Illuminate

Most student login issues are resolved by logging in through the ClassLink screen. There are two tiles for Student login in ClassLink. Make sure you are selecting the correct tile for your testing situation.

• Most tests require login through the Illuminate - Student Login tile. This is also the tile you would use for test review.
• Did your teacher give you a Test / Quick Access Code? If yes, use the Illuminate - Quick Code Access tile

For problems with student network username/password, contact the ACPS Service Desk (434) 975-9444.

If you log in and do not have the test you are supposed to take listed in the list of assessments, contact your teacher.

• Ask your teacher to verify they assigned the test to you and that you have the correct test title.
• Ask your teacher to check to see if the End Date of your testing window has passed.
• If you are returning to finish an assessment, check to see if you have already submitted it.

If you are having technical difficulties with your Illuminate assessment, please contact your teacher. You probably aren't the only one having trouble.

• Are you receiving an error message? If so, write it down or take a screenshot. This will help us with a solution.
• Is your test a Locked Browser assessment? If so, see the troubleshooting steps in the next panel.
• Try switching browsers - Chrome and Firefox are preferred browsers to use with Illuminate.
• You might need to clear the cache - use the steps in this KACE article.
• Have you restarted your computer recently? Try a restart to make sure any recent updates are loaded.

Your teacher can let you know if you have been assigned a Locked Browser assessment or not. Tell your teacher if you continue to have difficulty launching the test.

• You must be testing on your ACPS computer. The the Illuminate Locked Browser requires special software that is loaded onto all ACPS student computers.
  • If browser fails to launch and you are on an ACPS computer, the correct software may not be loaded. Search the Programs list for “Illuminate Locked Browser.”
  • If you use a personal computer for testing you will not be able to launch tests that use the locked browser.
• The Locked Browser will shut down ALL open programs when launched. You should close all open programs before logging into the test portal to help ensure the test loads properly.
• Students will get a pop‐up window requesting permission to launch the application – select “OK” (Firefox) or “Launch Application” (Chrome).
  • Sometimes the pop-up window will be behind your open browser - check to see if there are additional open tabs or windows if you are having trouble with the test launch
• Locked browser will launch and the page with the “Begin Test” button will load. If you have any other programs open, a message will display to close them – follow the prompts. Too many open programs will make the program run slowly; you may need to restart computer to get test to launch.

When copying and pasting from a Word or Google Doc into the Illuminate Testing Portal constructed response question answer space, some students have had trouble getting the text to save.

Please verify your text displays by going to the Review/Finish Test screen and returning to the question before submitting.

If the text did not save, try the following:

• Copy/paste using Ctrl+C and Ctrl+V keyboard shortcuts, rather than browser or "right-click" links.
• Type and delete some characters after the text you pasted and wait for the program to show the text has saved.

If you are still having trouble getting the content to save, please contact your teacher.

Renaissance Education is making big changes to their Illuminate DnA assessment platform this summer. As part of these changes, we have recently learned that they are ending the access to, and use of, the Legacy Item Bank after June 30, 2024.

What this means:

• ALL supported items in the ACPS Legacy Item Bank (LIB) are being migrated to the New Item Bank (NIB) where we will continue to have access to the items we have authored.

• Teacher authored items that have been published will be migrated, whether shared or private, and you will have access to your items in the New Item Bank going forward.

• Legacy Item Bank assessments should be duplicated into the New Item Bank before June 30, 2024, if the assessment is needed for future administrations to ensure the access to make edits/updates as necessary to Legacy Bank items.

• Legacy Bank assessments will be disabled from being administered, however, they will still be viewable for historical data.

• At this time, new items should not be created in the Legacy Item Bank. as they will not be migrated to NIB (item migration is currently in progress)

Before June 30, 2024, teachers will need to DUPLICATE to the NEW ITEM BANK any Legacy Item Bank assessments that you would like to keep as a current assessment. You do not have to move your assessments from Legacy Item Bank to New Item Bank unless that assessment is needed for future administrations.

You will also need to publish any test drafts in the LIB you would like to continue to access.

How to Duplicate a Legacy Bank Test to the New Item Bank:

• Illuminate instructions (web page)
• Illuminate instructions (video)

Once the test has been duplicated, make sure to review the content for items that did not migrate.

If you have questions about next steps or need assistance with the duplication of your assessments, please reach out to your LTI or email IlluminateSupport@k12albemarle.org 

Guide for manual score entry of Alternative Assessment or Performance Task student scores (requires login to ACPS SharePoint)

• Alternative Assessment and Performance Task Score Entry (current for 2024-25 school year)

Administration Guide for English Language Arts Quarterly Assessments in Illuminate DnA (requires login to ACPS SharePoint)

• ACPS Reading 6-8, English 9-12 - 2024-25

Administration Guide for testing in Illuminate (requires login to ACPS SharePoint) 

• ACPS Elementary Health/PE Quarterly Assessments - Score Entry
• ACPS Middle and High School Health/PE Assessments

Administration Guide for Math Quarterly Assessments in Illuminate DnA (requires login to ACPS SharePoint)

• ACPS Middle School Math - 6, 6 Compacted, 7, and 8 - 2024-25