Demographic Fields That Lock for Testing
Email Update, September 16, 2026
Dear LEA CAASPP Coordinator or LEA ELPAC Coordinator:
Student demographic information in the Test Operations Management System (TOMS) will have multiple demographic fields locked when a student begins any of the following summative assessments:
- Smarter Balanced Summative Assessments for English language arts/literacy (ELA) and mathematics
- California Science Test
- California Alternate Assessments (CAAs) for ELA and mathematics
- CAA for Science
- California Spanish Assessment
- Summative ELPAC
- Summative Alternate ELPAC
The following demographic fields will be locked when a student begins any summative assessment or domain:
- Grade
- Special Education
- Primary Disability Code
- Ethnicity
- Military Status
- Socioeconomically Disadvantaged (SED) Status
- Foster Status
- Migrant Status
- Homeless Status
- Parent Highest Education Level
- US School Entry Date
In addition to those preceding, the following demographic fields will be locked when a student begins Summative ELPAC or Summative Alternate ELPAC testing:
- Date of Birth
- English Language Acquisition Status (ELAS)
- Primary Language
LEA coordinators should ensure that site coordinators and CALPADS administrators confirm all student demographic information is correct prior to beginning any summative assessment. Individual student demographic information, including locked fields, can be reviewed in the [Demographics] tab of a student’s profile in TOMS. If an LEA incorrectly enters demographic information and a student begins a summative assessment, the LEA should take the following steps:
- Submit a Security and Test Administration Incident Reporting System (STAIRS) case in TOMS for the assessment(s) or domain(s) started. The STAIRS case will lead to a Reset Appeal.
- Ensure that the student’s demographic information in CALPADS is correct after the assessment(s) and domain(s) have been reset.
- Request a STAIRS case for a Restore Appeal for all the assessment(s) and domain(s) that were reset. A testing incident can only be reported within the testing window and should be filed with enough time for a student to finish testing after an Appeal has been granted.
These locked demographic fields will be used in the Student Score Data File and reflected on the Test Results for California’s Assessments website. Locking these fields when a student begins testing ensures a more accurate representation of student populations in score reporting. This also prevents discrepancies in student demographics across testing programs, enabling LEAs to better compare and analyze student demographic data.
LEA coordinators can find more resources about how student demographic information is reported in the CAASPP Student Score Data File Layout or the Summative ELPAC and Summative Alternate ELPAC Student Score Data File Layout on the SSR and Reporting Resources web page. For further support, visit the Contact Us web page.
Sincerely,
California Outreach Team
CAASPP & ELPAC Website