Assessment Spotlight, Issue 226

Focusing on the CAASPP System and English Language Proficiency Assessments for California (ELPAC)—and including, when timely, updates on California’s other statewide assessments. For questions related to test administration, coordination, and trainings, visit the CAASPP website and the ELPAC website .

Requesting Unlisted Resources

Do you have a student with an active individualized education program (IEP) or Section 504 plan that receives a support in class that is listed on their IEP or Section 504, but that support is not listed in the CA Assessment Accessibility Resources Matrix (Matrix) as a universal tool, designated support, or accommodation? We call these unlisted resources because these accessibility resources are not currently identified for use on the CAASPP or the ELPAC. Unlisted resources are non-embedded and provided by the local educational agency (LEA).

Unlisted resources are rare, and it is likely the resource is already listed. Before submitting a request for an unlisted resource, first verify that the resource is truly unlisted. Once confirmed that the resource is unlisted, the LEA or test site coordinator must submit a request to the California Department of Education (CDE) through the Test Operations Management System (TOMS), a minimum of ten business days before the student’s first day of testing.

The CDE will then review the requested support to determine if the resource changes the construct of the assessment or undermines test security. If the resource is approved for use in the IEP or Section 504 Plan and is regularly used in instruction, it will be approved, but it may still change the construct of the test. If additional information is needed to make this determination, a note will be added to the unlisted resource request to remind the LEA to provide the necessary information. If an unlisted resource request has been determined to change the construct of the assessment, the student’s score will be considered not valid for public reporting aggregations and considered Not Tested for accountability calculations for CAASPP. For the ELPAC, the student will be assigned the lowest obtainable scale score. If the unlisted resource undermines test security, it will be denied.

More information about unlisted resources can be found in the Students Chapter of the TOMS User Guide . If you are unsure the resource you are considering is an unlisted resource, please reach out to your LEA Success Agent .

California Spanish Assessment—Educators Urgently Needed!

Are you interested in getting involved in the continued development of the California Spanish Assessment (CSA)? Then join us for the Data Review Meeting for the CSA, which is scheduled for June 21–22, 2023. During this meeting, educators will review data on the performance of field test items that were administered in 2022–23. Do not miss out on this exciting professional development opportunity! Interested educators can go to the CAASPP Opportunities to Get Involved web page on the CAASPP website for information on how to apply for this opportunity. The deadline to apply is Friday, April 14, 2023.

Please share this email with any educators in your LEA who would be interested in or benefit from this information. To join the email list, send a blank email message to subscribe-caaspp@mlist.cde.ca.gov. Are you a new subscriber? Visit the CDE Assessment Spotlight web page to find previous issues.