Security of the Test Environment

A secure online testing environment is possible when an individual is restricted from accessing prohibited computer applications (local or internet-based) or copying or otherwise sharing test data. The purposes of the secure testing environment are to maintain test security and provide a stable testing experience for students across multiple platforms. The security of assessment instruments and the confidentiality of student information are vital to maintaining the validity, reliability, and fairness of the results.

All summative test items and test materials are secure and must be appropriately handled. Secure handling protects the integrity, validity, and confidentiality of assessment items, prompts, student information, and test results. Any deviation in test administration must be reported as a test security incident to ensure the validity of the assessment results.

It is the responsibility of each person participating in the administration of any of the CAASPP summative assessments to immediately report any violation or suspected violation of test security or confidentiality. The site CAASPP coordinator is responsible for immediately reporting any security violation to the LEA CAASPP coordinator.

Requirements

All individuals who have witnessed, been informed of, or suspect the possibility of a test security incident that could potentially affect the validity or the security of the assessments should report such breaches to a site CAASPP coordinator or LEA CAASPP coordinator. Note that only LEA CAASPP coordinators and site CAASPP coordinators may report the incident using the STAIRS/Appeals process and, if directed, file an Appeal. Review the information in the Identifying Testing Improprieties, Irregularities, and Breaches and Appeals Submission (as necessary) subsections of this manual; and then refer to the Security Incidents and Appeals Procedure Guide for additional instructions.

Table 1 through table 4 describe security requirements for the test environment during various stages of testing. The test environment refers to all aspects of the testing situation while students are testing and includes what a student can view, hear, or access (including access via technology).

At All Times

Table 1. Security Requirements of the Test Environment at All Times
Requirement	Description
No access to responses	LEA CAASPP coordinators, site CAASPP coordinators, TAs, and other staff are not permitted to review student responses to the Smarter Balanced assessments, CAST, or CSA in the testing interface or students’ notes on scratch paper.
No copies of test materials	Unless needed as a print-on-demand or braille accommodation, no copies of the test items, stimuli, reading passages, PT materials, or writing prompts may be made or otherwise retained.
No retaining, discussing, or releasing test materials	Descriptions of test items, stimuli, printed reading passages, or writing prompts must not be retained, discussed, or released to anyone.
No reviewing, discussing, or analyzing test materials	LEA CAASPP coordinators, site CAASPP coordinators, TAs, and other staff must not review, discuss, or analyze operational test items, stimuli, reading passages, or writing prompts at any time, including before, during, or after testing. Student interaction with a TA or TE during a test is limited to necessary communication (such as permission to leave the room) or to respond during any CAA. Students should be informed that they may not discuss or share test items, stimuli, reading passages, or writing prompts with anyone during or after testing by means including fax, email, text message, social media websites, etc.
Keeping all test materials secure at all times	Printed materials from the print-on-demand accommodation, scratch paper, the CAA DFA(s), and documents with student information must be securely stored in a locked location (e.g., locked room closet or cabinet) that can be opened only with a key or keycard by staff responsible for test administration. The device on which downloaded files, such as DFAs, temporarily reside should be secured.

Before Testing

Table 2. Requirements of the Test Environment Before Testing
Requirement	Description
Instructional materials removed or covered	Instructional materials must be removed or covered, including, but not limited to, information that might assist students in answering questions that is displayed on bulletin boards, chalkboards or dry-erase boards, or on charts (such as, wall charts that contain literary definitions, maps, mathematics formulas, etc.).
Student seating	Students must be seated to minimize opportunities to look at each other’s work—for example, students may be assigned staggered seating or be seated in every other chair or workstation position—or they should be provided with tabletop partitions.
Signage	To promote optimum testing conditions, place a “TESTING IN PROGRESS-DO NOT DISTURB” sign on the door or post signs in halls and entrances rerouting hallway traffic. “Unauthorized Electronic Devices May Not Be Used at Any Time During the Testing Session” signs should be posted in the testing environment so that they are clearly visible to all students.
Room setup	Make sure the environment is conducive for testing and that secure browsers are properly installed on testing machines. (The secure browser is designed to support test security by prohibiting access to external applications or navigation away from the assessment.)

During Testing

Table 3. Requirements of the Test Environment During Testing
Requirement	Description
Quiet environment	Provide a quiet environment void of talking or other distractions that might interfere with a student’s ability to concentrate or might compromise the testing situation or environment.
Student supervision	Students are actively supervised by a trained TA or TE and are prohibited from viewing other students’ answers; distracting or interrupting other students; and accessing or using unauthorized digital, electronic, or manual devices that allow access to outside information, communication among students or with other individuals outside the testing environment, or the ability to photograph or copy test content. This includes any device with cellular, messaging, or wireless capabilities, but is not limited to cell phones, smart watches, tablets, cameras, and electronic translation devices.
Access to allowable resources only	Students must only have access to and use of those allowable resources (refer to the subsection Establishing Appropriate Testing Conditions for examples) that are permitted for each specific test (or portion of a test). This includes access to medical supports and devices that may be integrated into other technology devices (refer to the Smarter Balanced Usability, Accessibility, and Accommodations Guidelines for information about student use of medical supports during testing). Use of such devices may require additional monitoring or a separate test setting to maintain test security.
People in the testing room	Only testing staff and students who are actively testing should be in the testing room. Unauthorized staff or other adults, including students’ parents/guardians, must not be in the room during testing.
Access to assessments	Only students who are testing can view items. Based on the item type (i.e., PTs), trained TAs may also have limited exposure to items in the course of properly administering the assessments; however, even TAs or TEs and other trained staff must not actively review, record, or analyze any test items. However, TEs administering the CAAs will have exposure to test items in the course of properly administering the assessments.
Testing through secure browser	Administration of the CAASPP assessments is permitted only through the student interface via a secure browser or a method of securing the student device. The use of third-party accessibility software or devices is permitted only if the student has been assigned the permissive mode designated support.
Reading scripts verbatim	The TA should read the test administration scripts verbatim to the students who are testing. Links to the script PDFs are as follows: Smarter Balanced CAT for ELA and mathematics Smarter Balanced PT for ELA and mathematics CAST CSA
Answering student questions	The TA or TE does not aid any student in reading, answering, or understanding the test questions or help them in any way, although the TA may assist with questions about test mechanics as described in a test administration script PDF.

NOTES:

In the case of a student cheating, the TA must stop the cheating and notify the site CAASPP coordinator. Do not call the CDE or the LEA Success Agent to report student cheating, unless the situation involves a breach of test content to social media. The LEA CAASPP coordinator or site CAASPP coordinator must submit a STAIRS case using the STAIRS/‌Appeals process.
If a student used an electronic device after the test session was finished, it is not necessary to submit a STAIRS case. A STAIRS case is only necessary if the student was actively engaged in a test session or if the student had completed testing but the LEA can verify that the device was being used to help other students who were engaged in a test session.
Because of the nature of the CAAs for ELA, mathematics, and science, TEs are permitted exposure to test questions and student responses. Additionally, in some cases, TEs will enter student responses into the TDS as appropriately identified by the student’s IEP.

After Testing

Table 4. Requirements of the Test Environment After Testing
Requirement	Description
No test materials used for instruction	Summative test items, stimuli, reading passages, or writing prompts must not be used for instruction.
Maintain security while entering student results into the DEI	LEA staff entering student results into the DEI as a result of second scoring the CAA for ELA should be in a private location, away from students. Staff entering information must have submitted an electronically signed Test Security Affidavit in TOMS and must have either a Test Administrator or Test Examiner user role in the online California Assessment Systems.
No retaining of test “tickets” or any materials created to assist students with logging on to the summative assessments	All students’ ID information must be collected at the end of each test session, stored securely, and then destroyed securely. The loss of logon information is considered a security incident at the local level and does not need to be reported in STAIRS.
Destroy test materials securely	Printed test items or passages, including embossed braille printouts, scratch paper, notecards or paper that include student logon information, and printed DFA(s) for the CAAs must be collected and inventoried and then immediately shredded upon a student’s completion of the test. Refer to the next subsection, Handling Secure Printed Materials, for details.