment. If noticed, the TE uses the communication tools available to the TE to direct a student to shut down the unauthorized technology. If it does not stop, the TE should pause the student from the assessment and contact the site ELPAC 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 TE should not share SSIDs with students in a way that would allow for another student to hear, see, or otherwise access the given SSID. SSIDs are to be shared with students through the methods described in the SSIDs subsection of this chapter.
At the end of a test session, the TE asks all students to show any used scratch paper on camera. The TE should then instruct the students to tear up all scratch paper while still on camera.
All TEs should watch the remote testing videos available on the Administer a Test Session web page.
Unlike assessments given at the school site, TEs have less control over the actions of the students and those in the same location as the student. The CDE is asking that TEs control the test security to the best of their ability. It is expected that any issues or events that the TE feels deviates from standard security should be reported. TEs will not be held responsible for any incident outside of their control during testing.

STAIRS Common Scenarios for Remote Testing

Table 1 presents the directions 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 person 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 person 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 TE can confirm that the student’s interaction with the person who was in the room during the test session was about the test content or has affected the student’s responses, the site ELPAC coordinator or LEA ELPAC coordinator should submit a STAIRS case using the “Validity Issue” incident type. This will result in an irregularity notation for the ELPAC on the student’s [Score Status] tab in the student’s profile in TOMS and in the reports related to STAIRS.
A student or another person takes a picture of the student or the student’s monitor or device during testing.	Breach	The TE should ask the student or person to delete the image while on camera. Then, the TE should pause the student’s assessment. If the TE can confirm that the picture also captured secure material, the site ELPAC coordinator or LEA ELPAC coordinator should submit a STAIRS case using the “Exposing Secure Materials” incident type. This will result in an irregularity notation for the ELPAC on the student’s [Score Status] tab in the student’s profile in TOMS and in the reports related to STAIRS.
The student used an unauthorized device, application, or software during testing.	Breach	The TE should ask the student to put the unauthorized device away or close the unauthorized application or software. Then, the TE should pause the student’s assessment. The site ELPAC coordinator or LEA ELPAC coordinator should submit a STAIRS case using the “Student Cheating or Accessing Unauthorized Devices” incident type. This will result in an irregularity notation for the ELPAC on the student’s [Score Status] tab in the student’s profile in TOMS and in the reports related to STAIRS.
The student started or completed the domain-level assessment in the absence of ongoing, mandatory video monitoring during a remote test session.	Irregularity	The site ELPAC coordinator or LEA ELPAC coordinator should submit a nonappealable STAIRS incident to report the irregularity. If the student is yet to complete testing, pause the assessment and resume with live video monitoring in place. The incident must be reported by the site ELPAC coordinator or LEA ELPAC coordinator in STAIRS. This will result in an irregularity notation for the ELPAC on the student’s [Score Status] tab in the student’s profile in TOMS and in the reports related to STAIRS.
The student or TE loses video or chat access during testing.	Impropriety	The TE should pause the assessment and allow the student to join with video access enabled. If the ELPAC Reading or Listening domain was paused for more than 20 minutes and the student(s) needs to return to previous items, the site ELPAC coordinator or LEA ELPAC coordinator should submit a STAIRS case using the “Technical Issues” incident type. This will result in a Grace Period Extension Appeal. Note that a Grace Period Extension Appeal is applicable for the Reading and Listening domains only. If the TE forgot to pause the assessment, the site ELPAC coordinator or LEA ELPAC coordinator should submit a STAIRS incident that is nonappealable. This will result in an irregularity notation for the ELPAC on the student’s [Score Status] tab in the student’s profile in TOMS and in the reports related to STAIRS.
The student’s assessment expired.	Impropriety	If the assessment needs to be reopened, the site ELPAC coordinator or LEA ELPAC coordinator should submit a STAIRS case using the “Expired or Accidentally Submitted Test” incident type. This will result in a Reopen Appeal.
The TE did not witness the student destroying student answers to the K–2 ELPAC Writing domain.	Breach	The site ELPAC coordinator or LEA ELPAC coordinator should submit a STAIRS case using the “Exposing Secure Materials” incident type. This will result in a nonappealable STAIRS case.
The wrong test administration option was selected, resulting in an in-person session type being selected instead of the remote test administration option.	Impropriety	The site ELPAC coordinator or LEA ELPAC coordinator should submit a nonappealable STAIRS case using the “Administration Error” incident type when an incorrect test type was selected. This will result in an irregularity notation for the ELPAC on the student’s [Score Status] tab in the student’s profile in TOMS and in the reports related to STAIRS.
Administration of a remote test session was supervised ineffectively by qualified, trained personnel.	Impropriety	The site ELPAC coordinator or LEA ELPAC 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.