Summative ELPAC Administration Features

Test Design and Administration Guidelines

The Summative ELPAC is an online, linear (nonadaptive), grade-level assessment for students in kindergarten through high school who are ELs. The Summative ELPAC is designed for one-on-one administration between a single student and a test examiner for kindergarten through grade two and for group administration for grade levels three through twelve. The exceptions are as follows:

• Speaking domain—One-on-one administration for all grade levels
• Writing domain—Group administration is optional for grade two

In the one-on-one administration of the Listening, Reading, and Speaking domains for students in kindergarten through grade two, test examiners enter the responses for the student in the student testing interface on behalf of the student. For grade levels three through twelve, the students enter the responses individually and independently on the testing interface with the test session being monitored by the test examiner through the Test Administrator Interface.

Students in kindergarten through grade two write their responses to the Writing domain of the ELPAC in paper Answer Books. LEAs order Writing Answer Books in TOMS and then mail the completed Answer Books to ETS for scoring. Large-print and braille versions of the kindergarten through grade two Writing test materials also are available for LEAs to order through TOMS.

The Speaking domain is scored locally and in-the-moment by test examiners; this is discussed further in the Scoring the Speaking Domain Locally section of this manual.

Additionally, for the 2020–21 Summative ELPAC, field test items will be included in some test forms. LEAs will be assigned a test form and will be notified of the test form assignment prior to the start of the testing window and before training is available. For more information, as well as a tool for looking up the forms assignment, refer to the Forms Assignment for the 2020–21 Summative ELPAC Administration web page.

Technical Requirements

The computer-based ELPAC is administered online and requires two internet-connected devices: a student testing device and a separate device that the ELPAC test examiner uses to start a test session through the Test Administrator Interface. ELPAC test examiners may also use their device to access the DFA that are posted in TOMS and to access the DEI for entering the locally scored Speaking test scores.

The computer-based ELPAC requires the installation of secure browsers on student testing devices. These are the same secure browsers that are used for the online CAASPP assessments. Secure browsers are available for download on the Secure Browsers website.

The general technical requirements and supported devices are also similar to those for the online CAASPP assessments. These are described in the CAASPP and ELPAC Technical Specifications and Configuration Guide for Online Testing.

The computer-based ELPAC contains directions and stimuli that are provided via audio files within the student testing interface, so it is recommended that, for one-on-one administrations, the audio component be played on the device’s built-in or external speakers and that, for group administrations, headphones or headsets be used.

The Speaking domain uses voice-capture technology. LEAs are encouraged to administer the Speaking domain using student testing devices with built-in recording or microphone capabilities, or headphones or headsets with microphones, in an area where outside sounds are minimized. The Speaking domain must be scored locally, and scores must be entered into the DEI.

Prior to the start of the testing session, it is recommended that test examiners test the audio (adjust volume) and voice-capture functionality of the student devices. When the test session has started, adjusting the audio volume will require the student to first log off the test delivery system.

Directions for Administration

The DFA for the Summative ELPAC includes test day instructions and must be used by the ELPAC test examiner to administer tests to students. The DFA also includes the test administration script for the ELPAC test examiner to use at the beginning of testing and provides administration guidance for the day of testing. For the Summative ELPAC, the following DFAs will be available:

The Speaking DFAs, including the DFA for kindergarten through grade two, contain a student score sheet, which is provided for optional use by the test examiner to record a student’s Speaking scores in the moment instead of entering them directly into the DEI during the Speaking domain administration. Test examiners can use this student score sheet to enter the student’s Speaking scores into the DEI after the student’s test has been submitted; refer to the Scoring the Speaking Domain Locally section of this manual for this process.

LEA ELPAC coordinators, site ELPAC coordinators, and ELPAC test examiners can access PDFs of the DFAs by selecting the [Resources] button on the top navigation bar in TOMS. Each assigned test form has its own DFA. When accessing the DFAs in TOMS, the user will have access to the form of the DFA that was assigned to the LEA or school; form assignments are found on the ELPAC Form Assignment for the 2020–21 Summative ELPAC Administration web page.

All users will have access to the visual impairment/braille forms of the DFAs.

As a fee-based service, ETS will provide printed DFAs for specified grade levels or grade spans upon request from the LEA. More information is offered on the Fee-based Services web page on the ELPAC website.

Test Scheduling

Testing Window and Test Times

The Summative ELPAC testing window will be open from February 1 through May 31, 2021. LEAs may schedule testing according to local preference within this window and do not need to inform the CDE or ETS. All testing must take place within this window.

Key Dates

Table 2 lists key dates for the Summative ELPAC administration.