Critical Skills Assessments
What are Critical Skills Assessments (CSAs)?
Critical Skills Assessments are quarterly assessments designed to measure a student’s mastery of content and skills as we move into the next quarter. They are also known as Benchmark Assessments.
Why do we administer CSAs?
The results are broken down by question to give teachers real data about what standards their students have proficiency and which standards their students need more work to grasp. CSAs have more rigor than the SOL Tests in an effort to better prepare students for Spring Testing.
How are the CSAs created?
The CSAs are created by their respective Curriculum Department (Curriculum Lead & Specialists). Each department is responsible for creating and maintaining items on each of their assessments. They are designed to be completed in a single class period, but accommodations may be made for extended time.
Testing Security
The CSA administration should emulate the administration of the SOL as closely as possible. As such, Test Security must be maintained to keep the integrity of the CSAs intact and the data accurate. Every teacher that administers a CSA is required to sign a Test Security Agreement annually. Please read the Agreement carefully as it can be easy to violate.
CSA Testing Documents
These MS Word forms may be downloaded and updated for information (e.g. School Name, School Year, 1st Nine Weeks)
CSA Testing Schedule
Guidance for Delivering CSAs
Guidance for Delivering CSAs While Maintaining Test Security