RSVP for the Initial ELPAC
Approximately 10 percent of local educational agencies (LEAs) in California are identified by the California Department of Education (CDE) to take part in the Rotating Score Validation Process (RSVP) for the Initial ELPAC. These identified LEAs return their scannable kindergarten through grade two (K–2) Writing Answer Books after testing. This process helps to produce item statistics for the Initial ELPAC and validates the LEA's scores for that testing period.
RSVP LEAs administer the Writing domain to students in K–2 using the scannable 2025–26 Writing Answer Books. Non-RSVP LEAs receive nonscannable Writing Answer Books. All LEAs administer all other domains to students in kindergarten through grade twelve (K–12) using the Test Delivery System.
RSVP LEAs must return their scannable Form 1 K–2 Writing Answer Books after scores have been entered into the Data Entry Interface, a score report is present in the Test Operations Management System, parent/guardian notification of the results has been completed, and a Pre-ID label has been received and attached for the student. Completed Answer Books may include those that were transcribed by the test examiner if the Initial ELPAC was administered remotely. Do not send incomplete or blank Answer Books.
Important Notes:
- Answer Books received from an LEA not participating in the current test administration’s RSVP will not be returned; instead, these will be securely destroyed by the testing contractor.
- Any nonscannable Answer Books submitted in place of scannable Answer Books will not be returned to the LEA. Without a scannable Answer Book, Writing results for these students cannot be included in the Comparison Report.
Quick Reference Guide
Schedule and Return Dates
Answer Books for students tested on or before October 31, 2025, must be shipped according to the schedule in the following table. The last date to ship Answer Books back is December 8, 2025.
| Initial ELPAC Administration | Pre-ID and Group Identification Sheets to Arrive at LEA by | Ship Answer Books |
|---|---|---|
| July 7 to August 1, 2025 | August 18, 2025 | September 8, 2025 |
| August 4 to September 3, 2025 | September 22, 2025 | October 13, 2025 |
| September 5 to October 3, 2025 | October 27, 2025 | November 17, 2025 |
| October 6 to October 31, 2025 | November 17, 2025 | December 8, 2025 |
To request additional cartons or Group Information Sheets (GISs), complete the Carton and GIS Request Form.
Pre-ID and Group Identification Sheets
Pre-ID labels are shipped to the LEA automatically. Pre-ID labels and Group Identification Sheets are generated monthly, based on when an official SSR has been generated in TOMS.
Pre-ID labels are to be attached to the Answer Books prior to shipping; do not send Answer Books without the Pre-ID label attached. Note that the student name on the Pre-ID label must match the student name on the Answer Book.
| Document Type or Activity | In-Person Testing: Non-RSVP LEA | In-Person Testing: RSVP LEA |
|---|---|---|
| K–2 Answer Book | The student writes in the nonscannable Answer Book. There is a note at the bottom of the cover page of the Answer Book indicating that the Answer Book is not scannable. | The student writes in the scannable Answer Book. There is no note on the cover page of the Answer Book. |
| Grades Three Through Twelve Writing Response | The student types the responses directly into the TDS. | The student types the responses directly into the TDS. |
| Scoring for K–2 | The test examiner scores the student's responses and enters them into the DEI. | The test examiner scores the student's responses and enters them into the DEI. |
| Scoring for Grades Three Through Twelve | The test examiner scores the student's responses in the THSS. | The test examiner scores the student's responses in the THSS. |
| Answer Book, After Testing |
The nonscannable Answer Book is securely shredded by the LEA at the end of the test administration window. NOTE: If the student is being tested closer to the end of the test administration window, please remember that parents/guardians should be provided with 30 days to request a review of the results before destruction. |
After receipt of the Pre-ID label, the completed, scannable Answer Books—with the Pre-ID label attached—are shipped to the testing contractor for assessments administered between July and October. NOTE: LEAs should hold completed Answer Books for 30 days after the scores have been reported to the parent/guardian to give the parent/guardian an opportunity to review the results before Answer Books are sent to the testing contractor. |
| Document Type or Activity | Remote Testing: Non-RSVP LEA | Remote Testing: RSVP LEA |
|---|---|---|
| K–2 Test Examiner Document | The test examiner uses the Writing Teacher Answer Book PDF to share through a virtual meeting application (e.g., Zoom or Google Meet) during the video meeting and has a copy of the student Answer Book to mark scores in the moment. At the end of each completed page, screen captures of the student's writing are acceptable but must be deleted immediately after scoring. | The test examiner uses the Writing Teacher Answer Book PDF to share through a virtual meeting application (e.g., Zoom or Google Meet) during the video meeting and has a copy of the scannable Answer Book to transcribe students' responses and mark scores. At the end of each completed page, screen captures of the student's writing are acceptable but must be deleted immediately after transcription and scoring. |
| K–2 Student Document, Option 1—Student Writing Response Sheet, blank paper, or whiteboard | Option 1: The student uses Student Writing Response Sheets (found in TOMS), blank pieces of paper, or a whiteboard to write the responses; and then the student holds the responses in front of the web camera for the test examiner to view. There is no transcription. | Option 1: The student uses Student Writing Response Sheets (found in TOMS), blank pieces of paper, or a whiteboard to write the responses; and then the student holds the responses in front of the web camera for the test examiner to view. The test examiner transcribes the student's responses into the scannable Answer Book. At the end of each completed page, the test examiner can take a screen capture of the student's Answer Book to assist with transcription, if necessary. Screen captures must be deleted immediately after transcription and scoring. |
| K–2 Student Document, Option 2—Send and return Answer Book to the student | Option 2: The LEA sends the Answer Book to the student's location through parent/guardian pickup. The student writes responses in the Answer Book, which is then returned to the school by the parent/guardian in a sealed envelope. | Option 2: The LEA sends the scannable Answer Book to the student's location through parent/guardian pickup. The student writes responses in the scannable Answer Book, which is then returned to the school by the parent/guardian in a sealed envelope. |
| Scoring for Options 1 and 2 | The test examiner scores student's written responses and then enters the scores into the DEI. | The test examiner scores student's written responses and then enters the scores into the DEI. |
| Answer Book, After Testing |
The Answer Book, if used, is securely shredded by the LEA at the end of the test administration n window. NOTE: If the student is being tested closer to the end of the test administration window, please remember that parents/guardians should be provided with 30 days to request a review of the results before destruction. |
After the receipt of the Pre-ID label, the completed, scannable Answer Books—with the Pre-ID label attached—are shipped to the testing contractor for tests administered between July and October. NOTE: LEAs should hold completed Answer Books for 30 days after the scores have been reported to the parent/guardian to give an opportunity for the parent/guardian to review the results before Answer Books are sent to the testing contractor. |
| Grades Three Through Twelve Writing Response | The student types the responses directly into the TDS. | The student types the responses directly into the TDS. |
| Scoring for Grades Three Through Twelve | The test examiner scores the student's responses in the THSS. | The test examiner scores the student's responses in the THSS. |
Score Comparison Report for RSVP
Score comparison reports are posted by mid-November and mid-December each year. The final file is posted by the end of January. An email notification will be sent to the LEA ELPAC coordinator when a score comparison report is available for the LEA.
Note that data from when ETS raters scored the Writing domain is used only to compare the local scores entered into the DEI (for K–2) or THSS (for grades three through twelve).
Score Comparison Report Documents
LEA Lists
Search for 2025–26 RSVP LEAs
How To Get Started:
Use the search to check if your LEA has been assigned to participate in RSVP for the Initial ELPAC. Only LEAs that are assigned to RSVP will appear in the search results.