ELPAC email update, July 3, 2023.

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

Reminders

Changes to the Test Administrator Interface

The test administrator (TA) interface has been updated to a cleaner, more user-friendly appearance. This includes a new functionality that will allow specific students to be pinned to the top of the page while monitoring testing. For questions or guidance, contact your region's Success Agent .

Changes to Ending a Test

The process of ending a test in the student testing interface has been streamlined. The [End Test] button will no longer be used as part of the process to submit a test. Instead, when the [Next] button is selected on the final item of a test, students will be taken straight to the Test Review screen, where answers can be reviewed. Then students will select the [Submit Test] button and the [Yes] button to confirm to end the test as usual.

LEA ELPAC Coordinator Designation

The deadline to select LEA ELPAC coordinators ended April 1. If an LEA ELPAC coordinator was not designated, the Test Operations Management System (TOMS) has automatically assigned the LEA superintendent as the LEA coordinator. If a primary coordinator was not designated, then the first created LEA coordinator was automatically designated as the primary coordinator in TOMS. The LEA superintendent can update this designation after the automatic designation if needed. After July 5, 2023, superintendents and the primary LEA ELPAC coordinator will be able to add LEA ELPAC coordinator roles in TOMS.

Generating SSIDs

To assist the CALPADS coordinator in preenrolling students over the summer, LEA ELPAC coordinators should provide the CALPADS coordinator with a list of students who must take the Initial ELPAC or Initial Alternate ELPAC.

For your information, and as stated in the CALPADS Flash #219 , CALPADS coordinators must submit the following information to preenroll students and generate SSIDs for newly enrolled students:

• A Student Enrollment (SENR) record with the student's expected first day of school
• A Student Information (SINF) record with the student's address
• Student English Language Acquisition (SELA) records with an English Language Acquisition Status (ELAS) of To Be Determined (TBD), a primary language other than English or American Sign Language, and an ELAS Start Date on or after July 1, 2023, if testing during the summer.

2023–24 Administration: Teacher Hand Scoring System Update

The Teacher Hand Scoring System (THSS) will be enhanced for the 2023–24 test administration year. Updates include improved navigation and communication features. The enhanced THSS will be used to enter scores for the Initial ELPAC, Smarter Balanced Interim Assessments for English language arts/literacy and mathematics, and the interim assessments for the California Science Test and ELPAC.

For the Initial ELPAC, the THSS will be available after the July downtime, on July 5.

Initial Alternate ELPAC Test Assignment

The Initial Alternate ELPAC opens on July 5, 2023. Every eligible student must be assigned to take the Initial Alternate ELPAC in the TOMS. Because a newly enrolled student must be assessed with an initial assessment within the first 30 calendar days, the student may not have an individualized education program (IEP) designating the student to take an alternate assessment prepared in time. In these instances, the student should be assessed with the Initial ELPAC using universal tools and designated supports as appropriate. If the IEP team determines at a later date that the student is eligible to take alternate assessments and the student is identified as an English learner (EL), the student should be assigned the Summative Alternate ELPAC.

ELPAC Administration for Transitional Kindergarten Students

For 2023–24, LEAs are required to administer the Initial ELPAC or Initial Alternate ELPAC to all eligible students enrolled in kindergarten—including students in transitional kindergarten (TK), which is defined as year one of a two-year kindergarten program. LEAs will continue to follow the same process for identifying potential EL students and annually assessing EL students.

TK students' grade level will be converted to kindergarten during the nightly CALPADS feed to TOMS. These students will appear in TOMS as kindergarten and will have the TK indicator flag set to Y (Yes). This flag will be available within several of the TOMS reports to assist with monitoring testing progress at the local level.

Upcoming Dates

July 5: 2023–24 Initial ELPAC and Initial Alternate ELPAC Test Administration Window Opens

The Initial ELPAC and Initial Alternate ELPAC testing window will be open starting July 5, 2023, and will close June 28, 2024. Pursuant to 5 CCR Section 11518.5€, Initial ELPAC and Initial Alternate ELPAC testing and parent/guardian notification of results must be done within 30 calendar days after students are first enrolled in a California public school or 60 calendar days prior to instruction, but not before July 1. 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.

Early August: Prepare for Summative Alternate ELPAC SSR Electronic Distribution

The 2022–23 Summative Alternate ELPAC Student Score Reports (SSRs) will be available in early August. Ensure SSRs are populated in the student information system for the correct students in a timely manner, as outlined on the SSR Options web page. Ensure the SSRs are properly displayed, parents/guardians can access the SSRs, and they can access only the scores for their own children. Parents/Guardians must be notified of their child's results within the first 15 working days of the new academic year. The SSRs may be combined with the annual parent/guardian notification letters for students taking the alternate assessments. Sample letters are available on the CDE Parent Notification web page.

August: Final Release of Summative ELPAC and Summative Alternate ELPAC SSRs

The final release of any remaining Summative ELPAC and Summative Alternate SSRs for all grades—including kindergarten through grade two Writing Answer Books sent to ETS by June 16, 2023—will occur in August.

Upcoming Trainings

To register or locate additional details about upcoming trainings, including dates, times, or content, visit the ELPAC Upcoming Training Opportunities web page.

2023 Interim and Formative Assessment Training Series

Register now for the Interim and Formative Assessment Training Series . This engaging training series will provide direct, online training focused on leveraging the interim and formative components of the CAASPP and ELPAC comprehensive systems of assessment to inform teaching and learning.

It will be composed of three distinct, independent modules with multiple opportunities to attend. Module 1 and Module 2 apply to Smarter Balanced, CAST, and ELPAC interim assessments collectively, while Module 3 includes separate hand scoring sessions tailored to each assessment. Additional sessions for each of the three modules will be offered in fall 2023, including CAST and ELPAC Interim Assessment hand scoring sessions.

July 11: Coffee Session, 2–3 p.m.

Register now for the 2023–24 Coffee Session Series . The first session in the series will be held on July 11, 2023, and will recur on the second Tuesday each month. Use the Coffee Session Content Request Form to submit questions, request demonstrations, or share a best practice.

July 18 and 25: Introduction to CERS for Test Coordinators and Administrators

This three-hour online training is designed for staff who have an LEA or site coordinator role in TOMS and are responsible for managing access to CERS for other LEA staff members. The session will include opportunities for attendees to practice using various features of CERS. The July 18 and 25 sessions will be followed by sessions on October 24 and 26. To register, visit the Introduction to CERS for Test Coordinators and Administrators Registration web page.

July 20: Introduction to CERS for Teachers, 9–11 a.m.

This two-hour online training is designed for LEA staff who have or will have access to CERS assessment results (i.e., teachers who have students rostered in the system and other LEA staff who are interested in using CERS). The session will include opportunities for attendees to practice using various features of CERS. The July 20 session will be followed by sessions on August 2 and October 24. To register, visit the Introduction to CERS for Teachers Registration web page.

July 20: New Coordinator Webinar #1: Receiving Scores, 3–4 p.m.

Register now for New Coordinator Webinar #1: Receiving Scores . This webinar, hosted by SCOE, is part of the 2023–24 New Coordinator Training Webinar series and is designed for LEA CAASPP and LEA ELPAC coordinators who have been in their role for less than 12 months or want a refresher on the coordinator responsibilities. This first webinar in the series will review the process of receiving and sharing assessment results and conclude with a question and answer session with experienced coordinators.

Apply Now for Fall Educator Opportunities Meetings

These meetings are for educators who want to be involved in the development and review of test questions for California assessment programs. Some upcoming opportunities include the Item Review Meetings, during which educators review items for issues related to content, bias, and sensitivity that may affect the performance of particular groups of students. Item Review Meetings for both the ELPAC and the Alternate ELPAC will be held in the afternoons in the upcoming months:

• ELPAC Item Review Meeting—Both Fall 2023 and Spring 2024 Alternate ELPAC Item Review Meeting—April 2024.

To apply for meetings, go to the Educator Opportunities Portal . If you do not have an Educator Opportunities Portal account, you will need to create an account via the Educator Opportunities Portal Account Creation Form in the Educator Opportunities Database. If you have any questions, please contact the Educator Opportunities Team by phone at 916-228-2682 or by email at edopportunities@scoe.net.

Available Now!

Manuals, Instructions, and Quick Reference Guides

• New Checklists (added to the following pages)
  • Manuals and Instructions
  • ELPAC Resources
  • Alternate ELPAC Resources
  • Technology Resources

Web Page Updates

• ELPAC: Test Security (Now Available: Test Security Affidavit for Non-TOMS Users)
• Initial ELPAC Online Test Administration Manual (Updated for 2023–24)
• Initial Alternate ELPAC Online Test Administration Manual (Updated for 2023–24)
• ELPAC: Asynchronous Training Opportunities (New Materials: Accessing Summative Assessment Results in CERS Slides & Notetaking Guide)

Initial and Alternate ELPAC AST

The 2023–24 Initial ELPAC and Initial Alternate ELPAC ASTs are now available in Moodle . LEAs must either complete the LEA-level AST training on the Moodle Training site or verify on the AST website that someone currently on their staff has previously completed the training by the following dates:

• Initial ELPAC—August 4, 2023
• Initial Alternate ELPAC—August 18, 2023 (This is only required for LEAs with eligible students.)

Videos

• ELPAC: Asynchronous Training Opportunities (New Recording: Accessing Summative Assessment Results in CERS Module 2 and 3 videos)
• New videos for accessibility resources in Spanish have been posted to the ELPAC Accessibility Resources Demonstration Videos web pages.
• The Initial ELPAC and Initial Alternate ELPAC AST What's New Q&A session recordings have been posted in the LEA Certification courses in Moodle .

Ongoing Reminders

SSR Electronic Distribution

Ensure SSRs are populated in the student information system for the correct students in a timely manner, as outlined in the Options for Distributing SSRs chapter of the forthcoming ELPAC Scoring and Reporting Guide . Ensure that the SSRs are properly displayed, that parents and guardians can access the SSRs, and that they can access only the scores for their own children.

Scoring Job Opportunities

ETS accepts applications for scorers. This is an excellent opportunity for educators to become more familiar with the new generation of California assessments. Scoring schedules are flexible and can include four-, six-, and eight-hour weekday or weekend shifts. California educators interested in applying can view more information on the Online Scoring web page. Questions about the application or hiring process should be directed to etsrater@ets.org . Current scorers can reach out to ratercertify@ets.org for any scoring-related questions.

Previous ELPAC Monthly Communications

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

Additional Help

• Direct questions about policies, regulations, and requirements to elpac@cde.ca.gov.
• Contact your region's Success Agent for answers to questions about assessment coordination, development, and administration, as well as for technical support.
• Direct questions about Moodle , certification, and calibration to moodlesupport@scoe.net.
• Get Answers from a new user-friendly lookup tool available to help LEA coordinators quickly find answers to the most common testing questions. Users can also suggest Additional Questions for the FAQ , which will be reviewed on a regular basis.
• Chat with Anita, your virtual assistant for LEA help, which is available on the CAASPP and ELPAC home pages. Unanswered questions will be routed to your LEA Success Agent.

Sincerely,

California Outreach Team

ELPAC website

Contact Us: California Outreach web page