Initial ELPAC—Test Administration Options
It is recommended that the local educational agency (LEA) offer the following two test administration options to meet the needs of the families the LEA serves.
An LEA should implement in-person or co-located administration as the primary method of conducting the assessment. The LEA should carefully limit physical contacts 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 computer-based administration alternative for parents and guardians who express concerns about the in-person administration, or in the event local health restrictions make in-person administration unworkable. Finally, the administration of paper–pencil tests (PPTs) should not be offered remotely, but are available during in-person or co-located administrations.
LEAs may use a combination of administration options. However, the administration style should not change in the middle of a domain. While a student might complete the listening and speaking in-person and the writing and listening through remote administration, a student should not start the speaking via remote and then complete it by in-person unless no other option is available.
In-Person or Co-Located Administration
Per California Department of Public Health (CDPH) guidelines as of September 4, 2020, all LEAs are permitted to bring students into a school or LEA facility for the purpose of assessments. For more details, visit the CDPH’s Guidance for Small Cohorts/Groups of Children and Youth web page.
In-person or co-located administration occurs when the test examiner (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 persons 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.
General information about physical distancing measures can be found in the Suggested Guidelines for Physically Distancing Test Administration web document. For more up-to-date and specific information on safe test administration in the LEA’s local area, please contact local county health officials.
When using in-person or co-located assessments, the LEA will be able to complete these assessments either using computer or using the paper–pencil Answer Book. However, students need to complete all the domains in one style. If a student tests via computer–based, then all domains must be computer–based.
Remote Computer-based Administration
LEAs should also offer a computer-based assessment option to address parent and guardian concerns or health agency restrictions. Because it is necessary to monitor students online during remote test administration, LEAs must provide parents and guardians with the Parent Notification Letter. This option of assessment delivery allows for students to access the 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 test examiner can run the student testing interface and share the screen using web meeting software.
For complete technology requirements and instructions on managing remote test administration scenarios, refer to the Technology Requirements and Instructions for Remote Administration of Computer-based Assessments (coming soon) web documents.