ELPAC email update, April 1, 2021.

ELPAC Monthly Communication

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

Urgent Reminders

Return Summative ELPAC Kindergarten Through Grade Two (K–2) Writing Answer Books

Writing Answer Books are needed for the quality-control process for scoring and reporting as well as the data analysis of the field-test items. At this time, we have not received the volume of Answer Books needed for these processes. We are encouraging local educational agencies (LEAs) to return completed K–2 Writing Answer Books at least once a week. If additional white cartons are needed to support this more frequent return of Answer Books, please contact CalTAC to order additional white cartons. Additional information can be found on the Summative ELPAC Packing and Return Instructions.

Complete All Domains for the Initial ELPAC

LEAs must ensure that all domains are submitted for each student to receive a score report on the Initial ELPAC. As a reminder, test examiners should be entering scores into the Data Entry Interface (DEI) immediately after administering the Speaking domain. Test examiners should also be entering or scoring the Writing domain after administration. The Completion Status Report, in the Test Operations Management System (TOMS) , will provide information on which students need their scores submitted into the DEI. For step-by-step guidance, refer to the Entering Student Responses and Scores into the DEI video. The Teacher Hand Scoring System (THSS) Summary Report, in TOMS, will provide information on which students need their THSS entries scored. Please refer to the THSS video in the Moodle Training Site (Moodle). For additional guidance on when to use the DEI and the THSS, refer to the Where to Submit Answers for the 2020–21 ELPAC web document on the California Department of Education (CDE) website and the Scoring for the Computer-based ELPAC web page on the ELPAC website.

Summative ELPAC Administration Continues

The Summative ELPAC administration window opened on February 1, 2021. To properly administer the Summative ELPAC, test examiners should do the following:

• Complete Summative ELPAC Speaking certification—in Moodle —for the grade levels or grade spans that the test examiners are administering.
• Access the Directions for Administration (DFAs)—in TOMS—that correspond to the LEA's form assignment.
• Ensure all four domains are completed. This includes entering scores into the DEI immediately after administering the Speaking domain and returning K–2 Writing Answer Books.

Upcoming Dates and Deadlines

Please mark your calendars!

April 1, 2021

Superintendent Designation Form of LEA ELPAC Coordinators

The superintendent designation process for 2021–22 ELPAC testing must be completed in TOMS. The deadline to designate the LEA ELPAC coordinator is today, April 1, 2021 (California Code of Regulations, Title 5, Section 11518.40[a]). Please ensure that your superintendent assigns a primary coordinator for the 2021–22 administration year as soon as possible. This coordinator will be responsible for the Initial, Summative, and Alternate ELPAC.

2021–22 Initial ELPAC Primary Ordering Window Opens

The 2021–22 Initial ELPAC administration begins on July 1, 2021. For students in kindergarten through grade two, LEAs may continue to use the Writing Answer Books that were ordered for the 2020–21 administration; they can also order additional materials in TOMS. However, if an LEA has been identified to participate in the 2021–22 Rotating Score Validation Process, the LEA must order new Writing Answer Books to receive the scannable materials needed for collecting item statistics. The primary ordering window opens on April 1, 2021, and closes on May 7, 2021. Primary orders can be placed in TOMS by the LEA ELPAC coordinator only.

Office Hours and Coffee Sessions Continue!

LEA staff are invited to ask questions and get answers about the spring assessments and multiple administration options at the Assessment Office Hours and Coffee Sessions. For dates and registration links, view the Upcoming Training Opportunities web page. The Assessment Office Hours, held every Thursday from noon to 1 p.m., are open to anyone interested in learning more about the CAASPP and ELPAC administrations this spring. During Assessment Office Hours, the CDE and ETS will present updates, provide technical support, and allow time for questions and answers. Each week, a topic of interest about the assessment process in California will be covered. Coffee Sessions will be held every Friday from 2 to 3 p.m. and are entirely dedicated to answering questions about the assessments posed by testing coordinators at schools, LEAs, and county offices of education.

April 12, 2021

2021–22 Initial ELPAC Administration and Scoring Training

Statewide training is mandatory and will be delivered virtually through Moodle . One representative from each LEA must complete the online training certification. This will meet the LEA's certification requirement for both the 2020–21 and the 2021–22 test administrations. Test examiners can still take quizzes in Moodle to refresh their calibration skills. Beginning April 12, 2021, all LEA ELPAC coordinators will need to confirm that this requirement has been met through the computer-based Initial ELPAC Administration and Scoring Trainings web page. Moodle will open April 12, 2021. For more details, refer to the ELPAC: 2021–22 Initial ELPAC Administration and Scoring Training Information email sent on March 15, 2021. The training binder remains unchanged for the 2021–22 administration. Only LEAs with a new coordinator or trainer will need to order a training binder. One or more printed copies of the Initial ELPAC Administration and Scoring Training Binder may be requested to be shipped by completing the online request process. Training binders will also be available for download—in PDF format—from Moodle .

April 22, 2021

New Coordinator Webinar #5

The next webinar for new coordinators will take place on Thursday, April 22, 2021, from 3 to 4 p.m. This webinar will review the upcoming coordinator checklist tasks and provide information about how to prepare for the release of summative assessment results. LEA ELPAC coordinators who have been in their role for less than 12 months or want a refresher on coordinator responsibilities are invited to attend.

Ongoing Reminders

Score Reporting Status

The Score Reporting Status section of the [MyTOMS at a Glance] tab displays the percentage of students whose scores have been released. The widget shows the percentage of ELPAC scores reported for the Initial and Summative ELPAC. Students for whom a Student Score Report (SSR) is not generated because of certain condition codes are excluded from the calculated percentages. There are two scenarios when an SSR is not generated for students who tested with the ELPAC, by assessment.

• A student who has a valid Initial or Summative ELPAC test registration but was not tested
• A student who has a valid Initial or Summative ELPAC test registration but either did not meet the participation rule or received a value of "P" for the student's attempt

Stopping Marker Reminders and Writing Rubrics

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 all test examiners have been trained and certified in Moodle , are familiar with the DFAs before administering the test, and know how to appropriately follow the directions on how and when to use the stopping markers. If the student responded with any letter or word, the student should continue testing no matter the score. To further assist LEAs in determining what is a correct response, the Writing Rubrics for the ELPAC web document has been added to the ELPAC website.

Test Security Affidavit for Non-TOMS Users

All non-TOMS users who have access to secure ELPAC materials are required to sign and submit a 2020–2021 ELPAC Test Security Affidavit for Non TOMS Users . Site coordinators will receive an email for each staff member who has completed this form. For tracking purposes, LEA ELPAC coordinators can reach out to the California Technical Assistance Center (CalTAC) to request a list of users who signed this form.

ELPAC The Results Are In—Now What? Modules 1–7

Modules 1 through 7 are available in Moodle . These modules demonstrate how to use data to advance English language proficiency through high-leverage instructional sequences. Participants will use a protocol linking two of the more difficult ELPAC task types to robust classroom instruction that can be used to create ELPAC-like assessments in context. Video clips, student work, and reflections from the implementation of these practices with English learners will be shared.

Educator Opportunities for the ELPAC and Alternate ELPAC

New opportunities for educators to participate in the development of the ELPAC and the Alternate ELPAC are available on the ELPAC and Alternate ELPAC Opportunities to Get Involved web page. New users can simply create an account in the Educator Opportunities Portal . Existing users 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.

Available Now!

Manuals, Instructions, and Quick Reference Guides

• Alternate ELPAC Operational Field Test Manual
• Guidance on Using Eye-Gaze as an Alternate Response Method
• Expiration and Pause Rules for Assessments Guide

Videos

• Summative ELPAC: Starting a One-on-One Remote Test Session

Website Updates

• Spring Administration Information for Educators web page
• Spring Administration Information for Parents/Guardians web page
• Rotating Score Validation Process for the Initial ELPAC web page

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, ETS
Phone: 800-955-2954
Email: caltac@ets.org
Website: https://www.elpac.org/