Assessment Services – Scoring & Training

Each year, Eastern Suffolk BOCES offers facilitator-led training for teachers administering the New York State Alternate Assessment.

• Full-day Certification Training: for educators who did not complete NYSAA training in the prior school year.
• Half-day Recertification Training: for educators who completed a NYSAA training in the prior school year (full-day or half-day).

Workshop Registration for 2026-27 NYSAA Test Administration Training:

• Flyer: NYSAA Trainings Flyer (Fall 2026)
• Register on Frontline: 2026-27 NYSAA Test Administrator Trainings

General Kite Support:

• Kite Educator Portal Website
• 1-855-277-9751
• DLM-support@ku.edu
• Kite Educator Portal: Adding and Editing Users (Video)

In-district Teacher Support & Access:

• Contact your NYSAA Test Coordinator: NYSAA District Test Coordinator (DTC) List

DISTRICTS: You must update your District Test Coordinator (DTC) in three areas:

1. ESBOCES Assessment Services – Scoring & Training service: To update your DTC with us, fill out our District Contact Distribution List Form.
2. NYSED: To update your DTC with NYSED, please follow the instructions on the SEDREF Information Page. You will need to email your change request to datasupport@nysed.gov as a formal communication on your institution’s letterhead. The request should include the following:
   • school BEDS code
   • email address and phone number of the new individual
   • effective date of the change
   • signature of current superintendent or principal
3. State NYSAA Program Administrator: To updated the new DTC's Kite Portal account/role, email Jacqueline Harnett.

• NYSED List of General Resources for the NYSAA

• DLM New York Resources Page – The DLM site has added a Chatbot for non-secure questions. Do not enter personally identifiable information (PII) or other secure/student-specific information.

• 2026-27 NYSAA Birthdate Ranges Chart

• NYSAA School Administrator's Manual — NOT YET PUBLISHED for 2026-2027

• NYSAA DLM Test Administration Manual (contains the checklist for test administrators) 

• NYSAA DLM Assessment Coordinator Manual

• NYSAA DLM Educator Portal User Guide

• Walk-through videos for staff/user management in Kite

Review users in Kite Educator Portal:

• DTCs/BTCs should review user information in the Educator Portal, make needed corrections, add new users, and delete users no longer needing accounts.

NYSED enrollment pull — Student records are pulled into Kite:

• Data will be pulled into Kite from SIRS earlier this year, in mid-October 2026.

After student enrollment data loads into Kite:

• Once students are in Kite, DTCs can begin rostering and verifying records for accuracy.
• Before a teacher can access a student, the DTC must roster the student to the teacher in Educator Portal.
• The First Contact Survey must be completed in full for each student. The survey must be completed and submitted before the student can be assessed, so teachers should plan sufficient time to complete it.

Test Administrators participate in required training for certification or re-certification:

• Beginning in October 2026. 
• As a reminder, test administrators can not complete required documentation for students until they're certified.
• Assessment Services – Scoring & Training offers facilitated training for NYSAA Test Administrators to ensure they will successfully certify and are fully prepared to administer the assessment. Register here.

Test Administrators complete First Contact Surveys (FCS) and Personal Needs Profiles (PNP):

• It is recommended that teachers complete these by December/January. There is a hard deadline in February.

Test Window:

• Monday, March 8, 2027 through Friday, June 11, 2027

The window closes on June 11, 2027:

• All assessments must be completed or Special Circumstance Codes entered by 5:00 p.m. on the last day of the testing window. This is a hard close with no exceptions. Do not wait until the final days to test or enter codes. See additional information about Special Circumstance Codes below.
• Before the end of June, DTCs should download and save all Data Extracts pertinent to district needs.

NEW NYSAA Data Exchange Process for 2026:

In the 2026-27 school year, NYSED will use a new NYSAA enrollment and data-exchange process.

• NYSED continues to populate eligible student records in Kite through the state data exchange. This year, NYSED will initially extract eligible NYSAA student records from the SIRS Data Warehouse (Level 2) in mid-October for upload to the DLM Kite Educator Portal. Note that this is earlier than previously published.

• Student records in Kite Educator Portal will not be able to be modified manually by DTCs, BTC, or the Office of State Assessment, and must be made through SIRS (the district's source system, loaded to Level 0, flowing to Level 2). Under this new process, a close collaboration between the NYSAA DTC and the District Data Coordinator (DDC) will be especially important this year in order to correct the underlying data in a timely manner and ensure the data reporting workflow runs smoothly.

What data must be loaded for student records to flow correctly into the Kite Educator Portal?

In order to be pulled from SIRS and uploaded into Kite, student data must be reported in the following ways:

• Ungraded status, and
• NYSAA eligible with Program Fact code 0220, and
• a Program Service Code indicating a specific student disability type, and
• a date of birth that is indicated on the current Birthdate Chart.

Please refer to the SIRS Manual for more information about NYSAA eligibility and data reporting.

Verification after records are in Kite:

DTCs and BTCs must verify all NYSAA students in Kite, even if no students are testing. This should be an ongoing process that begins after the state's initial data upload is complete.

• Confirm that State IDs (NYSSIS) are being used for each student.
  • State NYSSIS IDs are 10-digit IDs.
  • Do not use local district IDs.
  • Incorrect IDs prevent the state from linking test results to the student.
• Confirm each student is designated as NYSAA on their IEP.
  • If a student is no longer eligible for NYSAA but is already uploaded to Kite, the student must be manually removed from Kite.
• Verify Dates of Birth (DOB) and grade level alignment using the updated Birthdate Chart.
  • DOB determines testing grade level and subjects; the student's grade level in Kite should match the chart.
  • Students whose DOB does not fall into any of the ranges on the chart should not be tested, unless they are exiting high school and have never taken a high school NYSAA.
  • High School students whose DOB appears on the Birthdate Chart must be enrolled as 9th graders in Kite, regardless of their actual seated grade level (this does not affect local school enrollment systems).
• Confirm the student is enrolled in your district and the correct school building in Kite.
  • Again, any changes in enrollments or edits to student records must now be made in the district/school Student Information System. Updated records will flow to SIRS/Level 2 and update in Kite through the data exchange process. DTCs should work closely with their DDCs.
• Data inaccuracies (IDs, DOBs, grades) continue to be identified statewide each year—verification is essential.

• Early each fall, DTCs/BTCs should ensure:
  • All teachers have activated Kite accounts.
  • All staff have signed the Security Agreement in Kite.
  • All test administrators have completed the required online DLM training after it opens.
    • Verify staff completion using Data Extract Reports in Kite (Reports → Data Management).
• After teachers are activated and student data is entered, DTCs may begin the rostering and student verification process.
• Districts should add, edit, and deactivate Educator Portal user accounts as needed to keep district access current.
• 2026-2027 UPDATE: When adding a teacher, DTCs no longer need to enter the Educator Identifier. The field will now auto-populate based on the teacher's email address.

NYSAA is a secure State test. 

• Only qualified and trained school personnel should administer the NYSAA. 
• Teachers are not allowed to open the exam without a student present (previewing the exam is NOT allowed). 
• Teachers should not share the student’s Kite log-in credential with the student. 
• Teachers need to access the Testlet Information Page (TIP) for each testlet before beginning the tests session. Upon reviewing Reports in KITE, the TIPs are not being accessed.
• "The building principal is responsible for all aspects of the school’s test administration and must take appropriate measures both to prevent, as much as possible, and to investigate all security breaches and irregularities associated with the administration and scoring of the test" (Section 102.3 of the Regulations of the Commissioner of Education). Any testing irregularities must be reported to NYSED's Office of State Assessment and Office of School Personnel Review and Accountability.

District IT teams:

• Kite Educator Portal's multi-factor authentication (MFA) uses the educator's district email address. Ensure emails are white-listed.
• Ensure student testing devices meet all required technical specifications (see DLM Technology Specifications Manual).
• Ensure the most updated version of Kite Student Portal has been installed onto student testing devices prior to the testing window. 
  • In 2027, DLM Kite Student Portal Version 12 needs to be installed. Check the DLM Kite Suite updates page for the current version and installation information.

District Test Coordinators (DTCs) and Building Test Coordinators (BTCs) should use the Assessment Coordinator Checklist (found in the SAM) to remain on schedule.

• Run Reports & Verify Data Prior to Testing: 
  • Ensure all educators have completed the Security Agreement and required Test Administration Training.
  • Ensure all NYSAA-eligible students are activated correctly and rostered to teachers for each subject.
  • Ensure the Personal Needs and Preferences (PNP) Profile and First Contact Survey (FCS) have been completed for each student.
  • Data clean-up: Verify all student and teacher information is accurate! Double-check that NYSSIS IDs have been used for each student, and that DOBs align with the Birthdate Chart. Errors in student data will cause a misadministration (administrative error), impacting school accountability.
  • Enter Special Circumstance Codes prior to the close of the testing window.

Teachers / Test Administrators should review the Educator Checklist (found in the SAM) to ensure readiness.

• First Contact Surveys (FCSs) and Personal Needs & Preferences (PNPs):
  • Must be reviewed and updated every year.
  • Accurate updates are critical, as they generate the first testlet for this adaptive assessment.
  • They must be completed for all eligible students.
  • All FCS and PNPs should be completed by February for participation in the spring assessment.
  • The FCS must be completed at least 24 hours before testing a student.
  • Changes to a student's PNP can take at least 24 hours to refresh.
• Access the Testlet Information Page (TIP) prior to administering the testlet.
  • Gather needed materials specified in the TIP.
  • After administering the testlet, the next testlets in the subject area may take up to 15 minutes to release. However, you may administer a testlet in another subject area while waiting.
• Close out of Kite Student Portal when you are finished with a test session.

DTCs and BTCs should be running reports and monitoring testing progress throughout the testing window. Refer to the Assessment Coordinator Manual for types of extracts you can access and the Educator Portal User Guide for explanations of each report.

• New columns have been added to the DLM Test Administration Monitoring Extract to make it easier to track testing. The new fields identify the date the student completed their first testlet, and the date the student completed their last testlet.

Continue to confirm accuracy in all Kite student data. Errors in student data will cause a misadministration (administrative error), impacting school accountability. Remember to ensure:

• Students are enrolled using their State NYSSIS ID, not their district ID
• Students names are entered correctly
• Students' dates of birth and grade-levels are entered correctly, and aligned with the Birthdate Chart

Teachers/Test Administrators should monitor their own students' testlet progress:

• To monitor a student’s progress by subject area, select the Test Management screen in Educator Portal. The Test Progress column indicates the number of the testlet being administered and the total number of testlets available for each grade and subject area.

• If a student cannot participate in the NYSAA, a Special Circumstance Code must be entered:
  • Only DTCs and BTCs may enter these codes.
  • Codes are school-year specific and subject specific.
  • Codes must be entered before the testing window closes.
    • Special Circumstance Codes may now be entered prior to the testing window opening.
• Refer to the DLM NY Special Circumstance Code web page for the codes and detailed instructions.

Student writing samples generated during NYSAA testing are securely uploaded to the Educator Portal (EP) to serve as validity evidence. Teachers must manage the upload of student writing samples through the Surveys tab within the Educator Portal.

• Timing: Writing samples are submitted after a student completes a writing testlet.
• Linking: Samples must be directly linked to the individual student profile in the portal.
• File Retention: Districts are required to keep the physical or digital student writing product on file for one year following the administration of the test.
• View the Educator Portal User Guide for more information and instructions.

NYSAA Field Tests are not required, but are strongly encouraged and greatly appreciated. The information below was provided by the DLM Consortium:

What is a field test? 
Field tests are critical to the production of high-quality operational assessments. Teachers administer field tests to evaluate item quality for the assessed linkage levels of Essential Elements. Items must be field-tested before being included in the operational testlet pool.

ELA and Mathematics field test testlets
After a student completes the blueprint requirements in ELA and mathematics, the student may receive a field test testlet.

Science field test testlets (2027)
In spring 2027, DLM will continue administering field tests testlets for the updated science Essential Elements.

• Each student will be taking a total of four science field test testlets. They will be delivered in two science field test forms, each containing two field test testlets. The forms will be available when the first operational science testlet is assigned. 
• The TIPs for the science field test testlets are in Test Management. Science field tests have FT in their naming convention.
• The field test testlets can be taken any time before the closing of the spring assessment window.
• Subsequent operational testlets will continue to be delivered after the previous operational testlet is completed, regardless of whether the field test forms have been completed.

In which grades and subjects will field testing occur?

• Grades 3–11 for English language arts
• Grades 3–11 for mathematics
• Grade bands in elementary, middle, and high school for science

At what linkage level will the field test testlets be delivered?
Field test testlets are available for most linkage levels and Essential Elements. A field test testlet will be delivered at the same linkage level, one level above, or one level below the level at which the student took their operational testlets for the Essential Element.

Where are field test testlets administered?
Like operational testlets, field-test testlets are in Kite Student Portal, and students sign in using their credentials. Field tests are found in each subject‐specific tab. Field test results do not impact Individual Student Score Reports.

Does my student have to participate in field testing?
Participation is strongly encouraged in order to build the pool of available testlets for all students.

The Educator Portal User Guide found on each state’s webpage provides steps for accessing field test testlets and the associated Testlet Information Pages (TIPs).

• View NYSAA DLM Test Updates.
• Subscribe to NYSAA DLM Test Updates to receive ongoing notifications.
  • Subscribe once and forget it! No need to re-subscribe each year. Just let them know if your email address changes.
  • Get test updates via email: Subscribe automatically
  • Automatic subscription not working? Subscribe manually
• Email NYSED’s NYSAA Program Manager for district-specific support (e.g., student transfers): Dr. Jacqueline Harnett, jacqueline.harnett@nysed.gov

View guidance for districts scoring with us: NYS Grades 3–8 Exam Requests: Lead Scoring Entity & PBT Guidance.

The NYSED Online Examination Request System opens in October for Grades 3-8 exam requests. NYSED publishes information and procedures to support schools with requesting test materials on the Office of State Assessment web page.

As part of the exam request process, building principals must identify their Lead Scoring Entity and enter counts for both computer-based tests and paper-based tests needed for accommodations.

For districts that contract with us, Assessment Services – Scoring & Training through School Data Bank Services, your Lead Scoring Entity is Optimum Solutions Corporation (OSC). Please review our detailed handout, NYS Grades 3–8 Exam Requests: Lead Scoring Entity & PBT Guidance, which provides step-by-step guidance for building leaders. Please share this guidance with any personnel responsible for ordering exams.

If your district does not contract with us for scoring services, please follow the instructions provided by your district’s designated Lead Scoring Entity.

Ordering Paper-Based Tests (PBT):

• Please ensure the correct paper-based tests are ordered as needed to accommodate students' needs (IEP and 504 Plan testing accommodations; Alternate Languages and low-incidence languages for Math and/or Science). Per the NYSED Instructions for Submitting Online Requests:
  • "Paper-based testing (PBT) will remain available as an accommodation for students who, according to their Individualized Education Program (IEP) or Section 504 Accommodation Plan (504 Plan), must test on paper, and for the mathematics and science tests only, for those students who require an alternate language edition of the test or an oral translation for a lower incidence language. In addition, PBT will also remain available to religious and independent schools, who do not make use of technology in the classroom because of religious beliefs. The PBT option for religious and independent schools is only for those schools who do not make use of technology in the classroom because of religious beliefs. As this is a religious accommodation, it is not for schools that prefer to administer paper-based tests over computer-based tests." (last updated October 2025)
• If a school needs to request additional paper test materials after the request system closes, please reach out as follows:
  • ELA and Mathematics test materials: Contact NWEA customer support via email at NYTesting@nwea.org or phone at 866-997-0695. Last day to order: TBA.
    • After the final ordering deadline, requests for additional ELA and Math paper test materials must be arranged for pickup at a regional center.
  • Science test materials: The Last day to order Science paper materials from the State Office of Assessment: TBA.
    • After the final ordering deadline, requests for additional test materials must be arranged for pickup at a regional center.
  • Regional Center contacts for last-minute paper-based accommodated tests:
    • Eastern Suffolk BOCES at Westhampton Beach Learning Center: Contact Serina Ross at 631-844-5757
    • Eastern Suffolk BOCES at Patchogue (Hines Administration Center): Contact Dawn Zanoni at 631-687-3165
    • Western Suffolk BOCES at Wheatley Heights: Contact Nicole Carr at 631-595-6820

For questions related to Answer Sheets, Computer-Based Testing/NEXTERA, and Level 0 data, contact Student Data Services—Test Scanning & Data Reporting at 631-218-4195 or email student data services—test scanning & data reporting here.

Registration for scoring begins in the fall each year and ends in March. Emails and announcements will be sent once the Scoring Registration Site opens for districts to begin registering with us. 

• 2026-2027 Scoring Registration Information and Important Dates
• Visit our Scoring Registration Site to register or view your registration:
  • ESBOCES Scoring/Intake Appointment Registration Site – Scoring Registration opens 10/5/26
• Instructions for Scoring Registration (slides)
• Pricing for 2026-27 NYS 3-8 Assessment Scoring
• This year's on-site intake date for the collection of paper-based tests is Friday, May 14, 2027.

There is ONE intake day for NYS 3-8 Assessments in ELA, Math, and Science: Friday, May 14, 2027

• Quality Control Workshop dates and locations for 2027: TBD

• Packaging & Delivery Workshop dates and locations for 2027: TBD

• Prior to Intake:

  • Follow all quality control and preparation/packaging instructions provided.
    • Complete Translations: Prior to packaging, districts must arrange for student responses on Math and Science assessments that are written in languages other than English or Spanish to be translated into English. 
    • Package certain special accommodated editions of tests with a Special Case Tracking Sheet on the outside of the envelope.
  • Register completed packages at OSC World Ease Check-in Site.
    • How to Register NYS 3-8 ELA/Math/Science Packages on the OSC Check-in Site & Print Package Labels for Intake
  • Print OSC package labels for each box/envelope, and affix on the short edge of the box or front of the envelope.
    • Every package must have a unique OSC label.

• Other Updates and Reminders:

  • General Assessment Not-Tested Codes and Accountability (March 25, 2026)

• After Intake:

  • Ensure all answer sheets are submitted to Student Data Services in the RIC, and all not-tested codes are entered into Nextera Admin, before the deadline.
  • Districts MUST pick up scored booklets from ESBOCES on Friday, June 11, 2027, to be stored securely in your district for one year.

• Grades 3-8 Testing Schedules
• Grades 3-8 Test Manuals (includes the School Administrator's Manual (SAM) once published) 
  • All Grades 3-8 ELA, Math, and Science Test Manuals, Educator Guides, and Teacher Directions will post here when updated annually.
• NYSED Website of Resources for Grades 3-8 ELA and Math Tests
• NYSED Website of Resources for Grades 5 & 8 Science Tests
  • Frequently Asked Questions Related to Investigations for the Elementary- and Intermediate-level Science Tests

• NYSED CBT Support Webpage
• Computer-Based Testing Support Guide (NYSED Resources)
• For support with CBT, contact the Regional Information Center/Student Data Services:
  • Email Student Data Services—Test Scanning & Data Reporting Here
  • 631-218-4195

NYS Grades 3–8 Assessment Translations & Interpretations 

Tests containing Spanish language responses can be scored by our vendor, OSC. Please ensure tests are labeled and packaged appropriately so the vendor is aware that a Spanish language translation is needed. For all other languages other than English and Spanish, the Regional Information Center (RIC) offers translation services.

1. Account Pre-Funding

To avoid administrative delays during testing windows, districts must establish pre-funded account balances as soon as possible:

• Setup: Email fdscs@esboces.org with your target dollar amount to request a contract.
• Balance Policy: Unused funds roll over automatically and do not expire. Deductions occur only as services are completed.

2. Testing Translations Service Options At-a-Glance: Nuestro & Proprio

Once your district’s account is funded, determine your service needs. The table below provides service options available through the RIC that explicitly align with state assessment translations through providers Nuestro and Proprio.

3. Important Reminders & Contacts

Critical Deadlines

• Immediate Submission Required: Alternate language student response booklets (other than Spanish) and standard booklets containing student responses in lower incidence languages must be submitted for translation immediately after testing to meet strict NYSED scoring center deadlines.

Key Contacts

• Primary Administrator/Contact: Tim Murphy, Divisional Administrator | Phone: (631) 218-4156 | Email: tmurphy@esboces.org
• Pre-Funding & Contracts: fdscs@esboces.org
• Service Requests & Submissions: districtservices@esboces.org
• Secure Courier (PII Submissions): https://courier.esboces.org/