Frequently Asked Questions about Administering HSA-Alt
When is the testing window?
Below is a table showing the School Year 2023-2024 HSA-Alt operational testing windows:
|
Online CEAs Testing |
October 9, 2023 – July 19, 2024 |
| Online Summative Testing | February 20 – May 30, 2024 |
| Paper Based version Summative Testing |
February 20 – May 23, 2024 |
What happens if I do not receive my username or password to access the HSAP systems?
Be sure that your HSA-Alt Test Coordinator has entered you into the TIDE database as a Test Administrator (TA). (An employee identification number or school email address is required to set up a TIDE account.) If you were already entered into TIDE, you would only need to request a new temporary password for the current school year. If you need assistance requesting a new temporary password for the current school year, contact the HSAP Help Desk at 1-866-648-3712 or hsaphelpdesk@cambiumassessment.com.
Test Administrators who will administer the paper based version of the summative HSA-Alt will need to be entered into TIDE as a Test Administrator (TA) to access the online test delivery system.
What is the default method of summative test administration for the HSA-Alt?
The summative HSA-Alt for English Language Arts (ELA), Mathematics, and Science (NGSS) are delivered to students via the online Test Delivery System, which is accessed by using the HSAP Secure Browser on an iPad, Chromebook, laptop, or other tablet or computer.
Is there any paper-based version available to administer the summative HSA-Alt?
The Paper Response Card/Paper and Pencil Test Accommodations are available for the summative HSA-Alt ELA, Mathematics, and Science (NGSS) in Spring 2024 after Assessment Section verification of student need and approval. For the 2023-2024 school year, the following paper-based accommodations are available for students:
- The Paper Response Card Accommodation presents items to the students using an online test delivery system alongside the printed answer option cards and test visuals for student response selection. Student’s responses will be recorded in the online test delivery system. Students with visual impairment/Blindness may access assessments by textile enhancement of the Paper Response Cards and testing materials combining with embedded human voice recording in an online test delivery system or read-aloud accommodation.
- Paper and Pencil Test Accommodation uses the printed paper test booklet. The TA is required to read all parts of the test using the item script provided in the test booklet. Student’s responses may be noted in the paper test booklet at the time of administration, but the student’s responses must be recorded via the online test delivery system for the student’s test to be scored.
Full information about the Paper Response Card/Paper and Pencil Test Accommodations may be found in the HSA-Alt Summative Test Administration Manual, available in the Test Administration folder in the Resources section of the HSA-Alt portal website at https://hsa-alt.alohahsap.org.
How is the HSA-Alt Classroom Embedded Assessment administered?
The HSA-Alt Classroom Embedded Assessments (CEAs) are primarily delivered via the online Test Delivery System, which is accessed by using the HSAP Secure Browser on an iPad, Chromebook, laptop, or other tablet or computer. Additionally, the teaching activities and the Performance-based Tasks (PTs) for each CEA test may be accessed as individual PDF documents on the Hawaiʻi TIDE site at www.hitide.org under the “General Resources” section. These PDF versions of the teaching activities and Performance-based Tasks (PTs) for each CEA test are allowed to be used in the classroom with students, without accessing the online Test Delivery System. It is recommended to record the student’s response and at a later time, open a live test session in the online Test Delivery System and log the student into the appropriate CEA test to enter teacher observation ratings and present the independent item to the student(s), which will generate student response data in the Centralized Reporting System (CRS). For more information see the HSA-Alt Classroom Embedded Assessments Test Administration Manual, posted in the Resources section of the HSA-Alt portal website at https://hsa-alt.alohahsap.org.
Do I need to complete the Learned Characteristics Inventory (LCI) for my students?
Yes, the Learner Characteristics Inventory (LCI) must be completed online for all HSA-Alt students prior to their first summative assessment content area test session opportunity. The LCI is not required prior to administration of the CEAs.) The LCI contains separate sections for teacher inventory of student characteristics, teacher rating of student skills in each content area, and teacher rating of student readiness for transition.
The information that is provided in this inventory must come from the certificated school staff member who works most closely with the student in the academic content areas. Full information on completing the LCI may be found in the HSA-Alt Summative Test Administration Manual, posted in the Resources section of the HSA-Alt portal website at https://hsa-alt.alohahsap.org.
How does the Test Administrator access the Navigation Bar in the Online Testing System?
Test Administrators will need to open the Navigation Bar in the Online Testing System to move between the different sections of the LCI or the CEAs, pause a test, change the Zoom level on a test, and/or access the digital calculator tool on mathematics tests.
To open the Navigation Bar the Test Administrator must tap (or click) the small gray box in the upper left corner of the student’s testing screen. A pop-up box will appear asking for a password. The password to open the Navigation Bar is always the legal first name of the student being tested. This is the name used to log the student into the test on the Secure Browser. The Test Administrator will enter the password and tap or click “Ok”. The Navigation Bar will appear.
Once the Test Administrator has completed the use of the Navigation Bar they must tap or click the “Full Screen” button to close the Navigation Bar before returning the iPad (or other digital device) to the student for continued testing.
Does the student need to read the reading passages or any of the test questions, independently?
No. The HSA-Alt summative online testing system has embedded human voice recording available for all components of testing including reading passages, test questions answer options in the summative assessments. The audio button (ear icon) needs to be tapped or clicked to activate the embedded audio.
What non-embedded accommodations and designated supports are available for the HSA-Alt and how do I get them?
Eleven HSA-Alt non-embedded accommodations are available for the HSA-Alt: Alternate Response Options, American Sign Language, Calculator, Concrete Materials, Digital Math Manipulatives, Multiplication Table, Paper Response Card, Paper/Pencil Test, Read Aloud, Reinforcement System, and Scribe. Nine out of eleven can be set in TIDE by school personnel. Only the Paper Response Card and Paper/Pencil Test require request form submittal and State review.
There is one HSA-Alt non-embedded designated support that is available for the HSA-Alt mathematics and science assessments: Translated Test. (Note this designated support is not available for the English Language Arts assessment.) As a non-embedded designated support, Translated Test may be set in TIDE by school personnel.
For more information on the accommodations and designated supports that are available for the HSA-Alt see the HSA-Alt Summative Test Administration Manual.
Do I need to administer all items to each student?
Yes, in order for a student to receive the most reliable score, a score that best captures what the student knows and can do, it is essential to administer all summative test items to the student.
The summative HSA-Alt is a computer adaptive test that presents items to the student based upon the accuracy of their last response. Test items each student sees may be different based upon the student’s earlier responses, however the total number of items a student will receive will be the same regardless. The number of items for the current test year will be between 50-60 items per subject area test.
For students approved for the Paper Response Card accommodation, the student will be administered a fixed form test using the online delivery system and printed response cards and test visuals presented by the student’s Test Administrator. For students approved for the Paper and Pencil Test accommodation, the student will be administered a fixed form test using a paper test booklet, including a script booklet for the student’s Test Administrator. Student responses on the paper test booklet must then be entered by the student’s Test Administrator into the online delivery system.
What happens if the student is unable or unwilling to respond to a test item?
This assessment has an option of recording a No Response (NR) score for an item if the student does not respond. Full information on recording a No Response (NR) may be found in the 2023-2024 Guide to Navigating the Online HSA-Alt Administration. An Early Stopping Rule will be available for students taking the summative assessments who are non-responsive to the first eight items on each summative content area test. Students and Test Administrators must follow the administration guidelines as outlined in the HSA-Alt Summative Test Administration Manual.
What is a "Test Session Observer" and is this observer required for the HSA-Alt Assessments?
A Test Session Observer must be present for students who will stop the summative test early due to the implementation of the Early Stopping Rule. For the Early Stopping Rule guidelines, procedures, and form see the HSA-Alt Summative Test Administration Manual.