Assessment Spotlight, Issue 315

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 .

Shared Practices: California Science Test Interim Assessments in High School

High school California Science Test (CAST) Interim Assessments (IAs) share the same structure as the middle school CAST IAs. They are domain-specific with two available forms each for Earth and Space Sciences, Life Sciences, and Physical Sciences.

In the Interim Assessment Shared Practices Webinar Series , high school science educators shared that it was beneficial to determine and agree to a department-wide pacing schedule for administration of the CAST IAs. One high school district added CAST IAs into their assessment calendar as a benchmark for science after using the Smarter Balanced IAs for English language arts and mathematics as a benchmark for several years. Educators used standardized administration of the CAST IAs and analyzed data available in the California Educator Reporting System after hand scoring to monitor student progress.

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

System Downtime Reminder

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

Visit the CAASPP-ELPAC System Downtime Schedule web page for more information.

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.