Early Assessment Program

Background

The Early Assessment Program (EAP) is designed to provide students with an early signal of college academic preparation through California Assessments of Student Performance and Progress (CAASPP/EAP) results. CAASPP/EAP scores are ONE of the multiple measures the CSU utilizes as an indicator of students’ readiness for college-level coursework in English and mathematics and for placement of first-time freshman in the appropriate General Education (GE) English and mathematics courses once they enroll at the CSU.

For more information on how the CSU uses multiple measures (CAASPP/EAP, American College Test (ACT), Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT), Academic Preparation (AP), high school, and college coursework) for placement, visit the CSU student success website .

How Students Can Authorize Release of their Results

Each spring, all grade eleven students in California take the Smarter Balanced Summative Assessments for English language arts/literacy (ELA) and mathematics administered as part of the California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress (CAASPP) System.

All students participate in EAP by virtue of completing the Smarter Balanced Summative Assessments for English language arts/literacy and mathematics. Students must authorize the release of their CAASPP (i.e., Smarter Balanced Summative Assessment) results for each assessment to the CSU system.

• The release of results for both ELA and mathematics must be completed separately.
  
  
• Students who do not release their results at the end of the assessments may later submit a copy of their score report to the CSU or California Community Colleges (CCC) in which they have enrolled.

The release of the CAASPP results will not affect a student’s application for admission. Results are only used to determine a student’s placement after he or she has been admitted to the CSU. Some, but not all, CCC accept EAP scores. Students may submit a copy of their score report to a CCC if requested.

How EAP Status Is Reported

Students will find their CAASPP/EAP results are reported on the Student Score Report. There are four possible CAASPP/EAP status levels, as described below:

Advanced (Level 4)

Students who score at the highest performance level “Advanced” (Level 4) will enroll in GE English and/or mathematics college level courses upon entering the CSU. Students are encouraged to continue preparation during the twelfth grade.

Proficient (Level 3)

Students who score at the “Proficient” (Level 3) performance level must complete an approved year-long English and/or mathematics course in the twelfth grade with a grade of “C-” or better. Students will enroll in GE English and/or mathematics college-level courses upon entering the CSU.

Developing (Level 2) and Minimal (Level 1)

Students who score at the “Developing” (Level 2) or "Minimal" (Level 1) performance level will be placed in supported GE English and/or mathematics college-level courses unless they meet the exemption criteria through completion of other multiple measures (ACT, SAT, high school coursework or high school grade point average, and college transfer coursework).

To learn about the use of multiple measures visit the CSU student success website .

Professional Development

The CSU advances academic preparation by providing high-quality mathematics and quantitative reasoning instruction through the Quantitative Reasoning (QR) Center and by supporting the implementation of Expository Reading and Writing Curriculum (ERWC) , an A–G-approved English course designed to strengthen students' literacy, critical thinking, and communication skills. Together, these initiatives help prepare students for success in college, career, and lifelong learning.

Additional Information

Academic Preparation Student Brochure (PDF)
A guide to understand assessments and placement in first-year GE English and math courses. An updated brochure is coming soon.

EAP Program Contacts