Assessment Spotlight, Issue 132

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 .

CHSPE: Administrations in April and May

Administration of the California High School Proficiency Examination (CHSPE) has been on hold due to COVID-19 restrictions; it was not administered in March 2020 nor in fall 2020. In September 2020, the governor signed Assembly Bill 820, which suspended the CHSPE pending local and state health officials’ authorization to resume.

Many students had registered and were scheduled to take the CHSPE in 2020 but were unable to do so because local and state health restrictions prevented its administration. Those students have now been offered an opportunity to test in April 2021 along with some newly registered test takers. Assuming the continued lifting of local health officials’ restrictions and progress in county tier assignments, the CHSPE will be available to all eligible students in May 2021. During both months, the test will be offered at limited times at two locations: Los Angeles County Office of Education and Sacramento County Office of Education. Registration for May testing will be available after April testing is completed. Additional 2021–22 CHSPE testing dates and locations will be posted in early June. For more information and registration links, visit the CHSPE website .

Enhance Formative Assessment Practices!

The Formative Assessment in Action Video Series is an excellent way to promote understanding and use of the formative assessment process. Produced by the California Department of Education, this series features California K–12 educators implementing formative assessment strategies during classroom instruction to increase their students’ involvement in the learning process.

The following lessons are demonstrated in the Formative Assessment in Action Video Series:

• Knotty Rope: 3 Act Task —a grade three mathematics lesson filmed at Victor Elementary School District
• Using Ratios to Solve Real World Problems —a grade six mathematics lesson filmed at Santa Maria-Bonita School District
• Constructing Scientific Explanations Using Defining Sentences —a grade five English Language Arts/literacy (ELA) lesson filmed at Stanislaus Unified School District
• Using Rubrics to Improve Student Writing —a grade six ELA lesson filmed at Woodland Joint Unified School District
• Rhetorical Reading Review—A Close Look at Author, Text, and Audience —a grade seven ELA lesson filmed at Turlock Unified School District
• Digital Hybrid Socratic Seminar —a grade nine ELA lesson filmed at Redlands Unified School District

Materials and step-by-step instructions for these lessons are available on the Tools for Teachers website (account required for full access).

Check out the Formative Assessment in Action Video Series to see and hear outstanding California educators share their tips for implementing the formative assessment process in the classroom!

Please share this email with any educators in your local educational agency 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 California Department of Education Assessment Spotlight web page to find previous issues.