Assessment Spotlight, Issue 314

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 .

Upcoming Downtime for CAASPP and ELPAC Systems

From Friday, April 11, at 5 p.m. to Monday, April 14, at 8 a.m., the CAASPP and ELPAC Test Operations Management System will be unavailable for a scheduled downtime.

Visit the CAASPP-ELPAC System Downtime Schedule web page for scheduled downtimes through June 2026. Questions about the scheduled downtime can be directed to your local educational agency’s (LEA’s) assigned LEA Success Agent. You can locate your assigned agent on the LEA Success Agents web page . For other support options, visit the California Outreach web page .

Shared Practices: California Science Test Interim Assessments in Middle School

There are six California Science Test (CAST) Interim Assessments (IAs) available for middle school, with two assessments each for Earth and Space Sciences, Life Sciences, and Physical Sciences. Across domains, there are approximately 90 questions that may be used as a resource for teaching and assessing science.

In the Interim Assessment Shared Practices Webinar Series , California middle school educators shared effective practices for using CAST IAs, with collaboration being a key theme. One middle school shared how their science department collaborated to identify and sort questions from each of the six middle school IAs that aligned with the content taught in each class, designating questions by grade level, to use with students throughout the school year. Additional shared practices included graphic organizers to help students break down the questions, “do now” or bell work inspired by CAST IA questions, and development of labs with phenomena from CAST IA questions.

For detailed information about what is included on each of the middle school CAST IAs, view the Organization of the CAST Interim Assessments flyer (PDF) and visit the Interim Assessment Lookup Tool web page .

Urgent Need of Educators for the California Spanish Assessment Achievement Level Descriptors Review Meeting

We need your help encouraging Spanish educators to participate in a unique opportunity to support the California Spanish Assessment (CSA). Educators play a key role in developing the CSA Range Achievement Level Descriptors (ALDs), which are an important component in providing information about student performance on the CSA to help educators, parents, and students understand the meaning of assessment results.

With meeting dates quickly approaching, we ask that LEAs share this opportunity with your Spanish teachers and encourage them to apply by Friday, April 4, 2025. We understand that this is a large commitment of time for educators to be out of the classroom and hope that your LEA will support you in attending this meeting.

Meeting Details:

Purpose: Educators’ Review of the CSA Range Achievement Level Descriptors

Dates: April 28, 29 (8 a.m. ‒ 4 p.m.) and April 30 (9 a.m. ‒ 4 p.m.)

Format: Held remotely via Zoom

Reimbursement: LEAs will be reimbursed for the cost of substitute teachers. Stipends may be available.

Application Process
Application instructions and contact information for guidance on the application process and questions can be found at the Get Involved web page .

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.