Test Administration Options

It is recommended that the LEA offer the following two test administration options to meet the needs of the families the LEA serves:

  1. In-person or co-located administration
  2. Remote administration

An LEA should implement in-person or co-located administration of the Initial ELPAC as the primary method of conducting the assessment. The LEA should carefully limit physical contact and implement proper social distancing protocols that meet all state, county, and local health and safety guidelines for in-person administrations. In addition, an LEA should offer a remote administration alternative for parents/guardians who express concerns about the in-person administration or in the event that local health restrictions make in-person administration unworkable. Finally, the administration of PPTs should not be offered remotely, but they are available during in-person or co-located administration for students who have an IEP or Section 504 plan requiring an Initial ELPAC all-domain PPT.

LEAs may use a combination of administration options. However, the administration style should not change in the middle of administering a domain. While a student might complete the Listening and Speaking in person and the Reading and Writing through remote administration, a student should not start the Speaking via remote administration and then complete it in person unless no other option is available.

In-Person or Co-located Administration

In-person or co-located administration occurs when the TE and student are in the same room while completing the assessment. It offers the greatest opportunity for ensuring test security by limiting the number of people able to view assessment questions and additional secure materials. It also removes several potential obstacles by allowing the TE to see and hear what is happening during testing.

Follow local health and safety guidelines when conducting in-person testing.

Remote Administration

LEAs should only offer a remote assessment option to students receiving distance learning instruction or students who have documented health concerns. Because it is necessary to monitor students online during remote test administration, LEAs must provide parents/guardians with the Initial ELPAC Testing Notification Letter on the ELPAC website. This option of assessment delivery allows for students to access the web-based Student Testing Interface through a web browser. Depending on the student’s grade level and abilities, the student can either log on to the assessment on a local device, or the TE can run the web-based Student Testing Interface and share the screen using web meeting software.

Please refer to the Remote Testing chapter in this Initial ELPAC Online Test Administration Manual for more information.