Questions and Answers: CA Modified Assessment

The California Modified Assessment (CMA) is part of the Standardized Testing and Reporting (STAR) Program. This test is a modified assessment for students with disabilities who have an individualized education program (IEP) and meet the eligibility criteria. Answers to commonly asked questions about the participation criteria, the grades and subjects tested, and the content and format of the CMA are provided below.

Participation Criteria

Who is eligible to take the CMA?

The CMA is taken by students with an IEP who meet the following criteria as specified in their IEP:

• Previous Participation – The student took the California Standards Test (CST) and scored below basic or far below basic in the subject tested, and may have taken the CST with a modification, or
  
  The student scored proficient or advanced on the California Alternate Performance Assessment (CAPA) Level II-V in two previous years.
• Objective Multiple Measures – Objective evidence of academic progress (or lack of progress), based on multiple measurements over a period of time, indicates that the student will not achieve grade-level standards as measured by a proficient performance level on the CST even with accommodations.
• Response to Instruction – Academic progress in response to grade-level instruction, including special education and related services designed to meet individual needs and classroom support for subjects assessed by the CMA, is such that the student will not likely achieve grade-level proficiency, even with instructional intervention.
• High School Diploma – Students, who take alternate assessments based on modified academic achievement standards, are not prevented from completing the requirements for a high school diploma. All students must meet the California High School Exit Examination (CAHSEE) requirements in order to receive a diploma from a California public high school.
• Informed Parents or Guardians – Parents or guardians of students selected for participation in the CMA are informed that their student’s achievement will be measured based on modified achievement standards.

How do schools and school districts decide if a student takes the CMA?

Each student’s IEP team decides if a student is eligible, and the student’s IEP must specify the CMA for STAR Program participation. The eligible student’s IEP also is to identify the content area(s) to be tested and accommodations, if any, to be used. The criteria for CMA participation are posted on the STAR Web page.

Must all students take the STAR Program tests?

Yes. All students must take the STAR Program tests (CSTs, CAPA, or CMA), unless parents or guardians submit a written request to exempt their student (Education Code Section 60615). It is very important that all students take part in the STAR Program; each school district and school must have at least 95 percent of its students participate in statewide tests in order to meet federal accountability requirements.

Can students with no record of STAR Program testing take the CMA?

No. The CMA participation criteria require having results of a previous year’s CST or CAPA results. Students with no record of STAR Program testing in a previous year may not take the CMA. This is the reason why the CMA is not being developed for grade two.

Students take the CST in science for the first time in grade five. How do they qualify for the CMA in science in grade five?

Because the science assessments are not given prior to grade five, a student may meet the first part of the participation criteria for the CMA in science if he or she has taken the CST in English-language arts or mathematics in a previous year and scored below basic or far below on either test. The student may have taken the CST with accommodations and/or modifications. In addition, the student has received special education and related services to support access to and progress in the general curriculum in which the student is enrolled.

Clarification for participation in the CMA in science is posted on the STAR Web page.

Are there testing variations and accommodations for the CMA?

Additional testing variations and accommodations may be provided to students as specified in Matrix of the California Modified Assessment Test Variations and Accommodations for the 2008 Administration. This matrix is posted on the STAR Web page. Modifications are not allowed. The CMA is a modified test.

Grades, Subjects, and Test Format

What grades and subjects does the CMA assess in 2008?

In spring 2008, eligible students in grades three through five may be assessed in English-language arts and/or mathematics. Students taking the CMA in grade five also may be assessed in science.

What types of questions are found on the CMA?

Questions on the CMA are in a multiple-choice format. Students are presented with a question and asked to select the correct answer from three possible response options. The CMA questions are presented differently from other STAR Program tests in that the type is larger and clearer, reading passages are shorter, and more graphics are included. Students in grade three mark their answers in the test booklet, and students in grades four and five mark an answer document.

Where can I see examples of CMA questions and how they differ from California Standards Test (CST) questions?

Examples of the format changes between the CST and the CMA are available on the STAR Web page.

Additional Information

Basic information about the CMA and other STAR Program tests also can be found in the Questions and Answers About the 2008 STAR Program on pages 9 through 13. Additional information about the STAR Program and the CMA is available on the STAR Web page.