CAASPP and ELPAC: Alternate Assessment Assignment
ELPAC email update, April 6, 2022.
Dear LEA CAASPP Coordinator or LEA ELPAC Coordinator:
ETS has noticed an increase in the number of Security and Test Administration Incident Reporting System (STAIRS) cases relating to changes in student individualized education programs (IEPs) and requests to reassign students from general to alternate assessments and vice versa.
Two of the most common cases submitted are:
- CAASPP coordinators are attempting to register a student for the CAAs for English language arts/literacy (ELA) and mathematics, but the student has already completed the Summative ELPAC.
- CAASPP coordinators are finding that some students who have been registered for the CAAs for ELA and mathematics and have already completed the Alternate ELPAC operational field test should, instead, be registered for the general CAASPP Smarter Balanced assessments.
According to the CDE, once a student is identified for alternate assessment, they will then take the alternate assessment for all standardized State assessments, including the CAA ELA, Math, and Science assessments, and the Alternate ELPAC. Once a student starts any summative assessment, TOMS will lock the student into that assessment type for the remainder of the student's testing.
LEA CAASPP coordinators and LEA ELPAC coordinators should work together to ensure student IEPs match test assignments. If an IEP shows the student should take the alternate assessment for one testing program and the general assessment for the other, the student's case manager should create an amendment to correct this.
If a student who is an English learner has completed the Summative ELPAC, and an IEP requiring the student to take the CAA is completed after testing, the LEA can submit a new STAIRS case for each tested domain using the irregularity incident type "Administered Incorrect Assessment," with a selection on page 2 for "The student did not receive an alternate assessment as prescribed by the student's IEP or Section 504 plan." Once the Appeal is approved, the summative assessment will be reset and the student can be registered for the CAA. The student must take the Alternate ELPAC operational field test once the assignments have been changed.
Direct any questions about registering students for alternate assessments to the LEA's assigned LEA Success Agent . Visit the California Outreach
web page for other support options.
Sincerely,
California Outreach Team
CAASPP website and ELPAC website
Contact Us: California Outreach web page