CAASPP Communications Toolkit

The CAASPP System

• California's New Online Reporting System – An introductory document on the online reporting system, which provides teachers and schools with preliminary assessment results to guide instruction.

• 2016–17 CAASPP System (PDF) – Flyer using an umbrella graphic to show all assessments that are included in the CAASPP System.
  
  
• CAASPP Student Score Reports Information – Resources and guides for parents or guardians to help understand the CAASPP student score report.

The Smarter Balanced Summative Assessments

The Smarter Balanced Summative Assessments are part of the CAASPP System that are given each spring to students in grades three through eight and grade eleven. They are based on California’s challenging content standards for English language arts (ELA) and mathematics.

• CAASPP Key Messages – Address questions and concerns about the Smarter Balanced Summative Assessments that schools and districts may receive from parents, students, and community members.
  
• Frequently Asked Questions about the Smarter Balanced Summative Assessments
  
  
• Creating a Computer Adaptive Test (English) (PDF)
• Creating a Computer Adaptive Test (Spanish) (PDF)
  This document describes the two criteria for creating an online, adaptive test and how the adaptive software works for the Smarter Balanced Summative Assessments.
  

Parent Communication Resources About the Smarter Balanced Summative Assessments

Several resources have been developed to help schools and districts better communicate with parents about the Smarter Balanced Summative Assessments. These resources were developed based on parent focus groups and can be customized by districts and schools.

• Letter to Parents – A letter that explains to parents that their child will be participating in the Smarter Balanced Summative Assessment. The letter is customizable and addresses some key questions that many parents will have about the assessments.

• Parent Checklist (DOC) – A customizable checklist of five ways in which parents can help their child prepare for the Smarter Balanced Summative Assessments.
  
  
• Parent Guides to the Smarter Balanced Summative Assessments
  

Videos

Brief student videos gives key information about the Smarter Balanced Summative Assessments and how to get additional information about testing in the State of California.

• What are Smarter Balanced Assessments? (English) (Video; 3:32)
• What are Smarter Balanced Assessments? (Spanish) (Video; 4:00)
• Smarter Balanced: A Complete Assessment System (English) (Video; 1:39)
• Smarter Balanced: A Complete Assessment System (Spanish) (Video; 1:40)
• 2015–16: Understanding Your Child’s Score Report (English) (Video; 5:14)
  Explains the new CAASPP Student Score Report

2014–15 Videos

• High School Students (English) (Video; 3:37)
• High School Students (Spanish) (Video; 3:50)
• An Academic Checkup (Video; 2:44) A video about the Smarter Balanced assessments produced by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation.
• Ready. Set. Succeed: Preparing Our Kids for College & Career (English) (Video; 0:30)
• Ready. Set. Succeed: Preparing Our Kids for College & Career (Spanish) (Video; 0:40)
• 2014–15: Understanding Your Child’s Score Report (English) (Video; 3:38)
  Explains the CAASPP Student Score Report for 2015.

Smarter Balanced Web Site Links

• Smarter Balanced Parents and Students Page – A Smarter Balanced Web page that provides access to fact sheets, questions and answers, and resources in English and Spanish.
  
  
• Support for Under-Represented Students – A Smarter Balanced Web page that provides information and resources for under-represented students.
  
  
• Spanish Resources – A Smarter Balanced Web page that provides resources and information in Spanish.

California Alternate Assessments

California Alternate Assessments (CAAs) for English language arts (ELA), mathematics, and science are part of the CAASPP system. The CAAs for ELA and mathematics are given in grades three through eight and grade eleven. The CAA for science is given in grades five and eight and one time in high school. For the pilot test, all eligible grade twelve students will take the CAA for science, and LEAs have the option to test any grade ten or eleven student who has finished their last year of science instruction. Only eligible students may participate in the administration of the CAAs.

Science Assessment

The California Science Test (CAST), which is based on the Next Generation Science Standards for California Public Schools, Kindergarten through Grade Twelve, is given in grades five and eight and once in high school. For the field test, all grade twelve students will be administered the CAST, and local educational agencies can elect to administer the test to any students in grade ten or eleven who have completed their science coursework. Students have only one opportunity to take the CAST in high school.