State Assessments
- CAASPP – California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress
- Smarter Balanced Summative Assessments
- CAA – California Alternate Assessment
- CAST – California Science Test
- CAA – Science
The California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress (CAASPP) is California’s statewide student assessment system. It includes:
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Smarter Balanced Summative Assessments (Grades 3–8 and 11): ELA & Math Assessments
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California Alternate Assessments (CAA, Grades 3–8 and 11):
- ELA & Math
- CAA – Science: Grades 5, 8, and once in high school
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California Science Test (CAST): Grades 5, 8, and once in high school
Smarter Balanced Summative Assessments
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ELA and Mathematics testing window: March 31 – May 16, 2025
The Smarter Balanced assessment system is an online computer-adaptive test (CAT) and performance tasks (PT) that measure student progress toward college and career readiness. This system is based on the Common Core State Standards (CCSS) for English language arts/literacy (ELA) and mathematics. It has three components: summative assessments, interim assessments, and a digital library of formative assessment tools.
Grades: 3–8 and 11 (ELA & Math) as part of the CAASPP System.
Quick Links
CAA – California Alternate Assessment
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Grades 3–8 & 11 ELA & Math: March 3 – May 16, 2025
The
California Alternate Assessment (CAA) for ELA and math are part of the CAASPP system and are summative assessments developed for students with the most significant cognitive disabilities. The broad goals of the CAAs are three-fold: (1) to provide an assessment that is developmentally appropriate and commensurate with student ability; (2) to measure student knowledge and abilities in order to assist educators with strategic planning to identify and address learning gaps and provide necessary support; (3) to achieve higher academic outcomes.
CAA Quick Links
CAST – California Science Test
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CAST window: March 31 – May 16, 2025
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Grades: 5, 8, and once in high school
The California Science Test is part of the CAASPP system, aligned to the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS), and helps measure student progress toward college and career readiness.
CAA – Science
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CAA – Science window: February 3 – May 16, 2025
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Grades: 5, 8, and once in high school
The CAA - Science is a part of the CAASPP System. The purpose of the CAA - Science is to measure what students know and can do. These measures help target and address gaps in skills and knowledge so that students can receive needed support.
Only eligible students may participate in the CAA - Science administration. Any student identified for alternate testing takes the alternate version of all CAASPP assessments (ELA, Math, and Science). The CAA - Science is administered to students in grades 5, 8, and once in high school. Individualized Education Program Teams shall determine when a child with the most significant cognitive disability shall participate in an alternate assessment aligned with the alternate achievement standards.
The CAAs are aligned with alternate achievement standards - called Science Core Connectors - and are linked to the California Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) performance expectations.
