ELPAC email update, October 16, 2020.

Dear LEA ELPAC Coordinator and Site ELPAC Coordinator:

Local educational agency (LEA) ELPAC coordinators and site ELPAC coordinators are responsible for handling administrative and security responsibilities for all components for the administration of the Initial and Summative ELPAC.

Security Requirements for Test Examiners and Other Staff

• Prior to administering the tests, LEA ELPAC coordinators and site ELPAC coordinators must ensure all test examiners
  • have an active account in the Test Operations Management System (TOMS) , where the text examiners are required to sign the Test Security Affidavit; and
  • have completed calibration training in the ELPAC Administration and Scoring Moodle Training Site.
• Users with roles that do not require access to TOMS must complete the 2020–2021 Test Security Affidavit for Non-TOMS Users . Site ELPAC coordinators are required to have all non-TOMS users, including proctors and LEA staff with access to secure materials, sign and submit the security affidavit. Upon staff members' completion of this form, the listed site ELPAC coordinator will receive a confirmation email.

Test Security

• LEA ELPAC coordinators and site ELPAC coordinators will submit Security and Test Administration Incident Reporting System (STAIRS) cases in TOMS.
• Users should refer to the following resources for instructions on how to submit a STAIRS case:
  • 2019–2020 Summative ELPAC Security Incidents and Appeals Procedure Guide
  • 2020–21 Initial ELPAC Security Incidents and Appeals Procedure Guide
  • Security and Test Administration Incident Reporting System (STAIRS)/Appeals Process web page
  • Test Security Guidelines Video
  • STAIRS Video Tutorial
  • How to Submit a Security Incident

Securely Store Used Answer Books for the 2020–21 Administration

• Securely store all used Answer Books administered during the 2020–21 administration until June 30, 2021, or the end of the LEA's instructional year.
• Additional information about test material destruction for 2020–21 will be provided by spring 2021.

Alert Papers Process

As part of the process for scoring the Writing tests for the ELPAC, readers may come across student responses that warrant an LEA's immediate attention. Examples include responses in which students indicate or suggest they are experiencing or have experienced some kind of physical or emotional abuse or neglect, they may harm themselves or others, or they are experiencing severe distress. LEAs are notified of such instances through an alert paper.

ETS will send the details of an alert paper via email. The email will contain a password-protected attachment that includes only the Statewide Student Identifier, LEA name, test name, and content of the student response. The password will be shared with the LEA ELPAC coordinator and superintendent in a separate email immediately following the initial notification. The subject line will be different than the initial email for added security.

LEA ELPAC coordinators will receive a phone call when a student response is deemed severe. If the primary LEA ELPAC coordinator is not available, the secondary coordinator listed in TOMS is contacted. If no other coordinator is listed in TOMS, a voice mail message will be left for the primary coordinator.

Questions regarding the test security process can 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
Fax: 800-541-8455
Website: https://www.elpac.org/