ELPAC email update, January 5, 2021.

ELPAC Monthly Communication

This communication includes information about the Initial, Summative, and Alternate ELPAC.

Upcoming Dates and Deadlines

Please mark your calendars!

Alternate ELPAC Operational Field Test Update

The California Department of Education is postponing the operational field test to the 2021–22 school year. LEAs will continue to administer their locally determined alternate assessments, following state, county, and local health requirements, for the 2020–21 school year. Note that if a student's individualized education program indicates that the student would be administered the Alternate ELPAC operational field test, it is not necessary to conduct an addendum meeting to change the language back to a locally determined alternate assessment.

January 11–21, 2021

Pretest Workshop Virtual Training

If you didn't attend the Pretest Workshops in December, please join us for a virtual CAASPP and ELPAC Pretest Workshop in January. This training will provide attendees with the information needed to successfully prepare for and administer the spring summative assessments. Registration is now available .

• Monday, January 11, 1–3 p.m.: Session 1
• Tuesday, January 12, 9–11 a.m.: Session 2
• Tuesday, January 12, 1–3 p.m.: Session 3
• Tuesday, January 19, 2–3 p.m.: Question and Answer Session
• Thursday, January 21, 10–11 a.m.: Question and Answer Session

January 13, 2021

CDE Assessment Update Webinar

This webinar on Wednesday, January 27, 2021, from 2–3 p.m., hosted by the California Department of Education (CDE), provides LEA CAASPP and ELPAC coordinators with an update on assessment information and a chance to ask questions of CDE staff. Registration is now available .

January 14, 2021

Virtual Office Hours for the Summative ELPAC Administration and Scoring Trainings (ASTs)

Virtual office hours for the Summative ELPAC will be held on January 14, from 1 to 2 p.m., via Zoom. LEA coordinators can submit test administration questions in advance through the ELPAC Moodle Training Site (Moodle) , and the Zoom link can be accessed within Moodle .

January 15, 2021

Summative ELPAC Supplemental Ordering Window Opens

LEAs can use the Test Operations Management System (TOMS) to order Writing domain testing materials for kindergarten through grade two. To do this, navigate to the Orders > [Place Supplemental Order] tab in TOMS. Orders can be placed during the supplemental materials ordering window, January 15 through May 14, 2021.

Orders that were placed during the primary ordering window in December will be delivered the week of January 11, 2021. Prior to ordering, please check that the shipping address in TOMS is correct to ensure materials are delivered to the right location. The shipping address must be a physical location; materials cannot be shipped to a post office box.

February 1, 2021

Summative ELPAC Administration Window Opens

The Summative ELPAC administration window opens on February 1, 2021, and is available until May 31, 2021. To properly administer the Summative ELPAC, test examiners should complete Summative ELPAC Speaking certification in Moodle for the grade levels or grade spans they are administering and access the Directions for Administration (DFAs) corresponding to their LEA's form assignment. Please remember to return K–2 Writing Answer Books and follow the Summative ELPAC Packing and Return Instructions. The first two dates to return completed K–2 Writing Answer Books to ETS for scoring are February 12 and 26, 2021.

Ongoing Reminders!

Stopping Marker Reminders

During a recent investigation of a Security and Test Administration Incident Reporting System (STAIRS) case, it was determined that some student(s) who were administered the computer-based Initial ELPAC and answered all questions correctly up until the stopping markers were exited from the test prematurely. These students who received perfect scores up until the stopping marker are likely to classify with the initial fluent English proficient (IFEP) status if given the opportunity to complete the test.

The stopping marker is followed by an [End Test] button. As described in the DFAs, the [End Test] button should be used only when there have been no responses or no correct responses prior to the stopping marker.

Please ensure that test examiners have been trained and certified in Moodle , are familiar with the DFAs before administering the test, and appropriately follow the directions on how and when to use the stopping markers.

Complete the Summative ELPAC LEA Certification Course

The Summative ELPAC AST opened on October 19, 2020, in Moodle . The LEA ELPAC coordinator or a designee must complete either the kindergarten through grade twelve course or the grades six through twelve course prior to the administration of the Summative ELPAC. At the end of the LEA Certification Course, a certificate of completion is issued, which marks the LEA training requirement as completed. At least one designee must have completed the LEA Certification Course for the Summative ELPAC.

Upon completion of the LEA certification course, LEA ELPAC coordinators responsible for multiple LEAs should alert the Sacramento County Office of Education, via an email to elpac@scoe.net , so that the certification requirement can be flagged as completed.

Test Security Affidavit for Non-TOMS Users

LEA staff who have access to secure ELPAC materials but do not require access to TOMS must complete the 2020–2021 Test Security Affidavit for Non TOMS Users form. Site ELPAC coordinators require all non-TOMS users, including proctors and LEA staff with access to secure materials, to sign and submit a security affidavit. Upon staff members' completion of this form, the listed site ELPAC coordinator will receive a confirmation email. LEA ELPAC coordinators can reach out to CalTAC to request a list of users who signed this form.

Educator Opportunities for the ELPAC and Alternate ELPAC

New opportunities for the ELPAC and the Alternate ELPAC are available on the ELPAC and Alternate ELPAC Opportunities to Get Involved web page. Simply create an account in the Educator Opportunities Portal. Those who already have an account can go directly to the Educator Opportunities Portal . For questions about how to get involved in these educator opportunities, please contact the CAASPP and ELPAC Project Team, by phone at 916-228-2682 or by email at edopportunities@scoe.net.

Support for New LEA ELPAC Coordinators

Are you a new LEA ELPAC coordinator? The CDE offers a variety of trainings throughout the year to support you in this new role. Visit the 2020–21 Training Opportunities web page and use the filtering options to display the events most relevant to you.

Available Now!

Results Are In, Connecting Assessment to Instruction Virtual Workshop: Modules 1–3 Posted

This workshop is designed for educators, including classroom teachers, coaches, teachers on special assignment, and administrators who play a role in supporting high quality instruction for English learner students in the classroom. Participants will learn to use a protocol that links three ELPAC task types to robust classroom instruction, which can be used to create assessments and instructional sequences that are similar in context to ELPAC. Video clips, student work, and reflections from the implementation of these practices with English learner students will be shared.

The modules are designed for local facilitation in small teams but are also accessible as stand-alone learning experiences. Participants can select topics based on their prior knowledge and experience. The first three modules of this seven part series is available now after registering in Moodle .

Manuals, Instructions, and Quick Reference Guides

• Summative ELPAC—Stopping Marker Guidance for 2020–21 web document

Videos

• Creating Groups in the California Educator Reporting System video
• How to Use the Online ISAAP Tool video

Website Updates

• Scoring for the Computer-based ELPAC web page
• Alternate ELPAC web page

(Coming Soon)!

Manuals, Instructions, and Quick Reference Guides

• How to Download the Secure Browser (Windows)
• How to Download the Secure Browser (ISO)
• How to Log On to Take an Assessment

Videos

• Downloading the Secure Browser for Windows for Parents and Students
• Downloading the Secure Browser for iOS for Parents and Students
• Starting and Stopping a Test Session
• Starting and Stopping a Remote Test Session
• Monitoring a Remote Test Session
• Remote Testing—Summative ELPAC K–2 Reading and Listening
• Remote Testing—Summative ELPAC K–2 Writing
• Remote Testing—Summative ELPAC K–12 Speaking
• Remote Testing—What Parents Need to Know

Website Updates

• Spring Administration website for educators
• Spring Administration website for parents and guardians

Access to Previous ELPAC Monthly Communications

Previous ELPAC monthly communications, as well as other email communications, can be found on the ELPAC Coordinator Emails web page.

General questions about the ELPAC should be directed to CalTAC, by phone at 800-955-2954 or by email at caltac@ets.org.

Sincerely,

California Technical Assistance Center
Educational Testing Service
Phone: 800-955-2954
Email: caltac@ets.org
Website: https://www.elpac.org/