Assessment Spotlight, Issue 344

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.

California Assessment Accessibility Resources Updated for 2025–26

The California Assessment Accessibility Resource Matrix for the 2025–26 school year has been updated and is now available on the CAASPP and ELPAC website at California Assessment Accessibility Resources Matrix web page . The updated document displays the embedded and non-embedded universal tools, designated supports, and accommodations allowed as part of the CAASPP and the ELPAC systems. The California Student Assessment Accessibility Graphics will be posted soon.

In addition, the Accessibility Guide has been updated and is available on the CAASPP and ELPAC Manuals Library website . The Accessibility Guide provides descriptions of accessibility resources, test settings, configuration information, creation of test sessions, and configuration and administration of assessments to students with visual impairments for both CAASPP and ELPAC.

Reminder: Complete the 1.0 Percent Threshold and Justification Survey Now

If you have not done so already, please complete the CAASPP 2025‒26 1.0 Percent Threshold and Justification Survey by Friday, November 14, 2025.

Under the Every Student Succeeds Act, local educational agencies (LEAs) are required to notify the California Department of Education (CDE) if they expect to exceed 1.0 percent of their total assessed student population taking the California Alternate Assessments (CAAs) in English language arts/literacy, mathematics, and science for the CAASPP.

All LEAs are required to report the percentage of students anticipated to take the CAAs for the 2025–26 school year, whether the LEA anticipates exceeding the 1.0 percent cap, not exceeding the 1.0 percent cap, or has no students expected to take alternate assessments.

Charter School Assessment Coordinator Network

Join us on Wednesday, November 19, 2025, from 9:30 to 11 a.m. for the next virtual quarterly meeting of the Charter School Assessment Coordinator Network.

These quarterly meetings offer support to charter school coordinators and administrators by sharing assessment updates, best practices, and networking opportunities. Register now for the next meeting on Zoom as space is limited.

Understand How Student Writing is Scored with the Smarter Annotated Response Tool

Want to learn more about how student writing is scored on performance tasks for the Smarter Balanced English language arts/literacy summative and interim assessments? The Smarter Annotated Response Tool (SmART) is a publicly available resource anyone can access to better understand scoring criteria and grade-level expectations for student writing.

The following resources are available to support the awareness and use of the SmART:

• SmART flyer (PDF)—This document describes the features available on the website, which include examples of student writing, scoring annotations, and scoring rubrics.
• Getting Started with SmART (Video; 7:26)—This video showcases how writing tasks are scored and how educators can use the SmART to support student writing.
• Using SmART: Understanding Grade Level Writing Expectations (Tools for Teachers account required)—This professional learning resource guides teachers and training leaders in exploring and analyzing student writing samples.

Check out the SmART related resources today for additional support for writing instruction!

Reminder to Register for the 2025–26 Formative Assessment Shared Practices Webinar Series

Registration is open for the Formative Assessment Shared Practices Webinar Series—a CDE-hosted professional learning opportunity for LEA staff, namely classroom teachers and administrators. Join the CDE to hear from teachers, principals, and district administrators as they share how they are promoting and using formative assessment to support teaching and learning for all students. The three webinars in this series are:

• Flexible by Design: Formative and Accessibility Strategies for Every Learner
  • Thursday, January 29, 2026, 3:30‒5:00 p.m.
• By Teachers, For Teachers: Unlocking Classroom-Ready Science Resources
  • Thursday, February 12, 2026, 3:30‒5:00 p.m.
• Professional Learning Resources for Supporting English Learners
  • Thursday, February 26, 2026, 3:30‒5:00 p.m.

Please join us and encourage your local educators to attend. Each webinar in this series will be an excellent professional learning opportunity for administrator and teacher teams to watch together. Register now for the Formative Assessment Shared Practices Webinar Series .

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.