Postdecision Actions
If the Appeal is denied for an administrative reason—for example, because the wrong type of Appeal was filed—the coordinator may refile. If a coordinator does not understand why the Appeal was denied, the coordinator can request clarification through the Notes function in STAIRS.
If the Appeal is approved, different actions can be taken:
Tests to Be Reopened
- If the case requires a Reopen Appeal, the student(s) may resume testing. Expired tests will resume at the last unanswered item on the test. A Reopen Appeal will not allow the audio stimulus for the ELPAC to be replayed because the test proceeded to the next item level and the student has not been assigned the pause or replay audio embedded designated support.
- For the CAASPP only, STAIRS will not allow an LEA to submit a Reopen Appeal for a test assigned to an SSID that has an Invalidate Appeal submitted during the current test administration year.
Tests to Be Reset
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If the case requires a Reset Appeal, the test is removed from the system and the student(s) start(s) a new test from the beginning. Ensure that the test assignment and test settings are accurate before allowing the student(s) to start a new test.
Tests to Be Restored
- A Restore Appeal is required only in the event that a test was inadvertently or inappropriately reset as result of a Reset Appeal submitted by the LEA. The test will resume at the last unanswered item.
- To restore an ELPAC domain assessment, an Alternate ELPAC, or any CAASPP test that was inadvertently or inappropriately reset because of a Reset Appeal, to remove an irregularity flag submitted in error, or to report a testing incident that is not listed in the list of testing issues for the ELPAC, the LEA ELPAC coordinator or the LEA CAASPP coordinator must contact a Success Agent to submit a STAIRS case on behalf of the LEA. The request must be approved by the CDE.
Tests to Receive a Grace Period Extension
- For a paused test, the test questions that include an audio stimulus for the ELPAC are not permitted to be replayed for a student who has not been assigned the pause or replay audio embedded designated support and had navigated away from the audio stimulus at the time the test was paused.
- For the CAASPP, a student may not return to a previously submitted test segment once it has been completed.
Domain-Level Assessments for Rescoring in the THSS
- For the Initial ELPAC, if the case requires a Rescore Appeal, the scores for the Writing domain for online tests for the Initial ELPAC for grades three through twelve are removed from the THSS and the test examiner will have to reenter all the scores associated with the reopened test.
Tests to Be Invalidated
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Once the Invalidate Appeal has been approved, the student(s) will be prohibited from continuing the test, the score(s) will be invalidated, and the invalidated score(s) will be reported with a text notation on the SSR(s). The calculation of the school’s participation rate will count the student(s) as having participated. Reversal of an Invalidate Appeal is not automated and requires manual intervention by ETS. Please ensure that invalidation is required prior to submitting the Appeal request.
Nonappealable STAIRS Incidents
- For the Summative ELPAC or Initial ELPAC, if the STAIRS case does not require an Appeal where the student with an IEP or Section 504 plan received an incorrect domain exemption or incorrect alternate assessment, the LEA coordinator, after submitting the nonappealable STAIRS case, must update the student’s test assignment options appropriately in TOMS.
- The case does not require an Appeal for an incorrect SSID used where the student has completed the test, the LEA wants to associate the assessment results with the student’s correct SSID, and the LEA knows all SSIDs involved.
- The LEA coordinator must enter a note in the Notes section of the completed STAIRS case within three business days of the incident to confirm details of the incorrect SSID, correct SSID, result ID, and test status information associated with this incident. Cases not confirmed after three business days will be rejected and require resubmission. If no action is taken, a Success Agent may reach out to the LEA coordinator with guidance or assistance with this process.
- The pending approval email received after submitting this STAIRS case instructs the LEA that further action is needed.
- Only if the LEA does not know the correct SSIDs would a Reset Appeal be initiated.
Tests That Involve Both the TDS and DEI
- For the ELPAC, if a test requires student’s(s’) scores or test item responses to be entered in the DEI and if the LEA submitted a STAIRS case for a testing incident other than the Data Entry Issue, submitting a single Reset or Reopen Appeal will be applied to the student’s(s’) test(s) in the TDS as well as the scores or test item responses that were entered into the DEI. Please refer to the Appeals Procedure Overview subsection for the instructions to submit Appeals for kindergarten through grade two for the Initial ELPAC.
Tests That Involve the DEI Only
- If an Appeal is submitted using the testing incident type of Data Entry Issue for the CAASPP or the ELPAC, the Appeal to reset or reopen the test will apply only to the student’s(s’) scores or test item responses that were entered into the DEI.
For the CAA for ELA or the Summative Alternate ELPAC
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For the CAA for ELA and for the Summative Alternate ELPAC, if a test requires second-scored item responses to be entered into the DEI and if the LEA submitted a STAIRS case for a testing incident other than the DEI testing incident, the Appeal to reset or reopen the test will apply to the student’s(s’) test(s) in the TDS as well as the scores that were entered into the DEI.
When Withdrawing a STAIRS Case Partially
- The LEA can withdraw an individual STAIRS case at the SSID level. The partial withdrawal allows the LEA to remove only individual SSID(s) from that STAIRS case.
- In the event the STAIRS case resulted in an Appeal, the withdrawn Appeal(s) can be viewed under the [Search Appeals] action tab at the individual SSID level.
- The option to withdraw a STAIRS case is applicable only after the STAIRS case is submitted and if it is yet to be processed by the CDE or a Success Agent.
When Approving or Rejecting Appeal(s) or STAIRS Case(s) Partially
- The CDE and Success Agent can approve or reject Appeals for selected SSID(s) for a single STAIRS case.
- Rejected or approved Appeals can be viewed by the individual SSID under the [Search Appeals] action tab.