Administering a Computer-based Test Session

This section contains information on how to start a test session, add tests to the session, verify a student’s test settings, approve a student for testing, and monitor the student’s progress.

Computer-based Assessments:

• Green—Smarter Balanced Interim Assessments
• Red—Smarter Balanced Summative Assessments
• Indigo—California Alternate Assessments (CAA)
• Brown—California Science Test (CAST)
• Mint—California Spanish Assessment (CSA)
• Teal—Initial ELPAC
• Blue—Summative ELPAC
• Orange—Alternate ELPAC
• Purple—Initial Alternate ELPAC

Online Practice and Training Tests:

• Pink—All practice tests
• Golden Yellow—All training tests

A test session must be created before the TE can log the student on to the secure student browser. For a student to take a specific test, the test must be selected in the test session.

Entering Student Responses into the System

A student or the TE may enter responses into the testing device using a mouse, keyboard, or other assistive technology as necessary. The DFAs and training materials include guidance on the use of engagement strategies, including the “Mark as No Response” functionality and the use of pauses and breaks, so that TEs can identify when it is appropriate to continue administering the test or when it is appropriate to stop testing and submit the test.

LEAs can refer to the Response Options for Alternate Assessments flyer for more information on what to do during the assessment based on the student’s needs, skills, and abilities. Decisions on how to administer a test to each student should be informed by the TE’s knowledge of the individual student.

Using the Mark as No Response Feature

TEs should follow guidance in the DFAs and training on the use of engagement strategies, including the use of the “Mark as No Response” option. For cases where the student is presented with a question and does not respond, after attempts to reengage the student have been made either the same day or during another session, TEs should use the “Mark as No Response” option. On each test question within the student interface, TEs have the ability to select “Mark as No Response” in the context menu. Questions that have been marked as no response can be presented to the student again as appropriate. If the TE determines that the student’s test should be stopped and submitted, the TE should be sure that at least one receptive and one expressive test question have been responded to or have the “Mark as No Response” option selected in the context menu to count the student as having participated in the assessment. Questions that have been marked as no response will have this symbol of a circle with a diagonal line through it: .

Note that to be considered as having participated in the Initial Alternate ELPAC, a response must be indicated using the MC options or the “Mark as No Response” option in the context menu for, at minimum, one receptive test question and one expressive test question. If a student’s test is submitted without a response for at least one expressive test question and one receptive test question, then the student will not be counted as having participated. In the administration scripts, receptive test questions are marked with an “R” [] icon, and expressive test questions with an “E” [] icon. LEAs can refer to the Alternate ELPAC Participation and Scoring flyer for more information.

Figure 1 shows how to select the “Mark as No Response” option in the TDS. A warning will appear. More information on the “Mark as No Response” feature is available in the DFA.

Figure 1. “Mark as No Response” option

Figure 2 shows the warning that appears when the “Mark as No Response” feature is used.

Figure 2. “Mark as No Response” warning message box

Pause Rules

The pause rules that follow apply regardless of whether the student or the TE pauses the test, or whether there was a technical issue (for example, power outage or network failure) that resulted in the student being logged off. The same pause rules used on the CAAs apply to the Initial Alternate ELPAC. For example, the TE may pause and resume the test as many times as necessary to allow the student to perform well, even if this means that a test will be administered over a number of days. However, once the testing window has closed, all open tests will be force-submitted and students will not be able to continue testing.

Test Timeout (Due to Inactivity)

As a security measure, the student and TE are automatically logged off after 30 minutes of test inactivity. For the student, activity is defined as selecting an answer or navigation option in the assessment (for example, selecting [Next] or [Back] or using the Questions drop-down list to navigate to another item). Moving the mouse or selecting an empty space on the screen is not considered activity. This timeout also results in the test being paused automatically.

For the TE, activity means that the student is registering test activity. As long as the student is testing, the TE will not be logged off. If the student is not engaging with the items, the TE can pause and resume the test as many times as necessary, including over multiple days. Be sure to keep in mind that the test will expire at the end of the testing window. LEAs can refer to the Response Options for Alternate Assessments flyer for more information on when to pause and resume testing during the assessment.

Before the secure browser logs the student off the test, a warning message will be displayed on the screen. If [OK] is not selected within 60 seconds after this message appears, the student will be logged off. Selecting [OK] will restart the 30-minute inactivity timer.

Figure 3 provides an example of the message that appears in a test timeout warning:

Figure 3. Test timeout warning message

Test Expiration Rules

“Opportunities” refers to the number of times a student can take a test within a range of dates. The test remains active until the student completes and submits the test or until the test expires, whichever occurs sooner. The test will expire 30 days after the student begins testing or once the testing window has closed, whichever occurs sooner. Once a test opportunity expires, the student cannot complete or review the test without submitting a STAIRS case that concludes in a reopen.

Estimated Testing Times

The Initial Alternate ELPAC is an untimed test. Each task type is presented in each grade level or grade span. The estimated cumulative testing time for the Initial Alternate ELPAC is 40 to 60 minutes. This estimated testing time includes the presentation of student directions, stories, and test questions. The estimated testing time does not include logon and device setup time.

The estimated time for the administration of each task type is provided in table 1.

Beginning the Test

Follow these instructions to administer the Initial Alternate ELPAC. The TE must create a test session before logging the student on the student device via the secure browser (but no more than 30 minutes prior or the system will time out). The TE can also schedule a session ahead of time by specifying the start and end date in the Test Administrator Interface. When a TE creates a test session, a unique session ID is randomly generated. This session ID must be inserted into the student device and should be written down. A review of these logon instructions is also provided in the DFA.

The basic workflow for administering computer-based tests is as follows:

1. The TE selects the tests and starts a test session in the Test Administrator Interface.
2. The TE or student signs in for the test in the secure browser.
3. The TE reviews and approves the student’s requests for testing. The TE should verify whether all of the accessibility resources are appropriately assigned to the student at this time.
4. The TE administers the test one-on-one with the student and uses the guidelines in the student’s IEP. Once the testing has been completed, the TE submits the student’s test.
5. The TE stops the test session and logs off.

The TE completes the following steps to begin the assessment:

1. Navigate to the ELPAC website on a supported web browser.

2. Select the [Test Administrator Interface for All Online Tests] button, as shown in figure 4.

   

   Figure 4. [Test Administrator Interface for All Online Tests] button

3. Log on to the Test Administrator Interface using the TE’s TOMS sign-in credentials, as shown in figure 5.

   

   Figure 5. Test Administrator Interface Logon screen

4. If the TE is associated with multiple schools, an “Important!” message appears when the TE logs on. The TE must select the appropriate school from the Select your School/District drop-down list in this message and select the [Go] button, as shown in figure 6. The TE may only select one school or district at a time. The TE will only be able to administer tests available for the selected school or district. To select a different school or district, the TE must log off and then log back on.

   

   Figure 6. Message from the Test Administrator Interface

5. The Operational Test Selection screen, as shown in figure 7, color-codes tests and groups them into various categories. A test group may include one or more subgroups. All test groups and subgroups appear collapsed by default. Select the “Initial Alternate English Language Proficiency Assessments (ELPAC)” test group to begin.

   

   Figure 7. Operational Test Selection screen

6. To select tests for the session, mark the checkbox for the test that is to be included, as shown in figure 8.

   

   Figure 8. Expanded Operational Test Selection screen

7. Select [OK] in the Important! confirmation box that opens (figure 9).

   

   Figure 9. Important! confirmation box

8. Either use the filtering feature to open specific grade level, grade span, or content-area assessments; or, to start the test, select the [Start Operational Session] button. These features are shown in figure 10.
   1. Select the [Add Filter] button [] to access the filter panel.

   2. Expand the available filter categories by selecting a [Plus] plus-sign [] icon (as shown in figure 10).

      

      Figure 10. Sample Operational Test Selection screen with filtering option

   3. Check the criteria to filter.
   4. Select the [Apply Filter(s)] button [] (indicated in figure 10).

   5. Remove the filter by selecting the [Remove Filter] “X” icon [] (indicated in figure 11, which also presents the screen that displays after the [Apply Filter(s)] button was selected).

      

      Figure 11. Sample Operational Test Selection screen with filtering applied

   6. Select the [Start Operational Session] button, as shown in figure 12.

      

      Figure 12. Operational Test Selection screen

9. The session ID is automatically generated upon selecting the [Start Operational Session] button in the previous step. Write the session ID, as shown in figure 13, and provide the written session ID directly to the student for one-on-one administration, or enter the session ID directly into the secure browser to help the student log on.

   

   Figure 13. Top of the Test Administrator Interface

10. Instruct the student to open the secure browser, if it is not open already, and log on using the Student Sign In web form. For a student who may require assistance, help the student perform the sign-in steps.

11. Student
    Sign in using the Student Sign In web form, as shown in figure 14. The student or the TE (if the student needs assistance) will enter the first name and the SSID of the student as it appears in CALPADS. The test session ID must be entered as it appears on the Test Administrator Interface.

    

    Figure 14. Student Sign In web form

12. Test Examiner
    Ensure that all information has been successfully entered into the system.

13. Student
    Verify identity by selecting [Yes] or [No], as shown in figure 15.

    

    Figure 15. Is This You? screen

14. Student
    Select the test to take, as shown in figure 16.

    

    Figure 16. Your Tests selection box

15. Student
    TE approves the student to be tested, as shown in figure 17.

    

    Figure 17. Waiting for Approval dialog box

    Steps 16 through 19 are completed on the TE device.

16. Test Examiner
    Approve the student for testing by opening the [Approvals] tab and then selecting the [Approve] check mark [] icon in the Actions column for the individual student, as shown in figure 18.

    

    Figure 18. Approvals and Student Test Settings screen

17. Test Examiner
    Select the [View] eye [] icon, as indicated in figure 18, to view and correct the student’s test settings for the current test opportunity. “Custom” in the See Details column indicates the student has been assigned test settings. Refer to the Accessibility Resources subsection of this manual for the embedded resources that are available for the Initial Alternate ELPAC.

    1. To confirm the settings, select [Set] at the top of the student’s Test Settings screen (figure 19). The TE must still approve the student for testing.
    2. To confirm the settings and approve the student, select the [Set & Approve] button (figure 19).
    3. To return to the Approvals and Student Test Settings screen without confirming settings, select [Cancel] (figure 19).

    

    Figure 19. Part of the Test Settings screen for a selected student

18. Test Examiner
    If the settings are incorrect, the TE should select [Cancel]. The TE must report the incorrect test settings to the site ELPAC coordinator, who will update them as required in TOMS and reschedule the student’s testing. The update, once made, may take up to 24 to 48 hours to appear in the Test Administrator Interface. After a student’s test settings are corrected, the test can be administered to the student as previously described.

19. Student
    The Instructions and Help screen is the last step of the sign-in process (figure 20).

    

    Figure 20. Instructions and Help screen

20. Student
    The TE may use the Review Test Settings screen to review settings that were approved for the student to use during the test (figure 21). The TE may use the Help Guide to understand how to navigate the test and use test tools.

    

    Figure 21. Review Test Settings screen

21. Student
    Select [Begin Test Now] (indicated in figure 20) to begin testing.

22. Student
    A message will appear prior to administering the test to the student verifying the correct DFA, and picture cards, if appropriate, are available before testing (figure 22). Note that if the DFA does not match the grade-level test the student should be taking, do not continue with the test. Notify the LEA ELPAC coordinator.

    

    Figure 22. Confirm testing materials message

23. Test Examiner
    Follow the scripts in the DFA as the administration gets underway. While administering the Initial Alternate ELPAC, TEs are encouraged to provide the student pauses and breaks (including pausing and returning to the test on another day) to give the student the opportunity to demonstrate as much of the student’s language proficiency as possible without overburdening the student by presenting the student with questions that the student is not able to meaningfully respond to. These pauses and breaks are not considered stopping the test and should be done prior to submitting the test. Monitor the student during the test administration to decide when it is appropriate to stop and submit the test. Refer to the DFA for guidance on the administration of the Initial Alternate ELPAC.

Monitoring Progress in Test Administrator Interface

Test Administrator Site Layout

Figure 23 displays the layout of the Test Administrator Site during an active test session.

Figure 23. Test Administrator Site layout

Essential Features

The following are essential features in the Test Administrator Site:

1. Session ID
2. [Select Tests] button
3. [Approvals] button
4. Tests without issue table

Figure 24 and table 2 provide an overview of the major features available in the Test Administrator Site.

Figure 24. Top of Test Administrator Interface screen

Alert Messages

The CDE can send statewide alerts that appear as pop-up messages on the Test Administrator Site. Refer to the sample in figure 25.

Figure 25. Record of alerts

How to Monitor Test Progress

A TE may also use the Test Administrator Interface to view the testing progress of any student. This screen will not show test questions or scores but will let the TE know the percentage of questions that have been delivered to the student.

At the start of the test, the student in the session is listed in the Tests without issue table. If the Test Administrator Interface detects a pending print request or a student’s test having been paused because of an environment security breach or because of the launch of a forbidden application, the Tests with potential issues table appears at the top.

The Progress column in the Tests table is called out in figure 26.

Figure 26. Monitoring student progress in the Test Administrator Interface

Table 3 describes the columns in the Tests table.

Table 4 describes the codes in the Status column of the Tests table.

* Statuses marked with an asterisk (*) appear when the student is not actively testing. The student’s row grays out in such cases.

Test Security

If the TE witnesses or suspects the possibility of a test security incident, the site ELPAC coordinator and LEA ELPAC coordinator should be contacted immediately in accordance with the security guidance provided in the Test Security for the Initial Alternate ELPAC section of this manual.

Enabling Screen Saver Mode

Because the student test progress tables in the Test Administrator Interface may contain sensitive student information, such as SSIDs, there is a screen saver built into the Test Administrator Interface that will be active in the web browser application window either when the TE activates it, or it will activate automatically if the TE is not active in the Test Administrator Interface for five minutes. It turns off when the TE returns the device’s focus to the web browser window by, for example, moving a mouse’s cursor over it. It will also turn off automatically if the test session times out because of TE or student inactivity. The TE should turn on the screen saver once the TE has approved the test since the TE will not need to be monitoring the assessment on this device.

The screen saver masking hides data from view and shows the session ID, as presented in figure 27. When students are awaiting approval when the screen saver is active, this information is included under the session ID.

Figure 27. Sample session ID in the Test Administrator Interface screen saver

The TE can turn the screen saver on manually by selecting the Toggle Screensaver option from the Menu drop-down list. The Toggle Screensaver option is indicated in figure 28.

Figure 28. Toggle Screensaver option

How to Approve Print Requests

A student using the print-on-demand tool can request printouts of test passages and questions. The print-on-demand designated support must be assigned in the test settings in TOMS. When the print request is selected, the request notification appears in the Tests with potential issues table (figure 29).

To submit print requests:

1. Select the [Print] printer [] icon in the top navigation bar in the student interface. The request will be sent to the Test Administrator Interface for the TE to approve (figure 29).

   

   Figure 29. Print Request Sent to Test Administrator dialog box

To approve print requests:

1. Select the [Print] printer [] icon in the Actions column of the Tests with potential issues table (figure 30).

   

   Figure 30. Tests with potential issues table [Print] icon

2. Review the print request in the Student Print Request(s) window (figure 31) and then take one of the following actions:

   

   Figure 31. Student Print Request(s) window

   • To approve the request, select the [Approve] check mark [] icon in the Action column. Proceed to step 3.
   • To deny the request, select the [Deny] “X” [] icon in the Action column. In the window that appears, enter a brief reason for denying the request and select the [Deny] button. Entering a reason for denial is optional. Do not proceed to step 3.
3. A printer dialog box opens with a cover page and the items that were selected to print.
4. Select [Print] to print the requested test elements.

Viewing Approved Requests

To view approved requests:

1. Select Approved Requests from the Menu drop-down list (figure 32). The Approved Requests window opens, listing print requests by student (figure 33).

   

   Figure 32. Approved Requests option on Test Administrator Interface

2. The Approved Requests window opens, listing print requests by student. To print the list of approved requests, select the [Print] button (figure 33).

   

   Figure 33. Approved Requests window

Ending a Test Session

After answering the last test question, select the [Next] button to get to the Test Review page prompting the TE to review answers for the 24 test questions prior to submitting the test (figure 34). Mark for Review, noted by a blue flag, is provided as a reminder on questions or concerns about a particular test item.

Figure 34. Test Review page

Once the TE has reviewed the answered test questions, the TE must select [Submit Test] on the Test Review screen to submit the test (figure 34). After [Submit Test] has been selected, the TE will not be able to review answers.

After the TE submits the test, the Test Summary screen appears, displaying the student’s name, the test name, and the completion date (figure 35).

Figure 35. Test Summary screen

The TE should select the [Stop Session] button (figure 32) to end the test session; when selected, the Important! message box appears (figure 36).

Figure 36. Important! message box

When finished, the TE can log off the Test Administrator Interface by selecting the [Name] drop-down list at the top right and then selecting Logout. The TE should also collect any picture cards, scratch paper, and other secure materials and follow procedures for local secure destruction as outlined in the Handling Secure Printed Materials subsection.

Logging Off

Use caution when logging off the Test Administrator Interface, as this will log off other related systems (for example, TOMS). To log off the Test Administrator Interface, select the [Name] drop-down list in the top-right corner of the screen, and then select Logout (figure 37).

Figure 37. Logout option under the [Name] drop-down list

The session will close, and the TE will be directed to the ELPAC website after the TE logs off.