SIS-TOMS Test Settings Vendor Integration
Test settings can, optionally, be set up to transfer from certain student information systems (SISs) or special education systems to TOMS.
This connection is available in addition to other methods of assigning test settings one-by-one or by file upload to TOMS. More information on those methods can be found in the Test Settings section of the TOMS Resources web page.
How to Set Up SIS-TOMS Test Settings Integration
The process to set up the SIS-TOMS test settings integration varies depending on your SIS vendor. In general, if you require information on how to set up this integration or have questions about the functionality in the SIS, you will need to contact your local SIS vendor for complete instructions and information.
Note that this functionality applies to test settings, also called accessibility resources, and it does not apply to test assignments (including domain exemptions) which must be set in TOMS manually.
SIS Vendor Credentialing Resources
Setting up a connection between your local SIS vendor for test settings involves using credentials generated in TOMS. These are the same credentials for SIS vendors to access electronic SSRs. Use the following resources to access or generate credentials in TOMS.
Note that if you have an existing connection for SSRs, regenerating the credentials in TOMS will break the existing connection and you will have to re-enter the credentials into your SIS.
Test Settings Removed in TOMS
Every summer, when TOMS rolls over to the new administration year, all test settings in TOMS are cleared from student records. For most SIS vendors, the SIS-TOMS test settings integration only sends test settings changes to TOMS, which means that LEAs will need to manually upload previously existing test settings into TOMS once per year after the rollover.
Many SIS vendors have a feature to manually export a test settings file that can then be uploaded to TOMS to perform this manual upload. After this, if the integration is active, future changes to test settings in the SIS will be automatically transferred to TOMS for the rest of the administration year.
Data Conflicts
Note that changes made in a SIS will overwrite existing settings in TOMS for individual students, and changes made in TOMS (one-by-one or via batch file upload) will overwrite settings that were sent via the SIS. Test setting changes made in TOMS will not be reflected in the SIS, as this connection sends test settings in one direction (from the SIS to TOMS).
If the LEA uses multiple vendors (such as SEIS for students with IEPs or Section 504 plans in addition to another SIS for all students), caution should be used when setting up the test settings integration for both SISs, as there may be conflicts between the two.
System Timing and Access
Updates to test settings made in an SIS are sent to TOMS either immediately or once per day (overnight), depending on the SIS vendor. Once the test settings are reflected in TOMS, it will take up to two hours for those changes to be sent to the Test Delivery System.
The access and exact method to change test settings in the SIS depends on the SIS vendor. LEAs should be sure to verify who has access to change test settings in the SIS so that the process is understood by the LEA coordinator. Contact your vendor for details.