Assessment Spotlight, Issue 376

Focusing on the California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress (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 .

Space Still Available for Charter School In-Person Assessment Convenings

Register today for the Charter School In-Person Convenings . These events offer hands-on learning, peer collaboration, networking, and opportunities to connect with county office of education staff, regional representatives, and subject matter experts. Designed to complement the quarterly virtual charter school assessment coordinator meetings, the convenings support deeper engagement and collaborative problem-solving.

Convening Dates and Locations

• Sacramento: September 21, 2026 | 9:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m.
• Fresno: September 25, 2026 | 9:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m.
  
• Los Angeles: September 28, 2026 | 9:00 a.m. –3:00 p.m.

California Assessment Accessibility Resources Updated for 2026–27

The 2026-27 California Assessment Accessibility Resource Matrix 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 support, and accommodations allowed as part of the CAASPP and the ELPAC systems.

The California Student Assessment Accessibility Graphics are also available, and the Accessibility Guide has been updated in the CAASPP and ELPAC Manuals Library website. The Accessibility Guide provides information on accessibility resources, test settings, configurations, test session creations, and the administration of assessments to students with visual impairments for both CAASPP and ELPAC.

Reminder to Register for the 2026 Interim and Formative Assessment Webinar Series

There is still time to register for the fall sessions of the 2026 Interim and Formative Assessment Webinar Series. These webinars focus on leveraging the interim and formative components of California’s comprehensive system of assessments to inform teaching and learning. The series includes three separate webinars:

• Formative Assessment and Tools for Teachers | September 15, 2:00 p.m.–4 p.m.  
• CAASPP and ELPAC Interim Assessments | September 17, 2:00 p.m.–4 p.m. 
• Educator Panel and Shared Practices | September 22, 2:00 p.m.–3:30 p.m. 

More information, including a link to register, can be accessed on the 2026 Interim and Formative Assessment Webinar Series registration web page . We hope you can join us!

Moon, You Rock! Exploring the Phases of the Moon

In Moon, You Rock ! (account required), a first-grade Tools for Teachers science lesson, students explore the Moon through hands‑on observation, modeling, and data analysis. The lesson begins by activating prior knowledge using Visual Maps and the Notice/ Wonder strategy, allowing teachers to assess student thinking before instruction begins. Clear, student‑friendly learning goals guide the lesson as students observe the Moon, simulate its orbit, and identify the four Moon phases through movement and modeling.

The lesson embeds formative assessment strategies, like Think-Pair-Share , Strategic Questioning , and Visualizing/ Pictorial Sketches . Accessibility is also prioritized with visual supports, peer collaboration, Read Aloud , tactile materials, and multiple opportunities for movement and repetition to help students at all levels make sense of complex science concepts.

To view this and other Tools for Teachers resources, local educational agency (LEA) staff need a Tools for Teachers account, which is free of charge and can be obtained either through self-registration, described in the flyer How to Self-Register for Tools for Teachers (PDF) or by contacting their testing coordinator.

Please share this email with any educators in your LEA who would be interested in or benefit from this information. To join the email list, send a blank email message to subscribe-caaspp@mlist.cde.ca.gov. Are you a new subscriber? Visit the California Department of Education Assessment Spotlight web page to find previous issues.