Assessment Spotlight, Issue 351

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 .

New Coordinator Training Webinar #10

Register now for the New Coordinator Training Webinar—Completion Tracking and Security on February 19, 2026, from 3 to 4 p.m. This webinar will focus on:

• Test security
• The Security and Test Administration Incident Reporting System
• The Crisis Alert Response System

We hope you can join us!

Reminder: New Procedures for the 2026 Golden State Seal Merit Diploma

Starting in 2025–26, the California Department of Education (CDE) will no longer be mailing physical copies of the gold insignias and the black and white insignias to local educational agencies (LEAs). Instead, the CDE will be transitioning to the use of a digital image of the insignias to be used on both the diploma and transcript. Once LEAs complete and submit a request form, the insignia images will be emailed directly to the requestor. LEAs should determine how the insignias will be applied onto the diploma and transcript well in advance of the end of the school year.

Depending upon an LEA’s unique factors, one of the following options may be preferable over another:

• LEAs can electronically embed the Golden State Seal directly onto the diploma or transcript prior to printing
• LEAs can choose to print the insignias themselves and affix them directly onto the diploma and transcript

Please visit the Golden State Seal Merit Diploma web page for more information. For any questions, please email gssmd@cde.ca.gov.

2025–26 Summative ELPAC and Summative Alternate ELPAC Testing Window Opens

The Summative ELPAC and Summative Alternate ELPAC test administration window opens February 2 through May 31, 2026. To ensure that students are administered the Summative ELPAC or Summative Alternate ELPAC in a fair and consistent manner, test examiners should be properly trained for the grade levels or grade spans they are administering and access the Directions for Administration (DFAs) corresponding to their LEAs form assignment. Form assignments and information on second scoring can be found on the Form Assignments, Second Scoring, and RSVP web page.

The following resources provide key information to assist educators in preparing for administration of the Summative ELPAC and Summative Alternate ELPAC:

• ELPAC Training and Tutorial Information (lists online trainings and certifications for administering the CAASPP and ELPAC)
• Administer a Test Session web page (includes documents and resources to aid in the administration process, including Quick Reference Guides)
• ELPAC Online Test Administration Manual (provides information and instructions about test preparation and administration of the Initial ELPAC and Summative ELPAC)
• Alternate ELPAC Online Test Administration Manual (provides information and instructions about test preparation and administration of the Initial Alternate ELPAC and Summative Alternate ELPAC)

For more information about Summative ELPAC or Summative Alternate ELPAC, visit the CAASPP & ELPAC Assessments Website and the CDE ELPAC web page.

Register Now for Accessibility Webinar

Register now for the CDE hosted webinar Accessibility Resources: From the Classroom to Assessments on Wednesday, February 11, 2026, 3:30–4:30 p.m. This webinar will focus on how to support students with their use of accessibility resources available for the CAASPP and ELPAC summative and interim assessments. In addition, the webinar will provide an overview of related instructional and formative assessment resources on the Tools for Teachers website.

Updated Practice Tests for Alternate Assessments

In September 2025, the practice tests for the California Alternate Assessments (CAAs) for English language arts/literacy (ELA) and mathematics, CAA for Science, and the Alternate ELPAC were updated.

For CAA for ELA and mathematics, the practice tests had five items (20 percent) refreshed per grade for each practice test. For CAA Science, there were five items added to each practice test. The nine CAA for Science practice tests each went from 10 items to 15 items total. The Alternate ELPAC practice tests had six items (25 percent) refreshed per grade level or grade span.

The accompanying practice test scoring guides and Directions for Administration (DFAs) have been updated to include the refreshed items and the new items for CAA for Science. You can find these practice test scoring guides and DFAs and access the practice tests on the Practice and Training Test Resources web page .

Be sure to access and use these updated resources to assist your students in preparing for the summative alternate assessments this year!

National Assessment of Educational Progress Testing Window Opens

The National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) assessment window opened this week on January 26, 2026. More than 500 California schools will be participating in the NAEP assessment during the eight-week assessment window, which closes on March 20, 2026. Please continue to provide encouragement and support to the students and educators at the schools in your district that were selected to participate in NAEP.

Krista Pohl, California NAEP State Coordinator, will be visiting several schools to conduct quality assurance observations. She will be observing the NAEP representatives and the administration of the NAEP assessment. She is not there to observe any aspect of the school or school staff. If you have any questions or concerns about NAEP, please contact Krista Pohl at kpohl@cde.ca.gov.

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.