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��2026 PSSA and Keystone�Assessment Coordinator Training��

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Agenda

General Information
Before Administration
During Administration
After Administration

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General Information

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DRC Pennsylvania Assessment training site

https://sites.google.com/datarecognitioncorp.com/psa-assessments/home

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DRC INSIGHT Solution Overview

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Assessment Coordinator

DRC INSIGHT Portal

Student and Test Setup

Technology Coordinator

DRC INSIGHT Portal �Installation and Configuration

Central Office Services (COS)

- COS Configurations

- COS Service Device

DRC INSIGHT �Secure Application

Online Tools Training
Online Assessment

Student

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The DRC INSIGHT system works with various software and hardware components to provide a secure, proven online testing system that successfully delivers online assessments.

The DRC INSIGHT Portal will be your resource for accessing all the documentation, training materials, installation files and configuration tools necessary to install INSIGHT on the testing devices. Central Office Services or COS is a software package that allows you to install, configure, and manage your online testing environment from a central location. With COS-SD, many more students can load the test at a time. COS-SD decreases your Internet bandwidth requirements because you can load the test from COS-SD rather than from the DRC server, which greatly increases your bandwidth capacity. The system readiness check is a tool that Technology Coordinator can use to help verify the testing devices are configured properly for testing. After all installs and configurations have been completed, students will launch the INSIGHT application to access practice and operational tests.

Administration Portal – INSIGHT Portal

Single Sign-On (SSO) platform integrating all of the components needed for test delivery
Tiered, secure permissions based access
Central Office Services for test site management
Enrollment and materials orders, including accommodated materials
Test setup, management, and monitoring tools
Assigning accommodations
Data files and reports
Documents including the Online Directions for Administration Manuals, along with the Handbook for Assessment Coordinators

The DRC INSIGHT secure application delivers assessments and related online resources. It works with the Central Office Services software to help manage network traffic, maintain connectivity, and handle bandwidth issues.

Secure Browser and Secure App

Secure testing
Student-friendly testing interface
Rich set of testing tools
Full suite of accommodations

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Online Preparedness – DAC and Tech

A successful online testing administration depends upon an open communication plan between the Technology and Assessment offices. Assessment staff and technology staff should begin meeting 2-3 months prior to the testing window to:

Identify all stakeholders and assign responsibilities.
Understand availability and constraints concerning the number of:

Available testing devices, chargers, outlets
Students
Spaces available
Wireless access points
COS-Service Devices

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Online Preparedness – Test Administrators

A successful online testing administration depends upon the technical education of test administrators and school coordinators.

Questions to answer prior to online testing:

What do both need to know about online testing?
What steps can a test administrator take to resolve technology issues?
How do test administrators report technology issues?
What steps can a school coordinator take to resolve technology issues?

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What personnel need to know about online testing.

Student responses are never lost
Unusual situations should be handled the same as paper testing
Understanding the format and technology used
Parental reviews

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Student responses are never lost - When students log in to their test, their login is verified by servers at DRC, and their test sessions are returned to the testing device. When a student submits and answer to a question (chooses “Next”), the Response Data go directly to the DRC server. DRC servers confirms receipt of the response before the student is allowed moves to the next question.

Unusual situations - Unusual situations should be handled the same as paper testing – this includes fire drills, student disruptions, restroom breaks, student illnesses.

Background applications - Testing devices used during classroom instruction may have software that could compromise student responses and/or affect the device’s performance during the assessment. Check with your tech department to ensure these are turned off.

Understanding the format and technology used – There are training and tools to help everyone better understand how the assessments look and work.

Parental reviews – these are handled using the Parental Review test tickets assigned to each DAC on file for DRC.

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How do test administrators report technology issues

Schools should have a plan for remedying and escalating issues during testing.

Common issues include:

Network connection issues
Configuration not found
Invalid Username or Password Error
No Audio

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Test Administrator

School Support

District Support

DRC Customer Service

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Test Administrators Basic Troubleshooting

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If a student receives a system message while testing, every Test Administrator can attempt the following suggestions.

Reboot the device
Move to a new device
Run a System Readiness Check

To run a System Readiness

Check, launch DRC INSIGHT

and select the Readiness

Check link found in the upper

right

corner.

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Test Administrators Basic Troubleshooting

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DRC INSIGHT software will prompt the user for an Access Code. This code is 7745. This code is considered a secure testing material and should not be given to students.

Tests with a red exclamation point should be reported to local IT.
Tests with a yellow exclamation point should be reported to local IT, but the device can still be used to test.
A gray circle will indicate a COS-Service Device is not installed.

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Network Connection Error�Response Processing – Extended Retry Logic

If DRC INSIGHT cannot send a test response to the DRC servers due to network connection issues, this error message is displayed.

Connection is quickly�re-established
Tester is directed to wait and connection is re-established
Tester is directed to wait, retries timeout after 5 minutes and “Connection Error” message displays
Tester is directed to select “Exit the Test”

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If DRC INSIGHT software cannot send a response to the DRC servers due to network connection issues, this error message is displayed. Immediately, the software attempts to send the test response to the DRC servers for five minutes.

The recommended process is:

Do nothing. A connection is quickly re-established, the message goes away, and student continues testing. – no action required. Sometimes this happens before the test administrator can view the message.
The TA directs the tester to wait, the automatic retries begin, and the connection is re-established within five minutes and the student continues to test where they were when connection was lost
The TA directs the tester to wait, and the automatic retries timeout after 5 minutes and “Connection Error” message displays. At this point the student should exit the test.
The TA directs the tester to select “Exit the Test”

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Configuration Not Found

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Every testing device must be registered to DRC with an Org Unit ID.

The ORG Unit ID can be deployed to devices or shared with test administrators

When DRC INSIGHT is first installed
If the COS Configuration has been deleted

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Basic Troubleshooting

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Invalid Username or Password Error

A student will receive an Invalid Username or Password error in the following circumstances:

Username and/or password are typed incorrectly.
Student is attempting to sign into the wrong assessment.
Student had an online accommodations change after printing the test ticket.

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No Audio

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The audio player is not appearing for the student.

The audio accommodation must be added to the student’s record before the test tickets were printed.

Message: Error Retrieving Content

This error indicates that the audio files cannot be found.

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Background Applications

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All background applications are to be turned off.

If a TA notices a background application is being used, the TA must have the student pause the test.

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Before Test Administration�Preparing Students

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PA Online Assessment Tutorials

The online tutorials are videos that demonstrate how to use the DRC INSIGHT test engine.

Prior to online testing, ensure students view the tutorials for the applicable subject(s)
Allow approximately 20 minutes for viewing

There are multiple ways to access the Tutorials

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Online Tools Training (OTT)

One OTT for each subject and grade
Allow 25-30 minutes to take a single OTT
Allows students to familiarize themselves with

Selecting multiple-choice answers
Typing open-ended responses
Answering technology enhanced items
Using tools such as a highlighter, magnifier, line guide, masking, equation builder, calculator
Locating scoring guidelines and formula sheets
Using online accommodations such as Audio, VSL, Spanish when applicable

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Before Test Administration�Software Installation

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Software Installation

The technology team prepares student devices

Installs the test engine
Sets up Central Office Services – Service Devices
Records Org Unit IDs
Confirms background applications are turned off
Prepares special accommodation tools

A technology user guide and presentation are available on the DRC Assessment Training website.
The test engine downloads are available within the DRC INSIGHT Portal under General Information

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The DRC INSIGHT Online Assessment software is a web-based solution that requires internet connectivity. The software must be installed on all devices used for testing. iPADs and Chromebooks are allowable devices, along with Windows and Mac computers. The software downloads are located on the DRC INSIGHT portal. A user will find the downloads tab under General Information. <CLICK>

The testing software downloads will be available under the tab titled Downloads.

The District Assessment Coordinator will need to provide permission to the Technology Coordinators to access these downloads. <CLICK>

Technology user guides and presentations can be accessed through the portal under General Information. The user guides and presentations will be available under the tab titled Documents. On the documents screen, select Technology as the Document Type.

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Before Test Administration�Administrative Work

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Student Management – Adding Students

Students must be within the DRC INSIGHT Portal to be placed in a test session.
Student records provided from PIMS are automatically loaded
Student records that were not included in the PIMS file need to be manually uploaded.
When adding a student record, the student’s name, date of birth, and PAsecureID must match.
A demonstration video on how to manage students is located on the DRC Assessment Training website.

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Student Management – Online Accommodations

Online accommodations (e.g., audio) must be added prior to creating test tickets.
Online accommodations cannot be added to a test that has been started.
Available online accommodations

Audio, Color Chooser, Spanish, Continuous Magnification, Video Sign Language, Refreshable Braille

Confirm with your District Technology Coordinator that the COS is updated

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Students requiring an accommodation that is delivered by the online test engine (e.g., audio) must have the accommodation selected prior to creating test tickets.

An online accommodation cannot be added to a test that has been started. The test will need to be regenerated to add the accommodation and the student’s responses will be lost.

Available online accommodations are

Audio Text-to-Speech - With the Audio accommodation, words and numbers, including information contained in graphics and formulas, will be read aloud. Audio can be paused and repeated as necessary.
Color Preference - With the color accommodation, students can select different background colors and font colors for the presentation of the online test.
Spanish – The test items and test engine buttons are all in Spanish. Students can access the English text for an item.
Continuous Magnification – The Continuous Magnification keeps the entire test at 200%. Students with this accommodation can use the tool to decrease or increase the magnification.
Video Sign Language - When using the Video Sign Language accommodation, a video player shows an interpreter signing the questions and answer choices. The video can be paused and repeated as necessary.
Refreshable Braille - The Refreshable Braille accommodation is available to students with visual impairments who use a Job Access With Speech (JAWS) screen reader. Students using this accommodation will also use the paper Braille version to access the graphics found in some of the items.

Other accommodations, such as setting and timing accommodations, can be selected after the student has completed testing.

If students will be using these accommodations, it is necessary to confirm with the District Technology Coordinator that the test content for accommodations has been selected for automatic download.

In addition, the online accommodation must be marked for the student before he/she signs into the test. Accommodations are selected within the portal under Student Management.

A video on how to how to add or remove accommodations is located on the DRC Assessment Training website.

District Technology Coordinators must confirm that the test content for these accommodations has been selected for automatic download within the Central Office Services-Service Device.

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Student Management – Paper Accommodations

Paper accommodations must also be added prior to creating test tickets.
Print on Demand accommodation is found within the test session
Large Print and Braille materials are ordered through additional material orders
The transcription of a paper accommodation will be conducted within the test engine
Materials will be securely destroyed at the district

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Student Management – Online Accommodations

Online test

tickets must

display the

accommodation

A demonstration video on how to how to add or remove accommodations is located on the DRC Assessment Training website.

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Test Management

Test Sessions generate the test tickets and rosters used for online testing
Test Sessions will be preloaded using PIMS data

All students in the PIMS student file DRC receives will be placed in a test session
PIMS Test Sessions file will utilize the data that is submitted in field 212 (A, B, I), along with Grade (field 10), and anything submitted in Home Room (field 13)
Session Name will be a combination of Home Room, Assessment, and Grade

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Creating a Test Session generates the test tickets used for online test login. Test Sessions may also assist with testing status management.

All students in the PIMS student file DRC receives will be placed in a test session

If a student is reported with “A” in field 212, the student is removed.

If a student is reported with “B” in field 212, then that student is assigned 2 test sessions (ELA, Math) if in grades 003, 004, 006, 007, or 3 test sessions (ELA, Math, Science) if in grades 005 or 008.

If a student is reported with ONLY an “I” in field 212, then that student is assigned 2 test sessions (ELA, Math) if in grades 003, 004, 006, 007, or 3 test sessions (ELA, Math, Science) if in grades 005 or 008.

Test Session Name will be a combination of Home Room (field 13), Assessment (ELA, Math, or Science), and Grade (field 10).

Any demographic information for a student record received from PIMS cannot be changed. If you find that the student’s first name, last name, PAsecureID, or date of birth are incorrect, do not use the record. The correct student information will need to be uploaded directly into the portal and used within the test session.

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Test Management

Test sessions can be re-organized and deleted as needed

Upload a test session file through the Test Session Upload (TSU) process
Edit a test session manually

A demonstration video of how to create test sessions is located on the DRC Assessment Training website.

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Student Login Tickets

One ticket per student per section or module
Test tickets contain student login information
All tickets must be stored in a secure location
Test administrators should not receive the tickets no more than one half hour prior to the test session

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Student Login Roster

Review the ticket roster

Student list
Student name
PAsecureID
Date of birth
Accommodations

A video on how to print test tickets and rosters is located on the DRC Assessment Training website.

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Alternate method of distributing test ticket information

The test ticket information can be exported from the system and used in a Mail Merge

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During Test Administration

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Ancillary Materials

Reference Sheets
Calculators

Non-calculator questions
Calculator permitted questions

Scratch and grid paper

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Manage Students

Actively monitor student testing
Check test session statuses

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Manage Students

The Student Status Dashboard
This tool provides real-time student-testing status

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Manage Students - Non-assessed Students

Enrolled students who do not participate must have a non-assessed code completed
Students should remain in the test session when the testing code is selected

A video demonstrating how to add or update an assessment code for a student is located on the DRC Assessment Training website.

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Manage Students

Monitor and record student logins

Accidentally exiting the test
Loss of Internet connectivity
Student needs extended time

Keep a record of each extra login

Unlock student test tickets

Student goes home ill

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Status Reports

Cumulative Student Status Report

Shows student testing status, accommodations, and testing codes

Excessive Login Report

Is a cumulative report showing the number of logins

Daily Student Resets Report

Keeps record of each ticket unlocked

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After Test Administration

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Collect materials

Test tickets, scratch paper, printed copies of reference materials, and the Directions for Administration Manuals must be returned to the assessment coordinator
Securely destroy test tickets, scratch paper, and printed copies of the reference materials

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Transcription Process for Students with Paper Accommodations

Student responses MUST be transcribed into the Test Engine
Access the test engine with the student’s test ticket
Responses must be transcribed as soon as possible and within 24 hours of the test session
At least two qualified individuals must be present
Securely destroy the printed material after transcription

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When student responses are written outside of the online test, they must be entered into the test engine in order to be scored. Transcription is required for all students who use large print, Braille, or Print on Demand versions of the assessment. The School Assessment Coordinator will need to utilize the student’s test ticket for transcription. There must be more than one certified assessment coordinator or Test Administrator in the room when transcription is occurring. The transcriber may not make corrections for spelling, punctuation, or grammar or change student responses in any manner.

Ideally, transcription will occur in the testing session and the student will have an opportunity to review their work. If this is not possible, the paper/pencil test or written response may be transcribed later, but as soon as possible and no longer than 24 hours after the test session has concluded. All transcription must occur before the close of the testing window (5 p.m. on the final day of testing).

All large print, Braille, or Print on Demand tests and written responses must be stored as secure materials until transcription is complete. Once transcription is complete, all tests and written responses must be securely destroyed.

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Closing

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Contact DRC PA Customer Service at pacustomerservice@datarecognitioncorp.com or

1-800-451-7849 for:

Questions or issues with tech setup
Questions or issues with test set up
Questions or issues with entering of accommodations into the testing platform
Service Device connection errors
Error messages noting the user should contact PA Customer Service at DRC

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Contact PDE with:

Content and assessment design questions

Mathematics and Algebra I: Dr. Megan Clementi mclementi@pa.gov
ELA and Literature: Dr. Beth Gannon egannonrit@pa.gov
Science and Biology: Craig Weller crweller@pa.gov

Test security violations and irregularities

RA-EDIRREGULARITIES@pa.gov

Accommodation usage questions

RA-EDUNIQUEACCOM@pa.gov

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