“Handscoring” Status in the Completion Status System

Email Update, March 16, 2026

Dear LEA CAASPP Coordinator or LEA ELPAC Coordinator:

In the Completion Status System, some submitted assessments may show a status of handscoring. This status often reflects that internal processing or quality control measures are underway and does not necessarily mean local scoring or any other action is required from the LEA. The length of time that an assessment has this status may vary.

Local scoring in the Teacher Hand Scoring System (THSS) is required for only the following assessments:

• Initial ELPAC Writing domain (grades three through twelve)
• Specific Smarter Balanced Interim Assessments for ELA and mathematics
• All CAST Interim Assessments
• ELPAC Interim Assessments for Writing (grades three through twelve)

There are times when the status of “handscoring” does indicate the need for local scoring. To determine whether assessments are pending hand scoring in the THSS, a new report is available for LEA coordinators. The THSS District-Level Report lists the assessments that must be locally hand scored within the entire LEA, the number of items to hand score locally, and other helpful information. To access this report, log on to the THSS and then select the new [District-Level Report] button.

For further support, visit the Contact Us web page.

Sincerely,

California Outreach Team
CAASPP & ELPAC Website