Assessment Spotlight, Issue 228

Focusing on the CAASPP System and English Language Proficiency Assessments for California (ELPAC)—and including, when timely, updates on California’s other statewide assessments. For questions related to test administration, coordination, and trainings, visit the CAASPP website and the ELPAC website.

2023 California Assessment Conference—Registration Now Open

We are excited to announce that registration for the 2023 California Assessment Conference (CAC) is open now! This year’s conference will focus on Charting the Course Between Instruction and Assessment.
Register now to join us in person on October 9–10, 2023, in Sacramento, California. This is a unique chance for educators to connect with peers to discover assessment tools and strategies for improved learning and teaching.
For more information and a link to registration visit the CAC website .

Discover the Power of Peer-to-Peer Learning!

We are looking for accomplished educators to develop and lead Shared Practice sessions at the upcoming 2023 CAC on October 9–10, 2023, in Sacramento, California!

For more information and a link to the submission form, visit 2023 CAC Call for Presenters on the CAC website . All proposals must be submitted no later than 5 p.m. on June 23, 2023.

Focus on Test Security—What Not to Report in STAIRS

When a site coordinator is unsure whether an issue should be reported in the Security and Test Administration Incident Reporting System (STAIRS), the first step is to consult the CAASPP and ELPAC Security Incidents and Appeals Procedure Guide . If the specific issue cannot be found in the chapter Testing Incident Definitions, the site coordinator should contact the local educational agency (LEA) coordinator for assistance in determining whether the issue should be reported in STAIRS. If the LEA CAASPP coordinator is unsure whether to report the issue, they should contact their LEA success agent. You can locate your LEA's assigned Success Agent on the LEA Success Agents web page .
The following circumstances do not require reporting through the STAIRS/appeals process:

• Electronic device used after testing If a student used an electronic device after their individual testing was completed during a test session, report only if (1) the student completed testing but the LEA can verify that the device was being used to help other students who were engaged in a test session; or (2) an LEA’s policy explicitly requires invalidation for electronic device use at any time during a test session.
  
  
• A 12-month English learner (EL) student If an EL student who was enrolled in a US school for less than 12 months as of April 15, 2022, accidentally took the English language arts/literacy (ELA) assessment, do not report; this student’s score will not be used for accountability purposes. A student classified as a 12-month EL is not blocked from taking the ELA test but will only be included in assessment results and receive a score report (SSR) if they answer a sufficient number of questions.
  
  
• Parent/guardian exempt (PGE) student If a student who is PGE is accidentally administered the assessment, no appeal is needed. The Test Operation Management System (TOMS) will allow the student's record to be marked as PGE on the student score status tab as long as the student has not submitted both the computer adaptive test and the performance task for that subject area. State regulations require that students who complete an assessment prior to the parent’s request for an exemption will have their test scored, and an SSR will be produced.
  
  
• Lost or misplaced student logon information If student logon information is lost or misplaced, do not report; this is a breach of a student’s personally identifiable information that should be addressed at the local level.
  
  
• Perceived question skipping Because the system does not allow students to skip questions or submit a segment in which any questions have not been answered, there is no reason to file a report if it is perceived that a question was not answered. This is a scenario that has been tested repeatedly, and no evidence has been found that confirms a reported case of question skipping.
  
  

2022–23 Sample Student Score Reports Available Now

Sample SSRs are now available for the 2022–23 administrations of the CAASPP and the Summative and Alternate Summative ELPAC.

• CAASPP Sample SSRs
• ELPAC SSRs

Please note that students will receive an SSR in English and one in the student's primary language identified in the California Longitudinal Pupil Achievement Data System (CALPADS) if that language is Spanish, Vietnamese, Filipino, Korean, Mandarin, or Cantonese. If a student should receive an SSR in a language that is available but is not listed as the student’s primary language in CALPADs, changes can be made to the student’s SSR language in TOMS before the student completes testing.

A table of estimated SSR release dates for the CAASPP is available on the CAASPP Score Reporting web page and for the ELPAC on the ELPAC Score Reporting web page.

Charter School Assessment Coordinators—Charter Network Quarterly Meeting Is Next Week!

Wondering how other charter schools handle assessment administration? Curious what other charter schools similar to yours do to track completion and manage participation in statewide assessments? Or are you simply looking to connect with other charter school assessment coordinators? If yes, then this meeting is for you!

The next quarterly meeting of the Charter School Assessment Coordinators Network is taking place online via Zoom on Wednesday, April 26, 2023, 9:30–11 a.m. Register for free today to join charter school assessment coordinators from across California to hear timely assessment information and connect with other charter coordinators.

Please note that this meeting is designed specifically for charter school assessment coordinators. Space is limited and registration is required. We hope to see you there!

Please share this email with any educators in your LEA who would be interested in or benefit from this information. To join the email list, send a blank email message to subscribe-caaspp@mlist.cde.ca.gov. Are you a new subscriber? Visit the California Department of Education Assessment Spotlight web page to find previous issues.