CAASPP and ELPAC email update, August 17, 2021.

Dear LEA CAASPP Coordinator or LEA ELPAC Coordinator:

The California Department of Education is allowing remote testing for the 2021–22 administration. When possible, students should be tested in person, to provide them with the most accessible and secure testing experience. Currently, the Initial ELPAC and the Smarter Balanced Interim Assessments may be administered remotely.

Now that systems have resumed, the Remote Testing Video Permission setting will be set to "N" for all students. The Ready for Remote Test Administration field will be enabled and set to "Y" for all local educational agencies (LEAs), schools, and users. These remote settings apply to both the CAASPP and the ELPAC, so LEA CAASPP and ELPAC coordinators should work together to ensure permissions are set correctly. When testing remotely, test administrators and test examiners should select the Remote or Hybrid option when starting a test session.

Why is the Remote Testing Video Permission set to "N" for all students?

For students taking the Initial ELPAC and interim assessments in fall 2021, defaulting the Remote Testing Video Permission to "N" allows students to test using the web-based student testing interface while in a video conference (e.g., Zoom, Google Meet, Teams, etc.) with a test examiner. This will avoid the camera conflict test examiners encountered last year.

Students for whom the Remote Testing Video Permission of "N" has been set still can take the Initial ELPAC or interim assessments remotely. This will reduce the number of remote communication checks the students need to perform when logging on to a test. However, a student will not have access to the remote communication features within the student testing interface.

What if LEAs change the Remote Testing Video Permission for students to "Y"?

LEA and site coordinators for both CAASPP and the ELPAC can change the Remote Testing Video Permission to "Y" in the Test Operations Management System. This can be done through the student test assignment screen for individual students or by uploading a completed Test Assignment template .

A "Y" in this field allows a student(s) to test using remote communication features. The student Remote Testing Video Permission can be changed back to an "N" at any time. Students with a "Y" for Remote Testing Video Permission will be presented with the appropriate hardware checks (i.e., microphone and camera checks) when logging on to any test in a remote session.

When the Remote Testing Video Permission is set to "Y," students will be unable to use the camera and microphone in video conference software such as Zoom, Google Meet, Teams, etc. While logging on to an assessment, students will be unable to communicate with the test administrator or test examiner.

Do students need the Remote Testing Video Permission set to "Y" to test remotely?

No. For fall assessments, you may leave your students with a Remote Testing Video Permission of "N" and still test them remotely. Keep the following in mind for each assessment:

Initial ELPAC:

The Initial ELPAC requires that students be on camera while testing. By leaving them with an "N" setting, students can use the camera and microphone while in Zoom, Google Meet, Teams, or other video conferencing software. This will make the logon process easier for students and allow students to speak with the test examiner throughout the logon process.

Interim assessments:

Just as in the 2020–21 administration year, students will not be required to be on camera while completing any of the interim assessments. LEAs may leave students with an "N" setting and use video conferencing software to monitor students while they are testing. It is the test administrator's choice whether to require student cameras during an interim assessment.

If LEAs would like to assess students using the remote communication features that will be required on the spring summative assessments, LEAs may change the students to a "Y" setting and have the students test with all of the remote communication features enabled.

What if I am testing students in person?

Regardless of the assessment, all students testing in person must use the secure browser. The test administrator or test examiner should start the test session by selecting the in-person option. By starting the test session as an in-person assessment, the system will ignore the remote testing widgets and tools. The Remote Testing Video Permission setting does not affect in-person testing.

Is remote testing allowed for the spring summative assessments?

Yes. The Smarter Balanced Summative Assessments for English language arts/literacy and mathematics, the California Science Test, and the Summative ELPAC will be allowed to be administered remotely. The student's Remote Testing Video Permission must be changed to "Y" to enable all the remote communication features. Further instructions will be communicated after January 1, 2022.

Questions about the Remote Testing Video Permission setting can 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
Websites: https://www.caaspp.org/ and https://www.elpac.org/