California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress

CAASPP

In California, students in grades 3 through 8 and 11 take the Smarter Balanced tests for English Language Arts (ELA) and Math. These tests are taken online with your child's Homeroom teacher, and students use Chromebooks provided by the school to take the assessments.

The CAASPP test has 2 parts: a Computer-Adaptive Test (CAT) and a Performance Task (PT) for both ELA and math. This means that each student is given a test that adapts to them, and depending on how they answer, the difficulty of the test questions adjust to meet each student’s level of ability.

Why should I have my student test?

There are a few very important reasons why students should test. But, arguably the most important reason is that as a public school, our school is required by Federal regulation to have 95% of its students participate in state testing. New laws, like AB1505, have been passed that restrict the growth of public charter schools and put our school under a microscope. Failure to meet the testing requirement puts our school’s future in jeopardy and could risk our ability to continue serving your child and thousands of other children in California. If you love our school, please ensure that they attend State Testing this year. Also, the scores can be used by you, the parent, and our teachers to gather information about your student so that we can work together to better support them. The scores help us all better understand what your student needs in order to be academically successful.

When is CAASPP Testing?

The California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress (CAASPP) testing is scheduled to take place in the spring, from April 21st through May 23rd.

Keep an eye out for additional updates from your child's homeroom teacher and on ParentSquare.

How long does CAASPP Testing usually take?

The average test time for the each of CAASPP sections Is 1.5 - 2 hours. This is the total testing time, and does not include time for instructions, logging into the test delivery system, or breaks. The CAST is estimated to take 2 hours. These estimates are for scheduling purposes, as the assessments are untimed.

How does State Testing affect my student?

The Smarter Balanced assessments are crucial for implementing the Common Core standards and preparing students for college and careers. These assessments provide valuable information for teachers and parents to support student success and represent a realistic baseline for gauging college and career readiness.

Does scoring well on state testing help determine the classes he/she should take next year?

State test scores do not affect grades or grade progression. Eleventh grade students can share their CAASPP test scores with participating California universities and colleges through the Early Assessment Program (EAP) to assess readiness for college-level work in English and math.

How does my student take the test remotely (online)?

What tools are available to students during the test?

All students have the option to choose any or all of these Universal Tools during testing, and some tools will be provided to them. Check out the video for more Information:

https://ca.startingsmarter.org/accessibility/

If your student is in Special Education and requires accommodations beyond those listed above, you will collaborate with their teacher to incorporate any additional testing accommodations into their IEP.

How can I help my student prepare for State Testing?

Remind your child that you and their teacher want them to try their best and that you are there to help them every step of the way.

Take a practice test with your child at https://www.caaspp.org/practice-and-training/index.html.

How do I access my student's State Testing Score Report?

Visit the Starting Smarter website at https://ca.startingsmarter.org to better understand Student Score Reports, review sample questions, and access resources to support your child’s learning.

Directions for accessing the report In our school system

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