Assessment Spotlight
Email updates sent out through the California Department of Education statewide assessments electronic mailing lists.The California Department of Education (CDE) Assessment Spotlight is a regular email for kindergarten through grade twelve (K–12) educators, including testing coordinators, that reports on current and upcoming activities related to statewide testing.
To join the email list, send a blank message to subscribe-caaspp@mlist.cde.ca.gov. If you would like to unsubscribe from the CDE statewide assessments listserv, send a blank message to unsubscribe-caaspp@mlist.cde.ca.gov.
The following links direct users to a list of topics covered within each update:
- Issue 322 – May 23, 2025
- Issue 321 – May 16, 2025
- Issue 320 – May 9, 2025
- Issue 319 – May 2, 2025
- Issue 318 – April 25, 2025
- Issue 317 – April 18, 2025
- Issue 316 – April 11, 2025
- Issue 315 – April 04, 2025
- Issue 314 – March 28, 2025
- Issue 313 – March 21, 2025
- Issue 312 – March 14, 2025
- Issue 311 – March 07, 2025
- Issue 310 – February 28, 2025
- Issue 309 – February 14, 2025
- Issue 308 – February 7, 2025
- Issue 307 – January 31, 2025
- Issue 306 – January 24, 2025
- Issue 305 – January 17, 2025
- Issue 304 – January 10, 2025
- Issue 303 – December 20, 2024
- Issue 302 – December 13, 2024
- Issue 301 – December 6, 2024
- Issue 300 – November 15, 2024
- Issue 299 – November 8, 2024
- Issue 298 – November 1, 2024
- Issue 297 – October 18, 2024
- Issue 296 – October 11, 2024
- Issue 295 – October 4, 2024
- Issue 294 – September 27, 2024
- Issue 293 – September 20, 2024
- Issue 292 – September 13, 2024
- Issue 291 – September 6, 2024
- Issue 290 – August 30, 2024
- Issue 289 – August 23, 2024
- Issue 288 – August 16, 2024
- Issue 287 – August 9, 2024
- Issue 286 – August 2, 2024
- Issue 285 – July 26, 2024
- Issue 284 – July 12, 2024
- Issue 283 – July 5, 2024
- Issue 282 – June 28, 2024
- Issue 281 – June 21, 2024
- Issue 280 – June 14, 2024
- Issue 279 – June 7, 2024
- Issue 278 – May 31, 2024
- Issue 277 – May 24, 2024
- Issue 276 – May 17, 2024
- Issue 275 – May 10, 2024
- Issue 274 – May 3, 2024
- Issue 273 – April 19, 2024
- Issue 272 – April 12, 2024
- Issue 271 – April 5, 2024
- Issue 270 – March 29, 2024
- Issue 269 – March 22, 2024
- Issue 268 – March 15, 2024
- Issue 267 – March 8, 2024
- Issue 266 – March 1, 2024
- Issue 265 – February 23, 2024
- Issue 264 – February 16, 2024
- Issue 263 – February 9, 2024
- Issue 262 – February 2, 2024
- Issue 261 – January 26, 2024
- Issue 260 – January 19, 2024
- Issue 259 – January 12, 2024
- Issue 258 – January 5, 2024
- Issue 257 – December 15, 2023
- Issue 256 – December 8, 2023
- Issue 255 – December 1, 2023
- Issue 254 – November 9, 2023
- Issue 253 – November 3, 2023
- Issue 252 – October 27, 2023
- Issue 251 – October 20, 2023
| Abbreviation | Definition |
|---|---|
| CAA | California Alternate Assessment |
| CAASPP | California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress |
| CAC | California Assessment Conference |
| CALPADS | California Longitudinal Pupil Data System |
| CAST | California Science Test |
| CERS | California Educator Reporting System |
| CHSPE | California High School Proficiency Examination |
| CSA | California Spanish Assessment |
| ELPAC | English Language Proficiency Assessments for California |
| HSE | high school equivalency |
| ICILS | International Computer and Information Literacy Study |
| LEA | local educational agency |
| STAIRS | Security and Test Administration Incident Reporting System |
Assessment Spotlight, Issue 322 – May 23, 2025
- Updates to the 2025–26 California Alternate Assessment for Science
Assessment Spotlight, Issue 321 – May 16th, 2025
- May Charter School Assessment Coordinator Network Meeting
- 2025–26 New Coordinator Training Webinar #1
Assessment Spotlight, Issue 320 – May 9, 2025
- The “Do Your Best on the Test” Video Showcase
- Registration Now Open for the 2025–26 Introduction to CERS Training
- May’s Featured Resource in Tools for Teachers
Assessment Spotlight, Issue 319 – May 2, 2025
- Upcoming Training—Accessing Summative Assessment Results
Assessment Spotlight, Issue 318 – April 25, 2025
- May Charter School Assessment Coordinator Network Meeting
- Practice Tests for the California Science Test
- California Spanish Assessment Practice Test Scoring Guides
Assessment Spotlight, Issue 317 – April 18, 2025
- Training Reminder—Accessing Summative Assessment Results
Assessment Spotlight, Issue 316 – April 11, 2025
- 2025 California Assessment Conference Registration and Call for Presenters Are Open!
- May Charter School Assessment Coordinator Network Meeting
- Recent Updates to the Smarter Annotated Response Tool
- Register Now! August 2025 - Equivalency and Proficiency Summer Convenings
- April’s Featured Resource in Tools for Teachers—The Clone Challenges: Proving Congruence Through Transformations
Assessment Spotlight, Issue 315 – April 04, 2025
- Shared Practices: California Science Test Interim Assessments in High School
- System Downtime Reminder
Assessment Spotlight, Issue 314 – March 28, 2025
- Upcoming Downtime for CAASPP and ELPAC Systems
- Shared Practices: California Science Test Interim Assessments in Middle School
- Urgent Need of Educators for the California Spanish Assessment Achievement Level Descriptors Review Meeting
Assessment Spotlight, Issue 313 – March 21, 2025
- New Coordinator Training Webinar #12–Preparing for Scores
- Shared Practices: California Science Test Interim Assessments in Elementary Grades
Assessment Spotlight, Issue 312 – March 14, 2025
- Save-the-Date for the 2025 California Assessment Conference
- Shared Practices: California Science Test Interim Assessments
- California Spanish Assessment Testing Window Opened!
- March’s Featured Resource in Tools for Teachers—A Rainy Day at the Farmer’s Market: Multiple Meaning Words
Assessment Spotlight, Issue 311 – March 07, 2025
- California Educator Reporting System Sandbox Updates
- Registration is now open for the California Proficiency Program and High School Equivalency Summer Convenings!
Assessment Spotlight, Issue 310 – February 28, 2025
- New Coordinator Training Webinar #11 – Gathering Feedback After Testing – Register Now
- Use California Science Test Interim Assessments to Support Science Instruction
- California Educator Reporting System Spring Training Starts Soon!
Assessment Spotlight, Issue 309 – February 14, 2025
- Science Test Universal Tools: Periodic Table and Formula Reference Sheets
- February’s Featured Resource in Tools for Teachers—Supertrees and Climate Change
Assessment Spotlight, Issue 308 – February 7, 2025
- Organization of the California Science Test
- Updated Quick Reference Guides
Assessment Spotlight, Issue 307 – January 31, 2025
- 2024–25 Summative ELPAC and Summative Alternate ELPAC Testing Window Opens
Assessment Spotlight, Issue 306 – January 24, 2025
- 2024–25 CAASPP Summative Assessment Window Opens
- Register Now for the New Coordinator Training Webinar
- New Vignettes Posted to the Coordinator How–to Hub
- Site Administrator Resource Survey
- California Educator Reporting System Trainings
Assessment Spotlight, Issue 305 – January 17, 2025
- Initial ELPAC and Initial Alternate ELPAC Timeline Extension for Local Educational Agencies Impacted by Wildfires
- February Charter School Assessment Coordinator Network Meeting
- Site Administrator Resource Survey
- Tools for Teachers—Newly Added Instructional Resources
Assessment Spotlight, Issue 304 – January 10, 2025
- January Site Administrator Assessment Convenings
- CERS Interpretive Guide Update
- Deadline Extensions—Teaching and Learning Innovation Award
- California Proficiency Program
- January’s Featured Resource in Tools for Teachers—Understanding Smarter Balanced Interim Assessments
Assessment Spotlight, Issue 303 – December 20, 2024
- Systems Downtime Reminder
Assessment Spotlight, Issue 302 – December 13, 2024
- How Long-Term English Learner Students are Reported
- December’s Featured Resource in Tools for Teachers—Let’s Make Sense of Multiplication
Assessment Spotlight, Issue 301 – December 6, 2024
- Coordinator How-to Hub
- ELPAC Results Are In – Now What? Webinar
- Upcoming Downtime for CAASPP and ELPAC Systems
- Registration Open for Spring CERS Trainings
Assessment Spotlight, Issue 300 – November 15, 2024
- New Coordinator Training Webinar #8–Preparing for Testing Continued–Register Now
- Application Period Open for Smarter Balanced Teaching and Learning Innovation Award
Assessment Spotlight, Issue 299 – November 8, 2024
- November’s Featured Resource in Tools for Teachers
- Seeking Educators to Participate in the Development of the California Spanish Assessment
Assessment Spotlight, Issue 298 – November 1, 2024
- New Coordinator Training Webinar #7–Preparing for Testing
- Charter School Assessment Coordinator Network Meeting
- New! Interim Assessment Shared Practices Webinar Playlist
- Complete the 1.0 Percent Threshold Survey
Assessment Spotlight, Issue 297 – October 18, 2024
- California Assessment Accessibility Resource Graphics for 2024–25
- NEW—CAASPP Student Needs Matching Tool
- Complete the California Alternate Assessments 1.0 Percent Threshold Survey Now
Assessment Spotlight, Issue 296 – October 11, 2024
- 2023–24 Assessment Results Release
- October’s Featured Resource in Tools for Teachers—ELPAC Speaking Domain: Summarize an Academic Presentation Task Type
Assessment Spotlight, Issue 295 – October 4, 2024
- California High School Proficiency Exam Certification Letter Request
- Results Are In – Now What? Webinar
- Coordinator How–to Hub
- California Educator Reporting System: Live Trainings and On-Demand Microlearning Videos
Assessment Spotlight, Issue 294 – September 27, 2024
- Complete the Initial ELPAC and Initial Alternate ELPAC Before Census Day
- Final Sessions of the 2024–25 Introduction to the California Educator Reporting System Training
- 1.0 Percent Threshold Survey
Assessment Spotlight, Issue 293 – September 20, 2024
- New English Language Proficiency Assessments for California Interim Assessments Available!
- California Alternate Assessment for Science Testing Window Opens
- National Assessment Governing Board accepting Nominations
Assessment Spotlight, Issue 292 – September 13, 2024
- Training Courses for the California Alternate Assessments Now Available
- Apply for English Language Arts/Literacy Item Review #2
- California Proficiency Program
- Systems Downtime Reminder
- September’s Featured Resource in Tools for Teachers—Shaping Solutions for Erosion Control
Assessment Spotlight, Issue 291 – September 6, 2024
- 2023–24 Assessment Results Preview and Public Release
- California Assessment Accessibility Resource Matrix for 2024–25
- Upcoming Systems Downtime
- Reminder: Interim Assessment Shared Practices Webinar Series
- Interim Assessment User Guide and Video Series Now Available!
Assessment Spotlight, Issue 290 – August 30, 2024
- 2024 California Assessment Conference: Register for Three Days of Learning and Connecting
- Register Now for New Coordinator Training Webinar #5 – Accessibility
- Join us for the Fall Site Administrator Assessment Convenings
- Organization of the California Alternate Assessment for Science
Assessment Spotlight, Issue 289 – August 23, 2024
- California Alternate Assessment for Science Administration Planning Guides
- High School Equivalency Program Updates
Assessment Spotlight, Issue 288 – August 16, 2024
- Register Now: Webinar #5 – Accessibility
- Join us for the Site Administrator Fall Assessment Convenings
- Educators Needed for Smarter Balanced Item Review ~ Join us today!
- Back-to-School Interim and Formative Assessments Training Sessions
Assessment Spotlight, Issue 287 – August 9, 2024
- Now Available: 2024–25 Interim Assessments
- Registration Open! 2024–25 Interim Assessment Shared Practices Webinar Series
- August’s Featured Resource in Tools for Teachers—Club Budget
Assessment Spotlight, Issue 286 – August 2, 2024
- Systems Downtime Reminder
- The Brand New Coordinator How-to Hub
- Updated ELPAC Information Guide Just Posted
Assessment Spotlight, Issue 285 – July 26, 2024
- Upcoming Systems Downtime
- 2024 Assessment and Accountability Information Meeting Starts Next Week
Assessment Spotlight, Issue 284 – July 12, 2024
- California Educator Reporting System Trainings Starting Soon
- July’s Featured Resource in Tools for Teachers—How a Picture Tells a Story
Assessment Spotlight, Issue 283 – July 5, 2024
- August 2024: Assessment and Accountability Information Meeting
- New Coordinator Training Webinar #3─Receiving Scores
- Reminder—2024 Interim and Formative Assessment Training Series July Sessions
Assessment Spotlight, Issue 282 – June 28, 2024
- Systems Downtime Reminder
- Register Now for the 2024 California Assessment Conference
- Register for the 2024 August Summer Convenings
Assessment Spotlight, Issue 281 – June 21, 2024
- Upcoming Downtime for CAASPP and ELPAC Systems
- Student Score Report Delivery
- Educators Needed for Smarter Balanced Data Review!
- Summer Trainings Starting Soon!
Assessment Spotlight, Issue 280 – June 14, 2024
- Student Score Reports Status
- Apply Now for Smarter Balanced English Language Arts/Literacy Item Review #1
- June’s Featured Resource in Tools for Teachers—The Apple of My Eye
Assessment Spotlight, Issue 279 – June 7, 2024
- 2024 Assessment Training Series: Summer Registration Open
Assessment Spotlight, Issue 278 – May 31, 2024
- Register Now for August 2024 Assessment and Accountability Meeting
Assessment Spotlight, Issue 277 – May 24, 2024
- 2024 California Assessment Conference Call for Proposals
- Summative ELPAC Results Are Now Available for Supporting Reclassification Efforts
Assessment Spotlight, Issue 276 – May 17, 2024
- Redesigned Student Score Reports
- Apply Now for Smarter Balanced Math Range Finding
Assesment Spotlight, Issue 275 – May 10, 2024
- Mark Your Calendar: Charter School
- Registration Now Open for the 2024–25 Introduction to CERS Training
- May’s Featured Resource in Tools for Teachers—Intro to Quadratic Formula
Assessment Spotlight, Issue 274 – May 3, 2024
- ELPAC Reminder
- Starting Soon—CERS Spring Training Sessions
- 2024 August Summer Convenings
Assessment Spotlight, Issue 273 – April 19, 2024
- 2024 California Assessment Conference Registration is Open!
- Upcoming Smarter Balanced Educator Opportunities!
- Question of the Week for ELPAC
- Reminder—Register for CERS Spring Training Sessions
- HiSET® Hits the Road!
- 2024 GED National Conference
Assessment Spotlight, Issue 272 – April 12, 2024
- Questions of the Week for ELPAC
- System Downtime Underway
- April’s Featured Resource in Tools for Teachers—Sort for Support
Assessment Spotlight, Issue 271 – April 5, 2024
- Upcoming Systems Downtime
Assessment Spotlight, Issue 270 – March 29, 2024
- New Coordinator Training Webinar #5—Receiving Scores
- Test Security Exclusions
Assessment Spotlight, Issue 269 – March 22, 2024
- Redesigned Student Score Reports Are Coming This Year!
- Focus on Test Security
Assessment Spotlight, Issue 268 – March 15, 2024
- Technical Issues During Summative Testing
- Clarification on Who May Take California Proficiency Program Test
Assessment Spotlight, Issue 267 – March 8, 2024
- March Featured Resource in Tools for Teachers—Engineering Inspired by Nature!
Assessment Spotlight, Issue 266 – March 1, 2024
- Initial Assessment of English Language Proficiency Continues
Assessment Spotlight, Issue 265 – February 23, 2024
- Accessibility Resources Updates for 2023–24
- Desmos Calculator for Smarter Balanced for Mathematics
- Registration for New CERS Trainings Start Next Week!
Assessment Spotlight, Issue 264 – February 16, 2024
- Science Test Universal Tool: Desmos Calculator
- 2024 California Assessment Conference—Save-the-Date
Assessment Spotlight, Issue 263 – February 9, 2024
- Charter School Assessment Coordinator Network Quarterly Meeting
- Science Test Universal Tools: Periodic Table and Formula Reference Sheet
- English Language Proficiency Assessments for California
- February’s Featured Resource in Tools for Teachers—Convert Measurements
Assessment Spotlight, Issue 262 – February 2, 2024
- California Educator Reporting System Updates
- Science Practice and Training Tests
Assessment Spotlight, Issue 261– January 26, 2024
- California Proficiency Program
- New Coordinator Training Webinar #4—Test Security
Assessment Spotlight, Issue 260 – January 19, 2024
- New Coordinator Training Webinar #4 – Test Security
- Resource Reminder: Two New Science Flyers
- Seeking Urgently Educators to Support the Development of the California Spanish Assessment
Assessment Spotlight, Issue 259 – January 12, 2024
- 2023–24 CAASPP Summative Assessment Window Opens
- CAASPP and ELPAC Interim Assessment Video Series Now Available!
- High School Equivalency – Paper-Based Testing Centers
- January’s Featured Resource in Tools for Teachers—Making Sentences Zing!
Assessment Spotlight, Issue 258 – January 5, 2024
- System Downtime Underway
- High School Proficiency and Equivalency
- Register for Upcoming CERS Trainings!
Assessment Spotlight, Issue 257 – December 15, 2023
- California Assessment Accessibility Resource Graphics for 2023–24
- Administering the California Alternate Assessment for Science
- ELPAC Question of the Week
- Upcoming Downtime for CAASPP and ELPAC Systems
Assessment Spotlight, Issue 256 – December 8, 2023
- Educator Opportunity to Develop Science Resources
- December’s Featured Resource in Tools for Teachers—Get Down and Dirty
Assessment Spotlight, Issue 255 – December 1, 2023
- Latest Update on Interim Assessment Video Series
- California Spanish Assessment
Assessment Spotlight, Issue 254 – November 9, 2023
- Upcoming Educator Opportunity: CSA Development
- November’s Featured Resource in Tools for Teachers—Express Yourself
Assessment Spotlight, Issue 253 – November 3, 2023
- Charter School Assessment Coordinator Network Quarterly Meeting is Coming Up on November 29, 2023
- Fall ELPAC New Coordinator Trainings – Register Now
- Understanding the Role of Interim Assessments
- Act Now: Important Update Regarding Expiring HiSET Test Vouchers
Assessment Spotlight, Issue 252 – October 27, 2023
- New CAST and ELPAC Interim Assessments Ready for Administration to Students
Assessment Spotlight, Issue 251 – October 20, 2023
- Fall English Language Proficiency Assessments for California New Coordinator Trainings – Register Now
- Interim Assessment User Guide Now Available!