Appendix A: Operating System Support Plan for the 2026–27 Test Delivery System

A supported operating system is one for which CAI provides updates to the secure browser for that operating system. CAI provides such updates as the supported operating systems are updated or as bugs in the secure browser are detected and fixed.

The support plan describes CAI’s plan for supporting operating systems during the upcoming test administration and following years. This plan helps LEAs and schools manage operating system deployments based on the support timelines. Refer to the Support Plan for Operating Systems section of the CAI Technology Guide for a list of specific operating systems.

Timing of Secure Browser Updates

CAI will support major and minor version upgrades for Windows, macOS, Linux, iPadOS, and ChromeOS upon the completion of internal testing following their release. CAI may provide secure browser updates for new major and minor version upgrades of Windows, macOS, Linux, iPadOS, and ChromeOS, if necessary.

A “major version upgrade” of an operating system is usually denoted by an increase in the version designation’s whole number. For example, the upgrade from Windows 10 to Windows 11 was a major version upgrade.

A “minor version upgrade” is usually denoted by an increase in a number after a decimal point. For example, the upgrade from macOS 13.3 to 13.3.1 was a minor version upgrade. For minor version upgrades to iPadOS and ChromeOS operating systems, CAI will provide mobile secure browser updates to ensure compatibility.

Details About the Support Plans for Operating Systems

Apple Mobile

  • Supported iPads have 9.7" or larger displays and run a supported version of iPadOS.
  • Apple iPadOS operating systems are released on a rolling basis.
  • CAI supports the three most recent major releases of iPadOS.
  • Supported builds of iPadOS are those released after May 2026.

Chrome

  • Google releases new versions of ChromeOS every four weeks. Support may require updating the Chrome kiosk application.
  • CAI will support only any device that Google actively supports for auto update. Information on Google’s auto update policy, including currently supported devices, can be found on the Google Auto Update policy web page.
  • For any given school year, CAI will support the latest version of ChromeOS available during the summer months and all subsequent versions until the following summer. For example, if ChromeOS 144 is released in June, it, and all versions of ChromeOS after it, will be supported until July of the following year.

Linux

  • Official Fedora support typically ends one to two years after a release.
  • Ubuntu typically supports LTS distributions for five years after a release.

Mac

  • macOS computers with PowerPC processors are not supported.
  • Apple does not document end-of-life status for its products. CAI recommends using the most recent releases.
  • As long as Apple continues to release new versions of macOS annually, CAI will support four active versions of macOS.
  • If Apple ends support for an operating system sooner than six years after its release, then CAI will stop supporting that system one full school year after the Apple support ends.

Windows

  • CAI’s support for a Windows operating system ends 10 school years after its release date. For the most part, this coincides with Microsoft’s official end-of-life policies for its operating systems.
  • If Microsoft ends support for an operating system sooner than six years after its release, then CAI will stop supporting that system one full school year after the Microsoft support ends.