Detailed Instructions for Administration

Step 1. (Optional) Prepare Student Logon Cards

Each student will log on to the TDS via a secure browser or standard web browser using the student’s first name, Statewide Student Identifier (SSID), and a test session ID.

1. Prior to starting a test session, the test administrator should have a record of each student’s first name and SSID. To begin a test, a student must enter a first name exactly as it appears in TOMS (including special characters), which will come from the first name or preferred first name fields in CALPADS.
2. Print each student’s first name and SSID on a card or piece of paper and distribute the card or paper to each student just prior to testing to help the students type the logon information accurately. Cards or papers may include additional information to ensure students are properly identified. This additional information may include a student’s last name, birth date, or picture.
3. Treat the logon cards as secure material and securely dispose of them at the end of the test session.

Step 2. Access the TA Interface

Select the [Test Administrator Interface for All Online Tests] button (figure 1) to select tests, start a test session, approve students for testing, and monitor student progress during testing.

1. Go to the CAASPP website and select the [Test Administrator Interface for All Online Tests] button (figure 1).

   

   Figure 1. [Test Administrator Interface for All Online Tests] button

2. Log on by entering the username (email address) and password on the Logon screen (figure 2) and then selecting the [Secure Logon] button.

   

   Figure 2. Logon screen

Step 3. Select Interim Assessments

1. Select the type of test. After selecting the test category Smarter Balanced Interim Assessments, the ICAs and IABs (including Focused IABs) test selection tree appears. The test selection tree can be further expanded by selecting the plus (+) sign and collapsed by selecting the minus (−) sign (indicated in figure 3).

   

   Figure 3. Select the type of test

2. The search feature can be used to search for tests using their specific names. Select the [Search] magnifying glass icon [] indicated in figure 3. Enter the full or partial test name and select the [Go] button. Figure 4 shows a sample search for tests matching the search term “Geometry.”

   

   Figure 4. Sample search results

3. Additionally, the new filter feature can be used to filter available tests by grade level and subject associated with the tests. Select the [Add Filter] button [] (indicated in figure 5) to access the filter panel. Expand the available filter categories, check the criteria to filter (i.e., All Grade 3 Tests), and select the [Apply Filter(s)] button []; remove the filter by selecting the [Remove Filter] “X” icon [] (figure 5).

   

   Figure 5. Sample filter panel

4. Select the appropriate content area and test for the class or student(s) being tested in the session. Use the same method stated in step 1 for expanding and collapsing the test selection tree. Selected tests will show a box with a check mark [] and appear in the panel on the right under “Tests Selected.” In figure 6, Grade 4 ELA - Interim Assessment (ICA - Part 1) has been selected.

   

   Figure 6. Select a content area and grade level

5. Read and acknowledge the security reminder (figure 7 and figure 8), which provides a reminder that interim assessments are not for public exposure and that ICAs consist of a computer-based assessment and a performance task. Upon selecting the first ICA, IAB, or Focused IAB to be administered, the interim assessment test administrator must review the Security Reminder pop-up window and select the [OK] button before selecting additional tests or starting the test administration.

   

   Figure 7. ICA Security Reminder pop-up window

   

   Figure 8. IAB Security Reminder pop-up window

6. If more than one test needs to be administered during the same test session, repeat steps 1 and 2 to select multiple tests (figure 9). Be sure students are informed of the test(s) students are intended to take during this session. Selecting too many tests for a test session may result in confusion among the students regarding which is the intended test.

   

   Figure 9. Multiple tests selected

7. Select session type for in-person or remote testing (figure 10). This setting is used to indicate whether students are being tested in a classroom setting using the secure browser or testing remotely using the secure browser or Student Testing Interface.

   

   Figure 10. Select session type

8. Set the Manner of Administration in the Select Test Reason drop-down list (figure 11). This setting is used to indicate whether an administration of an interim assessment will be standardized. This setting must be selected when administering any IAB, Focused IAB, or ICA. The interim assessment for a student should be marked Standardized/Benchmark only if a valid interpretation of results can be made. The exact criteria for selecting the Standardized/Benchmark option for a student is determined locally. Factors to consider include, but are not necessarily limited to, the extent of the following:
   • The student has previously been exposed to the interim assessment items or form taken.
   • The interim assessment was administered in a consistent manner across time. Educators and others who make inferences on the basis of test results should have received adequate training in administering the interim assessments and in interpreting results.
   • A student with disabilities took the interim assessment in a manner consistent with the accessibility resources (e.g., designated supports or accommodations) identified in the student’s IEP or Section 504 plan and in a manner consistent with how the student performs work in class.
   • A student identified as an English learner took the interim assessment with the necessary accessibility resources identified for use with statewide or classroom assessments.

   Please note that the Manner of Administration setting can be overridden for individual students. Refer to the Override the Manner of Administration Session-Level Setting for an Individual Student subsection for more information.

   

   Figure 11. Set the Manner of Administration

9. Select the [Start Operational Session] button (figure 12). This will start the test session.

   

   Figure 12. [Start Operational Session] button

Step 4. Generate the Session ID

Interim assessment test administrators should inform students of the test session in which students are participating. The system-generated session ID appears in the top-right corner of the screen (figure 13).

Figure 13. Session ID

Test administrators should write the test session ID on the board or another place where students can access it. The test session ID must be entered as it is written, without extra spaces or characters; in figure 13, this is “CA-BB5E-393.” Make sure to retain the session ID until testing is complete.

The test administrator may add additional interim assessments to a session. Additional tests can be added to an existing session ID by selecting the [Select Tests] button to the right of the session ID number.

After selecting additional interim assessments, test administrators confirm their selection by selecting the [OK] button in the Test Addition message box (figure 14). Once selected, the added assessment will be available for student use.

Figure 14. Test Addition message box

Step 5. Students Sign On to the Session and Select the Assessment

Once the test administrator has generated the session ID, students can sign on to the TDS using the secure browser or the web-based Student Testing Interface if the session is being administered remotely.

Steps for Student Logon:

1. The student launches the secure browser or standard web browser.
2. Each student will sign in with the following information (figure 15):
   1. First Name
   2. SSID
   3. Session ID

3. The student selects the [Sign In] button.

   

   Figure 15. Please Sign In screen

4. On the Is This You? screen, the student verifies the first name, SSID, grade, school, and state (figure 16).

   

   Figure 16. Is This You? screen

5. If the student information is correct, the student selects the [Yes] button. If not, then the student selects the [No] button.

6. The student selects the appropriate test from the available tests presented on the Your Tests screen (figure 17). The test administrator should make only the necessary tests available to select. The test administrator should direct students to select the correct test by pointing out the content area “ELA” or “Mathematics” and the test type “Interim Test (ICA),” “Performance Task (ICA),” IAB, or Focused IAB.

   

   Figure 17. Sample of the Your Tests screen

7. The student waits until the test administrator approves the request (figure 18).

   

   Figure 18. Waiting for Approval pop-up window

Step 6. View and Approve Student Test Selection and Settings

Before approving the student for the assessment, the test administrator must

1. verify that each student has selected the correct interim assessment;
2. optionally override, or change, the session-level Manner of Administration setting for an individual student; and
3. verify that the student has the appropriate accessibility resources available.

After students log on and select an assessment, the test administrator approves each student to begin the assessment (figure 19).

Overview of the Approvals and Student Test Settings Screen

Figure 19 contains numbered callouts on a screen capture of the Approvals and Student Test Settings screen. The numbers and screen elements they identify follow the image.

Figure 19. Approvals and Student Test Settings screen

1. [Approve All Students] button: This button allows the test administrator to approve all students presently awaiting approval.
2. [Refresh] button: This button updates the table of students awaiting approval.
3. [Done] button: This button closes the Approvals and Student Test Settings screen.
4. SSID: This feature displays the student’s SSID.
5. Opportunity number (Opp #) : This feature displays the current number of attempts made by the student on this particular assessment.
6. See Details. This column indicates whether the student is using either the default or custom accessibility settings. The [View] icon [] can be used to view and set individual student accessibility settings and override the Manner of Administration setting designated at the test session level (refer to the Override the Manner of Administration Session-Level Setting for an Individual Student subsection for details).
7. Action: Select a button to perform an action: selecting the [Approve] icon [] approves the student’s test request, and selecting the [Deny] icon [] denies the student’s test request.

Verify the Correct Assessment

Once students begin requesting entry to a test session, the [Approvals (#)] button will become available (figure 20 and figure 21). The number of students awaiting approval is indicated by the number in the red circle within the [Approvals (#)] button.

Figure 20. No students awaiting approval

In figure 20, the [Approvals (#)] button is not visible because there are no students awaiting approval.

Figure 21. Students awaiting approval

In figure 21, the [Approvals (#)] button is visible, and the [Approvals (#)] button says [Approvals (1)]. The number in the red circle indicates the number of students awaiting approval.

To view the Approvals and Student Test Settings screen (figure 22), select the [Approvals (#)] button. The Approvals and Student Test Settings screen displays a list of students awaiting approval to start testing. The test name is in the green bar atop the table. In figure 22, there is a single student awaiting approval.

Figure 22. Approvals and Student Test Settings screen

Override the Manner of Administration Session-Level Setting for an Individual Student (Optional)

To change the manner of administration for an individual student, select the [View] icon [] to display the student Test Settings screen (figure 23).

Figure 23. Student Test Settings screen

This setting is applied only to interim assessments. Only set the Manner of Administration on this page to select an option for this student that is different from what was previously selected for the test session.

Verify Student Accessibility Resource Settings

If a student’s default test settings have not been preset in TOMS, the student is automatically assigned the default for the test being administered. It is important to note that the default settings can vary by test. Only the test settings available for that test will be displayed on the Approvals and Student Test Settings screen for that student.

The Approvals and Student Test Settings screen displays each student who is awaiting approval for entry to a test session. The test administrator can view and verify each student’s accessibility resource settings by selecting the [View] icon [] for that student (figure 24), which opens the Test Settings screen (figure 25).

Figure 24. [View] icon

After the test administrator ensures that each student’s accessibility resources are set correctly, then the administrator can select one of three options, which are described following figure 25:

Figure 25. Test Settings screen for [Student Name]

1. Select the [Set] button to set the accessibility resources and close the Test Settings screen.
2. Select the [Set and Approve] button to set the accessibility resources, close the Test Settings screen, and approve the student for testing.
3. Select the [Cancel] button to close the Test Settings window without saving changes.

For more information about student assessment accessibility resources, view the Student Accessibility Resources subsection.

Approve or Deny Student Entry to the Test Session

The test administrator must verify that each student is taking the correct test, has the correct setting for the manner of administration, and has the correct accessibility resource settings. If all three of these are correct, then the test administrator will select the [Approve] icon [] (figure 26) for that student.

If all three criteria are true for all of the students awaiting approval, then the test administrator may select the [Approve All Students] button (figure 26) to approve all students with a single selection.

If a student selected the wrong test, then the test administrator should select the [Deny] icon [‍] for that student (figure 26). The student will be logged off and will need to start the process over to select the correct test. Some common examples of test selection errors are as follows:

• The student selected an ICA instead of an IAB.
• The student selected a mathematics test instead of an ELA test or vice versa.

• The student selected a summative assessment instead of an interim assessment.

  

  Figure 26. Approve or deny students

Although test administrators can approve all students at the same time, students must be individually denied entry into the test session.

After selecting the [Deny] icon [], the test administrator will be prompted to provide a reason for the denial (figure 27). This is optional, but recommended. The student will then be logged off and directed to the Sign In screen.

Figure 27. Reason for Denial text box

Once the student’s test settings are approved, the student can access the Your Tests screen (figure 28) and will be able to proceed with the first test. Upon selecting a test, the student can access the Instructions and Help screen (figure 29).

Figure 28. Your Tests screen

Figure 29. Instructions and Help screen

Step 7. Monitor Student Progress

Test administrators can monitor student progress by using the Students in Your Operational Test Session screen (figure 30). This screen allows the test administrator to view the test on which each student is working, the number of test items responded to, and the present status of the assessment.

Operational Test Session

Figure 30. Students in Your Operational Test Session table

Table 1 describes the information displayed in the Students in Your Operational Test Session screen for each student in the test session.

Student Test Status Types

Table 2 describes the statuses that appear in the Status column (figure 31) in the Students in Your Operational Test Session table. The status types in the table are listed chronologically as displayed during the testing process.

Figure 31. Status column

The status types described in table 3 may appear when a student is listed in the Students in Your Operational Test Session table but is not actively answering items.

Pause a Student’s Test

Test administrators can pause an individual student’s test using the [Pause Test] button in the Students in Your Operational Test Session table (figure 32).

Figure 32. [Pause Test] button

Students whose tests are paused will be logged off and returned to the Sign In screen. If a student wishes to reenter the session, the student will need to log on and proceed through the approval process again. If the session has been stopped, the student will need to obtain a new session ID to resume testing.

To Pause an Individual Student’s Test:

1. In the Pause Test column, select the [Pause] icon [] for that student.
2. Select the [Yes] button to confirm that the student’s test should be paused.

In the event that a student is taking an incorrect assessment, the test administrator can pause the student’s test. The test administrator should then instruct the student to log off and log on again to select the correct test.

Screen Saver Mode

The Students in Your Operational Test Session table often contains PII, such as SSIDs. The TA interface has a new built-in screen saver to hide this data from view. The screen saver will automatically turn on after five minutes of inactivity and can be turned on manually as well.

1. To turn on the screen saver, select the [Toggle] icon [] in the Operational Session ID box (indicated in figure 33).

   

   Figure 33. Operational Session ID box

2. The screen saver will automatically turn off if any mouse or keyboard activity is detected. It will also turn off automatically if the test session times out because of test administrator or student inactivity. The screen saver displays the session ID, any notifications if students are awaiting approval, whether there are pending print requests, or whether students require other interventions (figure 34).

   

   Figure 34. Sample screen saver

Step 8. Stop or Log Off a Test Session

The various methods for stopping or logging off a test session, either intentionally or unintentionally, are as follows:

• Intentional Test Session Stop
• Intentional Test Session Log Off
• Unintentional Test Session Stop
• Unintentional Test Session Log Off

Intentional Test Session Stop

If the test administrator selects the large [Stop] button, this will automatically pause all tests in that session, and the students will be automatically logged off. Although tests can be resumed, the test session cannot be resumed unless it is a scheduled session.

1. Select the [Stop] button in the top portion of the screen (figure 35).

   

   Figure 35. Test Administrator Banner [Stop] button

2. An Important! pop-up message box will appear, requesting verification to end the session and log students off. Select the [OK] button to continue (figure 36).

   

   Figure 36. Important! pop-up message box

Users should exit or log off the TA Interface only after stopping the test session. Regardless of when or how users log off or navigate away from the TA Interface, student data will not be lost.

Intentional Test Session Log Off

To log off the TA Interface and all other SSO System applications, select the [Logout] button in the top-right corner of the screen. The session will be closed, and the screen will return to the CAASPP website after logoff. The test session will not be able to be resumed.

Unintentional Test Session Stop

If a test administrator accidentally closes the web browser while students are still testing, the session will remain open until it times out after 30 minutes. The test administrator may open the web browser and navigate back to the TA Interface, where the test administrator will be prompted to enter the active session ID.

Unintentional Test Session Log Off

In case of an unintentional log off from the TA Interface while students are still testing, all in-progress tests in the session will be paused, and the status of the session will change to “closed.” The test administrator will need to log back on to the TA Interface, start a new session, and provide the new session ID to students who need to resume testing.