Assessment Spotlight, Issue 322

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 .

Updates to the 2025–26 California Alternate Assessment for Science

Starting with the 2025–26 test administration, the California Alternate Assessment (CAA) for Science will reduce the required number of embedded performance tasks (PTs) to three instead of four. Each embedded PT will assess one of the three domains—Earth and Space Sciences, Life Sciences, and Physical Sciences—and will now have 15 questions instead of 10 questions.

Additionally, starting with the 2025–26 test administration, the CAA for Science will no longer have the brief set of survey questions about student responsiveness previously found at the end of each PT.

Everything else about the administration of the CAA for Science will remain the same as in previous administrations. Test examiners should continue to use the CAA for Science Administration Planning Guides , which will be available in mid-July 2025, to determine which Science Connectors will be assessed in the test administration and to plan when during the school year to administer each PT.

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.