State Assessments

State Assessments

CAASPP - California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress
Smarter Balanced Summative Assessments
CAA - California Alternate Assessment
CAST - California Science Test
CAA - Science

California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress (CAASPP)

The California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress is California's Statewide Student Assessment System. It includes:

Smarter Balanced Summative Assessments (Grades 3 - 8 and 11)

ELA & Math Assessments

California Alternate Assessments - CAA (Grades 3 - 8 and 11)

ELA & Math

CAA - Science: Grades 5, 8, and once in high school

California Science Test (CAST)

Grades 5, 8, and once in high school

Smarter Balanced Summative Assessments

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. The Smarter Balanced assessment system has three components designed to support teaching and learning throughout the year: the summative assessments, the interim assessments, and the Digital Library of formative assessment tools.

In grades 3 - 8 and 11 for ELA and mathematics. The summative assessments are administered as part of the California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress (CAASPP) System.

Quick Links

CAA - California Alternate Assessment

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.

CAST - California Science Test

CAST window: March 31 - May 16, 2025

The California Science Test is part of the CAASPP system and is aligned to the California Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS). The test is an online assessment and measure student progress toward college and career readiness.

Parent Guide to Understanding - CAST.pdf

CAA - Science

CAA - Science window: February 3 - May 16, 2025
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.

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