Testing

The RICA is a preliminary credential requirement for all candidates pursuing a multiple subject or education specialist credential. 

The RICA covers the 5 domains of foundational literacy:

• Domain 1: Planning, Organizing, and Managing Reading Instruction Based on Ongoing Assessment

• Domain 2: Word Analysis

• Domain 3: Fluency

• Domain 4: Vocabulary, Academic Language, and Background Knowledge

• Domain 5: Comprehension

These domains are split into 3 subtests:

• Subtest 1: 35 multiple-choice questions and 2 constructed-response questions(domain 2+3) 

• Subtest 2: 35 multiple-choice questions and 2 constructed-response questions (domain 4+5)

• Subtest 3: 25 multiple-choice questions and 1 case study (domain 1)

The edTPA is a portfolio assessment that is a preliminary credential requirement for all credentials in California. This means all Alder residents will complete the edTPA. The list below shows the exam name associated with each credential/content area. 

Content Area - Exam Name

Multiple Subject - Elementary Education: Mathematics with Literacy Task 4 (National)

Single Subject ELA - Secondary English / Language Arts (National)

Single Subject Math - Secondary Mathematics (National)

Single Subject Science - Secondary Science (National)

Single Subject Social Science - Secondary History / Social Studies (National)

Single Subject World Language - World Language (National)

SPED - Special Education for California

RICA: ED 231 covered all the content of the RICA. Please find study/prep resources here. 

edTPA: The first thing you should do is build context around the assessment requirements and expectations. Take some time to read through the key documents. Find them for your content area here. We recommend starting with the handbook. 

Here is the edTPA HUB. Bookmark it! It contains all the resources you will need throughout the edTPA process. 

Go to the registration page of the CTC website and follow the prompts. 

If you would like a tutorial / walkthrough, please view this screencast.   

RICA: you should attempt all 3 subtests by 12/22/23. If you do not pass, you can attempt again in the spring. You’ll need to have all three subtests passed in order to be recommended for a preliminary credential in June 2024. 

edTPA: this assessment will be the main focus of our work in the spring seminar. You will receive a detailed scope and sequence from your clinical director. The submission date will be at the end of March. Residents who do not pass on the initial submission will have the opportunity to retake and resubmit the exam. 

Please review this deck and screencast from Dr. Iván Rosales Montes which will support you with next steps. If you have any additonal questions, please join Dr. Montes during his office hours or contact him directly at imontes@aldergse.edu.

All registration fees for the RICA and edTPA have been fully waived. You will not need to pay anything in order to register. 

For questions about your transcript audit, please reach out to admissions@aldergse.edu.

For all other testing-related questions, please reach out to testing@aldergse.edu.