The latest information about the reauthorization of California’s assessment system is provided on the Statewide Pupil Assessment System Web page, which includes the State Superintendent of Public Instruction’s Recommendations Report for Transitioning to a Future Assessment System.
Students must fulfill specific graduation requirements, which include an Algebra I requirement.
Standardized Testing and Reporting (STAR)
Each Spring, students in grades two through eleven take a Standardized Testing and Reporting (STAR) test. The STAR Program looks at how well schools and students are performing. Students take tests in mathematics, reading, writing, science, and history. Educators and parents/guardians can use test results to improve student learning. The STAR Program includes four tests: the California Standards Tests (CST), the California Modified Assessment (CMA), the California Alternate Performance Assessment (CAPA), and the Standards-based Tests in Spanish (STS).
STAR Test Blueprints are provided for the CST, CMA, CAPA, and STS.
Released Test Questions (RTQs) are representative of the various content areas measured by items on the CST and are taken from portions of the CSTs from 2003 through 2008.
The STAR Student Report Guides offer information regarding a student’s report and the recommendations provided. Guides are available in English
and other languages for the CST, CMA, and CAPA.
Common Core State Standards Assessment (Smarter Balanced)
California joined the Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium (SBAC) as a governing state on June 9, 2011. The SBAC is a national consortium of 25 states working collaboratively to develop a student assessment system aligned to a common core of academic content standards. Of those, California is one of 21 governing states, which allows decision-making participation.
Preliminary Test Blueprints (2012)
describe the content of the mathematics summative assessments for grade 3 through 8 and high school and how that content will be assessed. The preliminary test blueprints reflect the depth and breadth of the performance expectations of the CCSS.
Sample items and performance tasks
illustrate the rigor and complexity of the mathematics items and performance tasks students will encounter on the Consortium’s next-generation assessments.
Draft Achievement Level Descriptors and College Readiness Policy (ALDs)
articulate the knowledge, skills, and processes expected of students at different levels of performance on the Smarter Balanced assessments.
Minimum Technological System Requirements are necessary due to the variety of test item types included in computer adaptive testing, which the Smarter Balanced assessment system uses.
Related Links
Information also available through the sites of the California Department of Education at STAR and SBAC.
