Assessment Spotlight, Issue 352

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 .

Organization of the California Science Test

The California Science Test (CAST) administration window is now open! Understanding the organization of the CAST can help prepare educators and coordinators for administration. The CAST is an untimed computer-based assessment administered to students in grade five, grade eight, and once in high school—that is, grade ten, eleven, or twelve. The CAST consists of six test segments and ends with a student survey.

The test segments are divided into two sections: discrete, or stand-alone, test items and performance tasks (PTs). PTs are a group of 4-6 test items developed around a single science concept or phenomenon. Each PT is aligned with one of the three domains: Earth and Space Sciences, Life Sciences, or Physical Sciences. Students will receive at least one PT from each science domain.

For additional information about how the CAST is organized, you can view the Organization of the California Science Test flyer on the California Science Test web page on the CAASPP-ELPAC Website .

Attention Teachers: California Needs Your Professional Experience and Content Expertise - February 13 Application Deadline

The California Department of Education (CDE) and the California State Board of Education are seeking current classroom educators to serve as Instructional Materials Reviewers in the 2026 English Language Arts (ELA)/English Language Development (ELD) Instructional Materials Follow-up Adoption.

The requirements to participate include attending the following events:

• Reviewer Training: Double Tree by Hilton in Sacramento on April 28 to May 1, 2026 (Reviewers must attend all four days)
• Independent Review: Review of submitted instructional materials programs during May through July 2026
• Reviewer Deliberations and Report(s) of Findings: DoubleTree by Hilton in Sacramento during the weeks of July 20–24 or July 27–31, 2026, for deliberations (Reviewers must attend all four days of their assigned work.)

The CDE will reimburse travel costs for all reviewers for the meeting days. Reviewers will receive a $100 stipend per day for full participation in the four days of reviewer training in April–May 2026 and the four days of deliberations in July 2026.

Information about this follow-up adoption and relevant reviewer information is available on the ELA/ELD Instructional Materials web page. This application will close at 5 p.m. on February 13, 2026.

Please forward this information to all qualified teachers who might be interested. Any questions related to this review should be directed to Kyle Petty, Lead Consultant, at kpetty@cde.ca.gov.

CERS—Beyond the Basics Training Series Starts Soon

There is still time to register for the 2025–26 California Educator Reporting System (CERS)—Beyond the Basics training series! This three-part training series covers a variety of helpful topics for CERS users.

• Module One—Rostering and Reports for Coordinators and Administrators, February 17, 2026, from 3:30 p.m. to 4:45 p.m.
• Module Two—Custom Groups and Individual Student Reports, February 24, 2026, from 3:30 p.m. to 4:45 p.m.
• Module Three—Writing Extended Response Scores and Related Resources, March 3, 2026, from 3:30 p.m. to 4:45 p.m

Register here for the 2025–26 CERS—Beyond the Basics training 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.