Frequently Asked Questions About CODESP
Click on the hyperlink above to learn everything you wanted to know about CODESP and our Products and Services. If you need more assistance just give us a call at 714-374-8644 or email tests@codesp.com

Board of Directors 2010-2011
The Board is comprised of ten Human Resource professionals who are employed in member districts. They are elected for three year terms by the membership. Nine Board members are elected by all member districts and one is elected by community college district members. To view the current list of Board members and the Board meeting calendar and agendas click on the hyperlink.

CODESP Informational Brochure
Click above on the title/hyperlink to open a brochure that describes CODESP's products and services. All sub-titles listed on this page are hyperlinks which will open more descriptive documents. CATS (CODESP Automated Test System) is a multi-file database created by CODESP which houses our item bank, test generator, job description builder and our other products and services. Access is only allowed by joining CODESP or becoming a subscriber. Subscribers pay $1,750.00 for basic services and a low annual fee for optional online test administration services. Contact us at tests@codesp.com or by calling 714-374-8644. We have received several copyrights in 2007 covering our Item Bank, Test Generator and HR Resources as well as our Job Description Builder and the Job Analysis Questionnaire. With over 24,000 items in the data bank and frequent updates, we file continual registration with the US Copyright Office. If you are an Afterschool provider click on the hyperlink: Non-Profit Afterschool Agency-Subscriber Policy. If you are a non-educational agency such as a city, click on the hyperlink: Non Educational Agency-Subscriber Policy

CODESP Printable Brochure
This tri-fold brochure is available for printing and distribution to your Board and/or Commission.

CODESP Products and Services
CODESP provides valuable online products and tools to assist human resouces departments in public agencies develop valid employee selection instruments. Public educational agencies are eligible to join the consortium which includes the Instructional Aide test for qualifying for NCLB with membership. Other public agencies can access products and services through a subscriber option. Job Analysis and Job Description assistance is also available. Proctored online testing is our newest service, there are no rental or per candidate fees!! Click on the hyperlink to read more.

CODESP Products and Services Available to all K-12 School Districts
CODESP provides HR services and customizable employee selection materials including the NCLB Instructional Aide test.

CODESP Products and Services Available to Charter Schools
Charter Schools can become members of CODESP and receive test materials including the Instructional Aide test. Job Description assistance is also available with CODESP membership. Click on the hyperlink to read more.

CODESP Products and Services Available to Community College Districts
CODESP has products and services that have been customized for Community College use to assist Human Resource departments in recruiting, selecting and hiring faculty and classified employees. Products also include job description development assistance.

CODESP Products and Services Available to Non Educational Public Agencies & Non-Profits
CODESP provides products and services to Non Educational Public Agencies and Non-Profits as Subscribers. Our item bank contains a large variety of test items which can be used by cities, counties and special districts. Currently our item bank does not contain fire or police, although we do have campus police and security items. We also do not currently have engineering items. Questions can be loaded into our item bank so that any customer can utilize our proctored online testing service. The base annual fee is $1,750/year and $875 for agencies with less than 200 employees. Online test administration services are available and an extra annual fee based on the agency's number of employees (minus sworn police and fire). Click on the hyperlink to read about accessing CODESP's online services for non educational public agencies.

CODESP Products and Services Available to Providers of After School Care
After School providers can qualify to become a CODESP Subscriber. Click on the hyperlink to read about CODESP's services for nonprofit After School Care providers for public educational agencies.

How Will CODESP Membership Help My Agency?
CODESP Membership can help your agency save money through increased efficiency and quality hires.

Information on Access to CODESP Test Materials
CODESP test materials are sent to CATS Registered HR staff members through a secure website. Access to the test materials is restricted to members/subscribers who are logged in. Read this document for more information on how to access multiple choice test questions, interviews and other test materials stored on the secure area of our website.

Item Bank by Job Family
Within CATS is an extensive and constantly evolving item bank of multiple choice test items. Currently there are over 21,000 multiple choice test items in the bank. If a customer does not receive the items he/she needs after submitting a CATS Request Form, we will develop custom test items for them. Tests can be administered online in a proctored environment or by paper and pencil.

Job Analysis and Job Description Builder
CODESP also offers Job Analysis Questionnaires to assist districts in gathering job related information needed to develop employee selection materials, training programs and performance review criteria. This information can also be used to develop or edit job descriptions. The Job Analysis data can be transferred to the online CODESP Job Description Builder which contains large data banks of Knowledges, Abilities, Competencies, Physical and Mental requirements, and Working Conditions that are typically found in school districts and community colleges. By providing samples used in other districts the job description development process is streamlined.

Training Meetings/Webinars
Training is provided on a variety of HR topics relevant to public educational agencies. To help save travel costs CODESP is currently offering free webinars to members. By clicking on Training on the blue toolbar above both guests and members can view CODESP training programs. Webinars are listed under Alerts also. There is no cost to attend these valuable programs, but registration is required. Click on the hyperlink to view online webinar instructions and system requirements. Some training meetings/webinars are exclusive to CODESP members. A certificate of attendance is provided after completion of each webinar. Training programs are also listed under Resources.

Sample Supplemental Application Forms
CODESP offers sample supplemental application/training and experience forms, allowing your district to screen for minimum qualifications and gather more detailed information than that provided on standard applications. Many are in checklist format to provide an easy method of completion for applicants. The forms can be attached to your district’s online or paper application and modified to make the application consistent with your district’s position requirements. Always review them with a subject matter expert before using. The final choice of Supplemental Application Form questions chosen is the district's responsibility. If a member cannot find one that they need on our website under Resources, they can submit a CATS Request Form and CODESP staff will develop a customized one for them.

Multiple Choice Tests
CODESP offers customized multiple choice tests for a variety of subjects. A job analysis and subject matter expert review are strongly recommended to ensure that the items chosen are job-related per individual district requirements. To order multiple choice test items a CATS Test Request Form (available to members after log-on) is submitted. After reviewing the district's job description, CODESP staff sends a variety of items electronically to the member's secure CATS site. The items are reviewed, constructed, and the test is printed directly from the member's workstation or they can be converted to an online format. Online tests must be administered in a proctored environment. The final choice of test items on a district's test is the district's responsibility.

Test Item Analysis
Item analysis and scoring is available to members directly from their desktop using the CATS system and the district's Scantron machine and forms. Read more......

Sample Interviews
CODESP offers its members over 300 sample interviews for a variety of specialized job families and sub-families. We add to and edit this area often based on member request. If members do not see what they want under Resources, they complete a CATS Request Form. Samples of current test materials are available online under Resources by Job Family and then Generic Job Title. They are in Word and can be modified/edited to meet your district's needs per the Instructions. Always meet with a subject matter expert to ensure that the items are job related. Customized interviews can be ordered by completing a CATS Request Form if members can't find the questions they need on our website under Resources. The final choice of interview questions used by a district is the district's responsibility.

Sample Performance and/or Simulations
CODESP offers sample performance examinations to test candidates’ skills at performing a job related task or a simulation of a job related task. The exams can be modified so that details of the task are consistent with your district’s position requirements. They should be reviewed by a subject matter expert. The final choice of performance exercises used by a district is the district's responsibility. Customized performance tests can be ordered by members through a CATS Request Form if they can't find the exercise they need by clicking on Resources and then Performance Exercises.

Sample Writing Exercises
CODESP offers sample writing exercises to test candidates’ written communication skills through job related exercises such as essays, letters, memos, and report writing. Some require the candidate to read their completed exercise to the panel and they are rated on their content, rather than punctuation and neatness. They can be modified for either format. They should be reviewed by a subject matter expert. The final choice of writing exercises used by a district is the district's responsibility. The exercises can be modified to fit job-related situations in your district and are available to members under Resources after logging in.

Instructional Aide - Paraprofessional Test Content Summary
CODESP offers an Instructional Aide - Paraprofessional NCLB Assessment which can be modified to fit individual district needs. An outline of its contents is available by clicking on this hyperlink. Members can choose from a pre-assembled version or choose their own test items from a packet that is sent to them online. A tutorial is also available to candidates from member districts. Candidates can also take an online practice Instructional Aide test. Go to the blue tool bar and click on Links. Scroll down to the Test-Taking Practice-Instructional Aide hyperlink to access the test. Always have a subject matter expert review the CODESP test materials sent to your district's HR office per a CATS Request Form prior to using. The final choice of test items is the district's responsibility.

Instructional Aide Test History/Development
The CODESP Instructional Aide test was developed after research of existing extensive job studies and by meetings with several subject matter experts.

Pre-Assembled Tests
CODESP offers Pre-Assembled tests for most of the very common public school employee classifications. These tests offer a small sampling of what our item bank offers. Some are available directly to members under Resources* and others are available by completing a CATS Request Form. They should be reprinted each time a test is administered because they are updated frequently. To develop custom tests, multiple choice test questions from CODESP's extensive item bank must be ordered by submitting a CATS Request Form. Members choose from the items sent to them to develop custom tests. Pre-Assembled tests are available for Instructional Aide*, Food Service Worker, Food Service Cashier, Custodian (entry level), Custodian (experienced), Clerk (School, District Office and Community College), Secretary and Administrative Secretary. The final choice of test materials used by a district is the district's responsibility. *Due to security reasons members must call for access to the Instructional Aide Pre-Assembled test.