CAASPP/ELPAC—Administrators

ELPAC Known Issues Log

CAASPP Known Issues

Click here for CAA Resources

• Setting Up a Test Session (Video; 13:53) (Updated 03/18/19)

• Test Operational Management System (TOMS)

  • Directions on TOMS log in 

Accessibility Resources

• Universal Tools Tutorial in English (Video; 10:14) 

  • Embedded Universal Tools, Designated Supports,                               and Accommodations CDE Video Tutorials 

• Universal Tools Tutorial in Spanish (Video; 11:23) 

• California Assessment Accessibility Resources Matrix (Explanations of supports for ELPAC/CAASPP) - NEW

• 2020-21 ELPAC Student Assessment Accessibility Graphic - NEW

  • Simplified Test Directions: The test administrator simplifies or paraphrases the test directions. Refer to the Guidelines for Simplified Test Directions at https://portal.smarterbalanced.org/library/en/guidelines-for-simplified-test-directions.pdf    

• Translated test directions can be found on the bottom of this page: https://www.elpac.org/resources/accessibility-resources/

iPad Technology Preparation

• • • iPad Directions to log in to CAASPP

    • Turn off Accessibility Features on iPad

Practice and Training Tests Tools 

ELPAC

• Practice and Training Test Portal

CAASPP

• • Practice and Training Test Portal

  • Using the Practice and Training Tests 2018-2019 (Video; 07:06)

  • Equation Editor Tool

    • DESMOS Calculator - NEW for Grades 6-8

    • 6th grade - Desmos Four Function calculator  

    • 7th and 8th grade - Desmos Scientific calculator

  • Practice Test Aligned to:   

    • 3rd grade (Updated 08/04/19)  

    • 4th grade (Updated 08/04/19) 

    • 5th grade (Updated 08/04/19)

Grades 5 & 8 California Science Test (CAST)

The CAST is an online, summative assessment based on the CA Next Generation Science Standards. 

• Scripts for Administering Smarter Balanced Summative Assessments and the California Science Test (PDF)

• Accessibility Graphic for Science  

• Periodic Table of the Elements for Grade Eight and High School (PDF)

• Grade Eight Reference Sheet (PDF) (Updated 11/18/19)

• A Guide to Understanding the ELPAC—A Site Administrator's Guide to Talking to Parents about the ELPAC (PPT)

How do my students adjust volume before and during the Smarter Balanced Test? 

As part of our login script, the computer volume is set to 50%. Students will use the cogwheel icon in the top right corner of the secure browser, to adjust the volume. In addition, students should check the volume knobs on the sides of their headphones. 

How do my students access universal tools, such as highlighting or strike-through, or designated supports, such as text-to speech?

There are 3 ways students can access tools in the context menu. Students will see three gray lines on the right side of the item, which is the context menu. Secondly, on a Mac computer, to simulate a right-click (as on a PC) you hold Control +Click the mouse. Therefore, on the SB field test, students can access the context menu by first selecting the text in the passage and then holding control and clicking to select the highlight tool. A third way they can access this tool is by holding Control+M to access the context menu. The strikethrough is only an option when student control click (or Control+M) on an answer option for the test item. 

Can teachers run 2 separate test sessions at once, for students from different grade levels, classes, or taking different tests?

No, but all of those options can take place in one test session. When teachers login to the TA Interface, they'll start a session, write the session ID on the board. Students who sign in & enter that ID# will then start showing up in the list, waiting for the teacher to approve them. So, students from multiple classes can test together without issue. Students are attached to schools not to teachers, this is different than NWEA. If a make-up student needs to finish another test, the teacher can check that test in the TA interface (ex. G5 Math CAT) and the student can use same session ID that is on the board. The system will recognize where the student stopped and continue from there. 

A student begins testing in LEA/School A and then moves to LEA/School B before completing the test. Can the test be moved to LEA/School B for the student to complete?

Yes; if a student starts a test event in one LEA/school and then moves to a different LEA/school, the test engine system will retain that test for that student. For example, if the student starts the computer adaptive testing (CAT) section of the test, answers some questions, and then moves to a different LEA/school in the state. The student can begin, at the new school, where he or she left off on that section. The same situation applies for the performance task (PT)—once the student logs in and starts the test, the student can finish the test at the new LEA/school. Remember, however, that the Classroom Activity is assigned to a specific grade and school. Therefore, if a student participates in the Classroom Activity in School A and then moves to a new School B before starting the PT section, the student will need instruction in the Classroom Activity assigned to the grade in School B before completing the PT portion of the test.