California Assessment System

List of the tests for the California Assessment System for students in kindergarten through grade twelve (K–12).

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California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress (CAASPP)

Test	Content	Format	Type	Participants	Grades	Window
Smarter Balanced Summative Assessments	English language arts/literacy (ELA) and Mathematics	Computer Adaptive Test (CAT) and PT	CR MC PT SR TE	All students at designated grade levels Exceptions: • Eligible students participating in the California Alternate Assessments (CAA) • ELA only—English learners who are in their first 12 months of attending school in the United States	3–8 and 11	Local educational agencies (LEAs) may select their own local testing window which must: Have a minimum window of 25 instructional days Fall within available statewide testing window: January 19 through June 30, 2027
California Science Test	Science	CBT	CR MC PT SR TE	All students in designated grade levels Exceptions: • Eligible students participating in the CAA for Science	5 and 8, and once in grade 10, 11, or 12	LEAs may select their own local testing window which must: Have a minimum window of 25 instructional days Fall within available statewide testing window: January 19 through June 30, 2027
California Spanish Assessment	Reading and Language Arts in Spanish	CBT	MC SR TE CR	Students seeking a measure of their Spanish Reading/Language arts skills	3–8 and high school	LEAs may select their own local testing window which must: Fall within available statewide testing window: January 19 through June 30, 2027
California Alternate Assessments	ELA and Mathematics	CBT	CR MC SR TE	Students with the most significant cognitive disabilities whose active individualized educational program (IEP) designates the use of an alternate assessment	3–8 and 11	LEAs may select their own local testing window which must: Have a minimum window of 25 instructional days Fall within available statewide testing window: January 19 through June 30, 2027
California Alternate Assessment	Science	PT and CBT	MC PT SR TE	Students with the most significant cognitive disabilities whose active IEP designates the use of an alternate assessment	5 and 8, and once in grade 10, 11, or 12	September 15, 2026, through last day of instruction or June 30, 2027, whichever comes first.
Interim Assessments	ELA, Mathematics, and Science	CBT	CR MC PT TE	All students in California LEAs may participate	3–8 and high school	Optional tests available at any time throughout the year that may be used in conjunction with Tools for Teachers resources.

English Language Proficiency Assessments for California (ELPAC)

Test	Content	Format	Type	Participants	Grades	Window
Inital ELPAC	Listening, Speaking, Reading, Writing	CBT with paper and pencil test for K–2 Writing	CR MC	All students whose primary language is not English as indicated on the Home Language Survey (HLS) enrolling in a California public school for the first time	K–12(1)	July 7, 2026, through June 30, 2027. Must be administered within 30 calendar days of enrolling in a California public school for the first time.
Summative ELPAC	Listening, Speaking, Reading, Writing	CBT with paper and pencil test for K–2 Writing	CR MC	Identified English learners until they are re-designated as fluent English proficient	K–12(1)	February 1 through May 31, 2027
Initial Alternate ELPAC	Listening, Speaking, Reading, Writing Expressive (Speaking and Writing), Receptive (Listening and Reading)	CBT	CR MC	Students with the most significant cognitive disabilities whose active IEP designates the use of an alternate assessment and whose primary language is not English as indicated on the HLS enrolling in a California public school for the first time	K–12(1)	July 7, 2026, through June 30, 2027. Must be administered within 30 calendar days of enrolling in a California public school for the first time.
Summative Alternate ELPAC	Expressive (Speaking and Writing), Receptive (Listening and Reading)	CBT	CR MC	Identified English learner students with the most significant cognitive disabilities whose active IEP designates the use of an alternate assessment until they are re-designated as fluent English proficient	K–12(1)	February 1 through May 31, 2027
Interim Assessments	ELPAC	CBT	CR MC	All students in California LEAs eligible to take the ELPAC may participate	K–12	Optional tests available at any time throughout the year.

(1) Grade 12 includes adult transition students through age 21.

Physical Fitness Test (PFT)

Content	Format	Type	Participants	Grades	Window
Aerobic Capacity, Abdominal Strength and Endurance, Trunk Extensor Strength and Flexibility, Upper Body Strength and Endurance, and Flexibility	FITNESSGRAM® Performance Assessment The FITNESSGRAM® is a registered trademark of The Cooper Institute.	PA	All students, regardless of whether they are enrolled in a physical education class or participate in a block schedule	5, 7, and 9	February 1 through May 31, 2027

Content

Format

Type

Participants

Grades

Window

Aerobic Capacity, Abdominal Strength and Endurance, Trunk Extensor Strength and Flexibility, Upper Body Strength and Endurance, and Flexibility

FITNESSGRAM® Performance Assessment

The FITNESSGRAM® is a registered trademark of The Cooper Institute.

All students, regardless of whether they are enrolled in a physical education class or participate in a block schedule

5, 7, and 9

February 1 through May 31, 2027

Screening for Risk of Reading Difficulties

Test	Content	Format and Type	Participants	Grades	Window
Reading Difficulties Risk Screener	Screening instrument assessing risk of reading difficulties, including dyslexia.	Must use an approved RDRS screening instrument.	All students in kindergarten and grades 1 and 2.  Exceptions:  With prior written consent from parent or guardian.   Current identification or diagnosis of a reading difficulty, reading disorder, or other disability  Eligible for special education and related services or a Section 504  In process of being assessed for eligibility for special education and related services or Section 504, and evaluated with diagnostic assessments that make assessment or evaluation using screening instrument(s) redundant  Multilingual Students  Students who do not speak sufficient English shall be screened in their primary language or evaluated using an alternate analysis if a screening instrument is not available in at least one language in which a student is proficient.	Kindergarten, 1, and 2	Local Education Agencies may select their own testing window which must    Occur annually   Ensure students have received sufficient instruction in foundational skills  Fall on or after the 91st day of instruction for students in kindergarten

Test

Content

Format and Type

Participants

Grades

Window

Reading Difficulties Risk Screener

Screening instrument assessing risk of reading difficulties, including dyslexia.

Must use an approved RDRS screening instrument.

All students in kindergarten and grades 1 and 2. 

Exceptions: 

With prior written consent from parent or guardian.  

Current identification or diagnosis of a reading difficulty, reading disorder, or other disability 
Eligible for special education and related services or a Section 504 
In process of being assessed for eligibility for special education and related services or Section 504, and evaluated with diagnostic assessments that make assessment or evaluation using screening instrument(s) redundant

Multilingual Students 

Students who do not speak sufficient English shall be screened in their primary language or evaluated using an alternate analysis if a screening instrument is not available in at least one language in which a student is proficient.

Kindergarten, 1, and 2

Local Education Agencies may select their own testing window which must   

Occur annually  
Ensure students have received sufficient instruction in foundational skills 
Fall on or after the 91st day of instruction for students in kindergarten

California Proficiency Program (CPP): For information visit the California Department of Education CPP web page.

High School Equivalency (HSE): California has approved the use of two high school equivalency tests: GED® and HiSET®. For more information on these two optional tests visit the California Department of Education (CDE) HSE web page.

National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP): For information visit the CDE NAEP web page.

Screening for Risk of Reading Difficulties: For information visit the CDE California Literacy web page.

Questions: California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress Office | caaspp@cde.ca.gov | 916-445-8765

Last Reviewed: Tuesday, October 13, 2026