2025-2026 PSSA- Keystone Exams Administration Training
2025-2026 PSSA- Keystone Exams Administration Training
Transition to Statewide Online Testing
All PSSA and Keystone Exams testing will fully transition to online in the spring of 2026.
Here are the PowerPoints from the most recent DRC/PDE trainings:
ADMINISTRATION TRAINING
Click on the dropdown arrow beside each section to learn more and access the videos
User Management
The DRC INSIGHT Portal is used to download testing software, establish online test sessions, manage student test tickets, and review status reports.
Make sure anyone who needs access to the DRC INSIGHT Portal has an account and the correct access.
A video on how to manage users is located here: https://youtu.be/huVDDm7bUwk
DRC INSIGHT Online Assessment Software
Must be installed on all devices used for testing.
Allowable devices include desktops, laptops, iPADs, and Chromebooks.
The software downloads are located on the Downloads tab found on the DRC INSIGHT Portal.
The District Assessment Coordinator will need to provide permission to the Technology Coordinator to access these downloads.
Technology user guides and presentations can be accessed through the DRC INSIGHT Portal under General Information and then Documents.
Tutorials and Online Tools Training (OTT)
Time should be allotted to prepare the students for the online assessment. Students should be given an opportunity to review the online tutorials and to practice using the online tools.
Tutorials use pictures, motion, and sound to present visual and verbal descriptions of the properties and features of the DRC INSIGHT Assessment Software.
OTTs give students hands-on experience with logging into a test, selecting and composing responses, and using accommodations.
Both the tutorials and OTTs are available in the DRC INSIGHT Assessment Software or publicly available at: Pennsylvania Online Assessment Tutorials and Online Tools Training.
Student Management
Adding Student Records
Students must be available within the DRC INSIGHT Portal to be placed in a test session.
Student records provided to DRC from PDE’s Pennsylvania Information Management System (PIMS) are automatically uploaded to the DRC INSIGHT Portal
Student records that were not included in the PIMS file need to be manually uploaded to the portal before a student can be added to an online test session.
When adding a student record, the student’s name, date of birth, and PAsecureID must match PIMS to ensure accurate reporting.
A video on how to manage students is located here: https://youtu.be/jqG5HmPdhxM
Accommodations
Students requiring an accommodation that is delivered by the online test engine (e.g., audio) must have the accommodation selected prior to creating test tickets.
The accommodation will not be available during online testing unless it is printed on a student’s test ticket.
An online accommodation cannot be added to a test that has been started. The test will need to be regenerated to add the accommodation and the student’s responses will be lost.
District Technology Coordinators must confirm that the test content for these accommodations has been selected for automatic download within the Central Office Services-Service Device.
Other accommodations, such as setting and timing accommodations, can be selected after the student has completed testing.
A video on how to how to add or remove accommodations is located here: https://youtu.be/TNFt44f8rpo
Teacher Management
Each test session must be assigned to the Test Administrator (TA) who will be administering the assessment.
Test Administrators must be added to the DRC INSIGHT Portal through the Teacher application prior to creating a test session.
The TA/teacher assigned to a session can be changed if testing has not started.
A video on how to add teachers is located here: https://youtu.be/EmjtkG9l87U
Test Management
Creating Test Sessions
Creating a test session generates the test tickets and rosters that are used for online testing login.
Creating separate test sessions for different classes, times, etc. can improve ticket management and can assist with testing status management.
A video demonstrating how to create test sessions is located here: https://youtu.be/nWPqhobdpdY
Printing Test Tickets
Student rosters should be closely reviewed prior to testing to confirm that the students within a test session have accurate accommodations and that the students’ names, PAsecureIDs, and dates of birth are correct.
A video on how to print test tickets and rosters is located here: https://youtu.be/pOsY8k1746I
For additional step-by-step instructions on using the DRC INSIGHT Portal, a DRC INSIGHT Portal User Guide is available for download.
Student Status Dashboard
Assessment coordinators are responsible for
Managing the status of the online test sessions
Actively monitoring sessions to identify students who require make-ups along with students who are receiving extended time.
The Student Status Dashboard is available to assist with managing test sessions.
This tool provides student-testing status in real-time.
Allows the user to filter by Testing Status - Not Started, In Progress, and Completed.
A video demonstrating the Student Status Dashboard is located here: https://youtu.be/aPzE_wJVVuo
Excessive Logins
Assessment coordinators are to actively monitor and record student logins.
An excessive login is recorded electronically when a student logs into a test section more than two times.
There are legitimate reasons for multiple logins, but for test security purposes, PDE requires documentation for each excessive login.
All login and unlock documentation must be kept on file at the school and district.
To assist with monitoring student status, excessive logins, and unlocked tickets, District Assessment Coordinators have access to status reports. These reports are available on the DRC INSIGHT Portal under Report Delivery and then Status Reports.
Non-assessed Student
If an enrolled student is expected to take the online test, but is not participating in the assessment, a non-assessed code must be selected in the DRC INSIGHT Portal.
The student MUST be in a test session before any testing codes can be added.
If a student is removed from a test session or a non-assessed code is not provided, there will be no record of this student for the assessment.
A video demonstrating how to add or update an assessment code for a student is located here: https://youtu.be/gEK2jWs5AY0
After each session
Test Administrators must return all student login information and scratch paper to the School Assessment Coordinator.
The School Assessment Coordinator must keep the test tickets in a locked, secure storage area.
After testing is complete
The School Assessment Coordinators must destroy the all printed test tickets and scratch paper to ensure that secure data is not compromised.