General Testing Reminders
Contacting ADE
When emailing ADE's Achievement Assessments Team, include the assessment and test unit (if applicable) you are inquiring about. Send questions about AASA to AASA@azed.gov, questions about AzSCI to AzSCI@azed.gov, and questions about ACT Aspire or ACT to Testing@azed.gov. Please send your question to only one of these inboxes. Do not copy all of the email addresses on your email.
For issues that occur while students are testing, include in the email subject line, "Urgent - Students Testing."
Secure Testing Tickets
Testing tickets must be accounted for and stored in a secure location when not being used for a test session. Students must have their secure testing tickets to sign into their computer-based assessment in TestNav. Verify student information before issuing secure testing tickets to students. The use of an incorrect secure testing ticket during testing is a security violation and will result in both impacted students' AASA, AzSCI, or ACT Aspire tests being invalidated.
Unlocking Test Units
Be careful when unlocking test units. Ensure the Test Administrators are unlocking the approved testing unit. If a student accidentally begins testing in a different test unit than the rest of the class, the student needs to continue testing in the test unit that was begun. The test unit must be completed on the day it was started. Do not start a test unit if there is not sufficient time to complete the test unit by the end of the regularly scheduled school day. Students taking the same test within the same school in computer-based testing schools are not required to test on the same day.
Reminders
1. If a student is absent on the day AASA Writing is administered in their class, it is acceptable to administer the test units out of order. The student may test with their peers on the AASA Reading or Math test unit that is being administered when they return, but please ensure that Writing is completed by the deadline (April 8 for paper-based testing schools and April 10 for computer-based testing schools).
2. If a student leaves school after beginning a test unit, including students who leave due to illness or parent request, the student is ineligible to continue the test for that unit when they return to school. If the student returns to school during the test window, they may continue testing in any unit that has not yet been started.
3. Only staff members who have signed a 2025-2026 staff test security agreement and have completed required training may enter a secure testing environment.
Test Irregularities
If you have already submitted a test irregularity, it is not necessary to email us to notify of the test irregularity. We will review the irregularity reports and follow up with DTCs for more information, as needed.
As a reminder, it is a serious test security violation for anyone, including staff or students, to capture images of any part of a test via any electronic device. Doing so will result in test invalidations. In addition, students may not be in possession of electronic devices during testing. This is clearly stated in the Test Coordinator's Manuals, Test Administration Directions manuals, and in the scripted directions that are read aloud to students. If a student is in possession of an electronic device during testing, their test unit will be invalidated.
Operational Reports
Use the following operational reports in PearsonAccess Next (PAN) to monitor testing as we near the close of the testing windows.
- Session Roster - This report will show the status of each online test unit. Access this report in PAN at Reports > Operational Reports > Online Testing.
- Student Tests that have been Assigned but have not yet Completed - This report generates a list of all students who are registered for an online test administration and have a student test assigned to them, but the test has not yet been completed. Access this report in PAN at Reports > Operational Reports > Students and Registrations.
- Do Not Report Tests - This report displays completed student tests which are set to Do Not Report status. Use this report to verify status of irregularities that have been submitted. ADE is reviewing irregularities as they are submitted and will update status in PearsonAccess Next as quickly as possible. ADE will not send emails notifying of irregularity status. One week after the test window closes, a final Do Not Report Tests report can be downloaded. If a submitted test irregularity is not on the final Do Not Report Tests report, then the test was not invalidated.
Testing Materials
Secure testing tickets and used scratch paper must be securely destroyed after testing is completed. Test Administration Directions and Test Coordinator's Manuals are not considered secure testing materials and may be discarded locally. They do not need to be returned to Pearson or ACT after testing.
For online ACT testing, seating charts must be uploaded to ACT in PearsonAccess Next under Support > Support Requests.
Withdrawn Students and Students who take Alternate Assessments
Students who have withdrawn from your school and students who take Alternate Assessments do not need to be removed from rosters in PearsonAccess Next (PAN) because PAN is not used for Accountability purposes. You may remove these students from test sessions, but the records will remain in PAN and will not impact Accountability calculations. Students who take Alternate Assessments should not be administered an AASA, AzSCI, ACT Aspire, or ACT test.
Reporting Groups and Testing Groups for Transferred Students
Before approving Work Requests, the District Test Coordinator must remove the transferring student out of any Reporting Groups or Testing Groups. If the student is not removed, they will still appear on the previous school's Reporting/Testing Group.
Chromebooks Exiting Kiosk Mode in TestNav and Error Code 3104
ADE has received multiple emails and phone calls about a "grayed out" Start button when students log into TestNav to begin testing. Due to a recent TestNav update, some Chromebooks are no longer supported and will need to be remediated. Instructions for determining if your Chromebook has the correct TestNav update can be found in the TestNav Technical Bulletin for Chromebooks.
App Check and Network Check Tools
In addition to checking all devices to ensure they are functioning properly, have the latest version of TestNav installed, have any special settings or applications disabled, and have the necessary power cord, check all testing devices by using the App Check and Network Check tools available in TestNav. This will determine if you are able to test the number of students in the testing environment, minimizing chances of students experiencing lag or being disconnected from the TestNav server. Most system irregularities can be avoided by running the App Check and Network Check on devices before testing.
