Assessment Spotlight, Issue 340

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 and ELPAC website.

Complete the 1.0 Percent Threshold and Justification Survey Now

If you have not done so already, please complete the CAASPP 2025‒26 1.0 Percent Threshold and Justification Survey by November 14, 2025.

Under the Every Student Succeeds Act, local educational agencies (LEAs) are required to notify the California Department of Education (CDE) if they expect to exceed 1.0 percent of their total assessed student population taking the California Alternate Assessments (CAAs) in English language arts/literacy, mathematics, and science for the CAASPP.

All LEAs are required to report the percentage of students anticipated to take the CAAs for the 2025–26 school year, whether the LEA anticipates exceeding the 1.0 percent cap, not exceeding the 1.0 percent cap, or has no students expected to take alternate assessments.

Registration Now Open for the Formative Assessment Shared Practices Webinar Series

Registration is now open for the Formative Assessment Shared Practices Webinar Series—a CDE-hosted professional learning opportunity for LEA staff, namely classroom teachers and administrators. Join the CDE to hear from teachers, principals, and district administrators as they share how they are promoting and using formative assessment to support teaching and learning for all students. The three webinars in this series are:

• Flexible by Design: Formative and Accessibility Strategies for Every Learner
  • Thursday, January 29, 2026, 3:30‒5:00 p.m.
• By Teachers, For Teachers: Unlocking Classroom-Ready Science Resources
  • Thursday, February 12, 2026, 3:30‒5:00 p.m
• Professional Learning Resources for Supporting English Learners
  • Thursday, February 26, 2026, 3:30‒5:00 p.m

Register now and share this fantastic professional learning opportunity with colleagues!

To receive future CAASPP and ELPAC updates and notifications, subscribe to the CAASPP mailing list by sending a blank email message to subscribe-caaspp@mlist.cde.ca.gov. Are you a new subscriber? For previous Assessment Spotlight issues, visit the California Department of Education Assessment Spotlight web page.