California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress (CAASPP)

  • Testing Letter 2023-2024 School Year

    Under the new state testing program called California Assessment for Student Performance and Progress (CAASPP), 3rd through 8th grade СÀ¶ÊÓƵ students will be participating this year in the Smarter Balanced Assessments in English Language Arts/Literacy and Mathematics. In addition, our 5th and 8th grade students will be participating in the California Science Tests (CASTs).

    Smarter Balanced online assessments: These Common Core Standards-aligned tests have replaced our former state tests for English Language Arts and Mathematics. They are designed to provide educators, students and parents with more meaningful and relevant information about student academic growth and progress.

    1. They are computer based:

    • some questions are interactive
    • great variety of supporting tools

    2. They are computer adaptive:

    • test questions are designed to help pinpoint what students know and can do
    • correct answers are followed by more difficult question; incorrect answers are followed by an easier question
    • provide a more precise estimate of student understanding

    3. They present tasks in a realistic context

    To get an idea of what the test looks like and what types of items are in this online assessment, visit the  site.

    Additional resources and information may also be found at the following links:

    These newly-revised Parent Guides from the California Department of Education provide information about the Smarter Balanced Summative Assessments, including sample test items for English language arts/literacy and mathematics. This information is provided to help you better understand your children’s test results.

      • Parent Guide, Grades 3–5 in English
      • Parent Guide, Grades 6–8 in English
      • Parent Guide, Grades 3–5 in Spanish
      • Parent Guide, Grades 6–8 in Spanish

    A  shares some of the basic ideas about the new state testing program and how it is a part of the new educational landscape at СÀ¶ÊÓƵ USD.

    Fact sheets, questions and answers, and resources for parents may be found at the the  webpage.

    The  () describes how these new tests based on the Common Core State Standards can help prepare students for college and the workplace.

    Smarter Balanced has prepared a factsheet that provides information about how a computer adaptive test is designed: 

    Informational handouts about the Common Core Standards and what they mean for education and California students can be found in multiple languages at this .

    This  provides a list of resources that have been compiled for parents interested in learning more about the Common Core State Standards and how to support their child's attainment of these standards.

    If you have more specific questions, please contact your child's site principal or contact Bethany or Cindy at the Data and Assessment Office in Educational Services.