Assessment Spotlight, Issue 198

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 .

Now Available! 2022–23 ELPAC Information Guide

We are pleased to announce that the 2022–23 ELPAC Information Guide is now available on the California Department of Education (CDE) ELPAC web page! Here is what is new in this year’s edition:

• Further information on the Initial Alternate ELPAC and Summative Alternate ELPAC throughout the guide to support the administration of this test.
• Updated guidelines for reclassification for students who take the Summative ELPAC or the Summative Alternate ELPAC.

Each year, the ELPAC Information Guide serves a wide audience. Local educational agency (LEA) staff, school staff, educators, and families can use the guide if they are looking to do any of the following:

• Understand the differences between the Initial ELPAC and the Initial Alternate ELPAC.
• Understand the differences between the Summative ELPAC and the Summative Alternate ELPAC.
• Understand the initial identification and reclassification processes for English learner students.
• Prepare teachers to understand and use their students’ ELPAC results.
• Communicate ELPAC results to parents and guardians.

Register Now for Summer CAASPP New Coordinator Training!

The 2022–23 Summer CAASPP New Coordinator Training sessions will take place in September! This informative series for LEA CAASPP coordinators who are new to their role or want a refresher will be hosted by county offices of education throughout the state.

In addition to focusing on the LEA CAASPP coordinator’s roles and responsibilities in planning and preparing for a successful CAASPP administration, the first session in the series will serve to:

• Familiarize new coordinators with the assessments that fall under the CAASPP umbrella.
• Offer suggested time frames for completing activities.

To register, visit the CAASPP Training Opportunities web page , where the training dates and locations are provided.

New Resource—Organization of the CAA for Science

A new resource, the flyer Organization of the California Alternate Assessment (CAA) for Science (PDF), is now posted on the CAASPP CAAs web page along with other CAA for Science resources. This flyer provides basic details about the CAA for Science, such as how the test is aligned with the alternate achievement standards (i.e., Science Core Content Connectors), the number of embedded performance tasks that make up the test, and the number of questions to expect within each of the embedded performance tasks.

Also provided is an example of one performance task, with a reminder that a total of four must be administered. The four embedded performance tasks are intended to be administered in any order throughout the school year. In addition, the flyer reminds educators of the resources available to them to assist in preparing for and administering a CAA for Science performance task to a student.

Although this flyer was developed as a resource for educators, it can also serve as a useful tool for explaining the CAA for Science to parents/guardians and eligible students. Be sure to tell your colleagues about this new resource—and let us know what you think on Twitter at @CDEAssessments!

August’s Featured Resource in Tools for Teachers—Radical Learning

Calling all high school mathematics teachers! Are you looking for an interactive lesson for your students to demonstrate their expertise in solving radical equations while collaborating in student groups? This month’s Tools for Teachers instructional resource, Radical Learning (account required), provides activities for engaging students and quickly assessing their skill in performing operations with radicals.

Several formative assessment strategies are embedded in this lesson, providing the teacher with valuable information about the students’ level of mastery and their ability to explain their thought processes. After the students consider and share uses for radical equations in other mathematical concepts and real-world applications, they work together, with one student functioning as a scribe, to solve a single radical equation. The students are then organized into groups to practice using applicable mathematics operations to isolate the variable in more radical equations.

This Tools for Teachers resource includes a detailed lesson plan, handouts, supplemental materials, and a teacher’s guide. The lesson also provides key considerations and ideas for meeting students where they are in their learning. Check it out!

Tools for Teachers accounts are available to educators in all California LEAs. The website provides access to an abundance of lesson ideas that are standards-aligned and are embedded with formative assessment strategies to provide timely feedback to teachers—feedback that can be instrumental in planning instruction. LEA staff can obtain an account either by self-registering (PDF) or by requesting an account through their LEA CAASPP coordinator.

Upcoming Downtime for CAASPP and ELPAC Systems

Downtime is approaching for various CAASPP and ELPAC systems. From Friday, September 2, at 5 p.m. through Tuesday, September 6, at 8 a.m., the following CAASPP and ELPAC systems will be unavailable:

• Test Administrator Interface
• Completion Status System
• Interim Assessment Viewing System
• Practice and Training Tests

The 2022–23 CAASPP Planned System Downtime and 2022–23 ELPAC Planned System Downtime web pages provide a calendar of scheduled downtimes through June 2023 as well as a glossary of related abbreviations.

Direct any questions about the scheduled downtime to your LEA’s assigned LEA Success Agent. You can locate your LEA’s assigned Success Agent on the LEA Success Agents web page . For other support options, visit the California Outreach web page .

Please share this email with any educators in your LEA 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 CDE Assessment Spotlight web page to find previous issues.