California students take several mandated statewide tests. These tests provide parents/guardians, teachers, and educators with information about how well students are learning and becoming college and career ready. The test results may be used for local, state, and federal accountability purposes.

The California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress (CAASPP) tests consist of the following:

Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium Assessments

The Smarter Balanced computer adaptive assessments are aligned with the Common Core State Standards (CCSS). English language arts/literacy (ELA) and mathematics tests are administered in grades three through eight.

California Science Tests (CAST)

The computer-based CAST measures students’ achievement of the California Next Generation Science Standards (CA NGSS) through the application of their knowledge and skills of the Science and Engineering Practices, Disciplinary Core Ideas, and Crosscutting Concepts. The CAST is administered to all students in grades five and eight.

California Alternate Assessments (CAAs)

Only eligible students—students whose individualized education program (IEP) identifies the use of alternate assessments—may participate in the administration of the CAAs. Test examiners administer the computer-based CAAs for ELA, mathematics, and science one-on-one to students. Students in grades three through eight and grade eleven will take the CAA for ELA and mathematics. Test items developed for ELA and mathematics are aligned with the CCSS and are based on the Core Content Connectors.

Students in grades five and eight will take the CAA for Science. The CAA for Science embedded performance tasks are based on alternate achievement standards derived from the CA NGSS. Students taking the CAA for Science will take three embedded performance tasks in spring 2019. 

To learn more about the Smarter Balanced Summative Assessments or the CAST, go to the California Department of Education Parent Guides to Understanding Web page at https://www.cde.ca.gov/ta/tg/ca/parentguidetounderstand.asp.

You also can look at sample test questions on the practice tests, which can be found on the CAASPP Web Portal at http://www.caaspp.org/practice-and-training/index.html.

Pursuant to California Education Code Section 60615, parents/guardians may annually submit to the school a written request to excuse their child from any or all of the CAASPP assessments.

English Language Proficiency Assessments for California

California will transition from the California English Language Development Test (CELDT) to the English Language Proficiency Assessments for California (ELPAC) in 2017–18. The ELPAC is aligned with the 2012 California English Language Development Standards. It consists of two separate English Language Proficiency (ELP) assessments: one for the initial identification of students as English learners and the other for the annual summative assessment to identify students’ English language proficiency level and to measure their progress in learning English.

To learn more about the ELPAC, go to the California Department of Education Web page at https://www.cde.ca.gov/ta/tg/ep/elpacparentresource.asp.

Physical Fitness Test

The physical fitness test for students in California schools is the FitnessGram^®. The main goal of the test is to help students in starting lifelong habits of regular physical activity. Students in grades five and seven take the fitness test.

The following items are measured through a battery of tests:

• Aerobic capacity (timed mile run)
• Body composition (height and weight)
• Trunk extension strength
• Upper body strength (push-ups)
• Flexibility (sit and reach)

 

To view information about assessment scores viewable within ParentVUE, check out this page here.