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California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress (CAASPP) System

California's statewide student assessment system.

On January 1, 2014, California Education Code Section 60640 established the CAASPP System of assessments. The CAASPP - CalEdFacts Web page provides a more detailed overview of the system. The CAASPP System (PDF) includes the following required assessments and tools:

2016 CAASPP Results External link opens in new window or tab. (Posted 18-Oct-2016) – School, district, county, and statewide summary results.

CAASPP Public Reporting Web Site – Frequently Asked Questions

  • Smarter Balanced Assessments – The Smarter Balanced Summative Assessments, Interim Assessments, and Digital Library are all part of the CAASPP System.

    • Summative Assessments are administered in grades three through eight and eleven for English language arts/literacy (ELA) and mathematics.

    • Interim Assessments are designed to inform and promote teaching and learning by providing information that can be used to monitor student progress toward mastery of the Common Core State Standards. These optional resources are available to all K–12 teachers of ELA and mathematics in public schools.

    • Digital Library consists of tools and practices designed to help teachers utilize formative assessment processes for improved teaching and learning in all grades. These optional resources are available to all K–12 teachers in public schools.

  • The California Alternate Assessments (CAAs) for ELA and mathematics are given in grades three through eight and grade eleven. The CAAs, have replaced the California Alternate Performance Assessment (CAPA) for ELA and CAPA for mathematics, which were eliminated in 2015. Only eligible students may participate in the administration of the CAAs. The CAPA for science in grades five, eight, and ten will continue to be administered until a replacement assessment is available.

  • California Science Assessments in grades five, eight, and ten (i.e., California Standards Tests [CST], California Modified Assessment [CMA], and CAPA).

CAASPP Institute Training Materials

The CAASPP Institute was a two-part training offered to local educational agency (LEA) teams during the 2015–16 school year. It provided an overview of the CAASPP system of assessments and offered dedicated time for LEA teams to plan for implementing all components of the CAASPP system to improve teaching and learning. The CAASPP Institute training materials are presented in 31 modules organized into six sections for independent or small group learning and can be modified for local training during the 2016–17 school year.

“CAASPP in Action” Report Series

The CAASPP in Action series features local educational agencies (LEAs) sharing their successes, challenges, and lessons learned while implementing the CAASPP System. The series includes LEAs documenting the strategic implementation of one or more components of the CAASPP System. Each report includes a district profile, implementation goals, lessons learned, and next steps in an effort to continuously improve teaching and learning.

CAASPP Communications Toolkit, CAASPP Flash, and CAASPP Update

The CAASPP Communications Toolkit is a link to Smarter Balanced Summative Assessment resources, including communications and key informational documents to inform schools, families, and community representatives about online summative testing.

To receive regular updates on the latest information about the CAASPP System, including the Smarter Balanced assessments, join the California Department of Education’s (CDE’s) CAASPP e-mail list by sending a blank e-mail to: subscribe-caaspp@mlist.cde.ca.gov.

CAASPP Communications Toolkit | CAASPP Flash | CAASPP Update

CAASPP Info

CAASPP Student Score Reports Information – Samples of 2015–16 CAASPP student score reports.

Implementation of CAASPP – Reports to the legislature required by California Education Code pertaining to the CAASPP System implementation.

CAASPP Technical Report and Studies – Technical reports and studies for test administered under the CAASPP System.

The CAASPP Chart describes the tests administered to California’s students in the 2016–17 school year as part of the CAASPP System. For more information, including ordering paper-pencil tests and accessing the Smarter Balanced Practice and Training Tests, visit the CAASPP Web site External link opens in new window or tab..

The 2015-16 Estimated Testing Times External link opens in new window or tab. for Smarter Balanced assessments describes the approximate times that will be required to complete each portion of the summative tests for English language arts/literacy and mathematics. These tests are not timed; therefore, actual completion times will vary.

Federal Listening/Speaking Waiver (PDF) – On August 9, 2016, the United States Department of Education granted a limited waiver (under Title I, Part A, Section 8401[b]) to waive assessing certain reading/language arts content standards that include speaking and listening standards.

CAASPP Regulations (DOC) –These are the revised CAASPP regulations approved by the Office of Administrative Law on May 18, 2016.

Grade Two Diagnostic Assessments – Information about the optional diagnostic assessments for students in grade two for English language arts/literacy and mathematics that meet the requirements of California Education Code Section 60644.

2014 Post-Field Test Survey Results (PDF; 2MB)

Related Resources

Coordinators & Admins

Communications for Local Educational Agencies

Template Letters for Parents and Guardians
  • Parent and Guardian Score Report Letter Template
    The score report letters address student results on the CAASPP Summative Assessments and direct parents to resources that will help them understand their child’s test scores. Local educational agencies (LEAs) should adapt the templates by adding the LEA letterhead and inserting needed information. The letters may be included with the Student Score Reports that must be distributed to parents.

  • 2016–17 Notice of CAASPP Administration Letter
    The letter serves as notice to parents of the year’s statewide assessments. LEAs should adapt the templates by adding the LEA letterhead and inserting necessary local information. Translations of the template letters will be available soon.

    Note: The sample letter serves as a notice to parents of the year’s statewide assessments and does not satisfy a district’s obligation to notify parents of their right to exempt their child from statewide assessments pursuant to California Education Code Section 60615.

Student Accessibility Supports

The CAASPP System provides accessibility supports for all students, including those who are English learners and students with disabilities. Teachers are encouraged to review these supports early in the school year and provide opportunities for students to experience these supports throughout their classroom instructional and assessment experiences.

Test Administration Resources

Fact Sheet on Testing – This document provides timely information about technology and administration readiness as LEAs prepare to begin online testing for the Smarter Balanced Summative Assessments.

The Dual Logins graphic displays the two logins required to access the two systems (i.e., CAASPP and Smarter Balanced) and the components with these systems. In order to administer the summative and interim assessments and access the formative assessment resources, teachers, and administrators need access to both systems.

The CAASPP Testing Windows document describes the formulas for the completion of instructional days for each CAASPP System assessment.

The 2015-16 Estimated Testing Times External link opens in new window or tab. for Smarter Balanced assessments describes the approximate times that will be required to complete each portion of the summative tests for English language arts/literacy and mathematics. These tests are not timed; therefore, actual completion times will vary.

New Resources for the Interim Assessments

  • ICAs Table of Hand Scoring Items and Total Number of Questions Per Test – This document is intended to assist LEA CAASPP coordinators, site coordinators, and test administrators in planning for the administration and local hand scoring of the interim comprehensive assessments (ICA). The following table provides key information, including the total number of items appearing on each ICA. This total includes items that are both machine-scored and hand-scored. Also included on this table are the number of items that require local hand scoring on the non-Performance Task (PT) constructed response, the PT constructed response, and the PT essay.

Related Resources

Grade Two Diagnostic Assessments – Information about the optional diagnostic assessments for students in grade two for English-language arts and mathematics that meet the requirements of California Education Code Section 60644.

Invitation to Participate in Scoring – California educators are invited to participate in the scoring of the Smarter Balanced constructed responses and performance tasks for spring 2015. Educators interested in scoring should submit the Hand Scoring Recruitment Announcement External link opens in new window or tab. (PDF).

Apportionment Information – Information regarding the apportionment reimbursements to LEAs for assessments administered as part of the CAASPP System.

Professional Learning Modules – Professional learning modules (PLMs) are available at no cost to educators on the California Department of Education-sponsored Digital Chalkboard External link opens in new window or tab. (formerly Brokers of Expertise). These modules are intended to help teachers transition to the Common Core State Standards and can be taken individually or as a group.

Common Core State Standards – In 2010, more than 45 states adopted the same standards for English-language arts/literacy and mathematics. These standards are called the Common Core State Standards. Teachers, parents, and education experts designed the standards to prepare students for success in college and the workplace.

English-Spanish Education and Assessment Glossary – Translation glossary developed by the California Department of Education.

Teachers

Smarter Balanced Resources for Teachers

CAASPP Teacher Guide: Smarter Balanced Assessments

These teacher guides deepen teachers’ understanding of the Smarter Balanced Summative Assessments, their alignment with the California Common Core State Standards (CA CCSS), and their intended connection to classroom learning.

Assistance for Teachers

The Dual Logins graphic displays the two logins required to access the two systems (i.e., CAASPP and Smarter Balanced) and the components with these systems. In order to administer the summative and interim assessments and access the formative assessment resources, teachers, and administrators need access to both systems.

Practice and Training Tests External link opens in new window or tab.
This link accesses both the Practice and Training Tests portal. The Practice Tests provide students with grade-specific testing experiences that are similar in structure and format to the Summative Assessments. The Training Tests provide students with the opportunity to quickly become familiar with the software and interface features. The Training Tests are organized by grade-bands (e.g., 3–5).

Instructional Uses for Smarter Balanced Practice and Training Tests External link opens in new window or tab.
Assists teachers with integrating assessment strategies and technology skills from the Practice and Training Tests into daily classroom instruction.

Resources Search
A searchable site that houses a collection of resources to support implementation of the Common Core State Standards.

Keyboard Commands for Students External link opens in new window or tab. (PDF)
Provides keyboard commands students and teachers can use to navigate between test elements, features, and tools.

Sample Items and Performance Tasks External link opens in new window or tab.
Provides sample items and performance tasks for ELA\literacy and mathematics.

Smarter Balanced Resources
Test blueprints, initial achievement level descriptors and college content readiness policy, accessibility and accommodation information, Common Core State Standards, presentations, frequently asked questions, and fact sheets.

Communications for Teachers

New Resources for the Interim Assessments

  • ICAs Table of Hand Scoring Items and Total Number of Questions Per Test – This document is intended to assist LEA CAASPP coordinators, site coordinators, and test administrators in planning for the administration and local hand scoring of the interim comprehensive assessments (ICA). The following table provides key information, including the total number of items appearing on each ICA. This total includes items that are both machine-scored and hand-scored. Also included on this table are the number of items that require local hand scoring on the non-Performance Task (PT) constructed response, the PT constructed response, and the PT essay.

CAASPP Training Videos

Additional Related Resources and Notices

Invitation to Participate in Scoring – California educators are invited to participate in the scoring of the Smarter Balanced constructed responses and performance tasks for spring 2015. Educators interested in scoring should submit the Hand Scoring Recruitment Announcement. External link opens in new window or tab. (PDF)

Grade Two Diagnostic Assessments – Information about the optional grade two diagnostic assessments  for English-language arts and mathematics that meet the requirements of California Education Code Section 60644.

Professional Learning Modules – Professional learning modules (PLMs) are available at no cost to educators on the California Department of Education-sponsored Digital Chalkboard External link opens in new window or tab. (formerly Brokers of Expertise). These modules are intended to help teachers transition to the Common Core State Standards and can be taken individually or as a group.

Common Core State Standards – In 2010, more than 45 states adopted the same standards for English-language arts/literacy and mathematics. These standards are called the Common Core State Standards. Teachers, parents, and education experts designed the standards to prepare students for success in college and the workplace.

English-Spanish Education and Assessment Glossary – Translation glossary developed by the California Department of Education.

Students & Parents

The CAASPP System is intended to provide parents and students more accurate and actionable information about what students are learning. Because the Smarter Balanced Assessments, which are administered as part of the CAASPP System, are computer adaptive, these Assessments will also provide better information about the needs and successes of individual students.

Parent Resources

  • Parent Guides to the Smarter Balanced Summative Assessments
    These revised parent guides provide information about the Smarter Balanced Summative Assessments and will help parents better understand their children’s test results.
  • CAASPP Student Score Report Information
    This page provides information for parents or guardians to help interpret the CAASPP student score report.
  • California PTA External link opens in new window or tab. – This Web site provides resources and information about the new Smarter Balanced assessments built to help students, parents, teachers, and school leaders know where students are on the path to success. Included on this Web site are updated resources to help understand your child's CAASPP scores.

Videos – Brief student videos gives key information about the Smarter Balanced Summative Assessments and how to get additional information about testing in the State of California.

Creating a Computer Adaptive Test (English) External link opens in new window or tab. (PDF) | Creating a Computer Adaptive Test (Spanish) External link opens in new window or tab. (PDF)
This document describes the two criteria for creating an online, adaptive test and how the adaptive software works for the Smarter Balanced Summative Assessments.

Practice and Training Tests External link opens in new window or tab.
This link accesses both the Practice and Training Tests portal. The Practice Tests provide students with grade-specific testing experiences that are similar in structure and format to the Summative Assessments. The Training Tests provide students with the opportunity to quickly become familiar with the software and interface features. The Training Tests are organized by grade-bands (e.g., 3–5).

Common Core State Standards Resources for Parents and Guardians
These resources have been compiled for parents and guardians interested in learning more about the Common Core State Standards (CCSS) and how to support their child's attainment of these standards.

Student Resources

Multiplication Table (1–9)
This resource is a single digit (1–9) multiplication table that is a non-embedded accommodation for grade 4 mathematics items and above. This is to be used only for students with a documented and persistent calculation disability (i.e., dyscalculia). It can be printed for students requiring this accommodation.

Keyboard Commands for Students External link opens in new window or tab. (PDF)
Provides keyboard commands students can use to navigate between test elements, features, and tools.

Other Resources

Smarter Balanced Parents and Student Page External link opens in new window or tab.
Provides access to fact sheets, questions and answers, and resources in English and Spanish.

English-Spanish Education and Assessment Glossary – Translation glossary developed by the California Department of Education.

Technology

Resources

A variety of resources are available from the California Department of Education (CDE) Technology Readiness Resources Web page, including information on minimum technology requirements for online testing, link to a network bandwidth checker, and the latest Information Technology Coordinator Update.

Fact Sheet on Testing – This document provides timely information about technology and administration readiness as LEAs prepare to begin online testing for the Smarter Balanced Summative Assessments.

Technical Specifications Manual External link opens in new window or tab. (PDF) for the 2015 Administration of the Smarter Balanced Interim and Summative Assessments

Secure Browser Installation Manual External link opens in new window or tab. (PDF) for the 2015 Administration of the Smarter Balanced Interim and Summative Assessments

Smarter Balanced Technology Web page External link opens in new window or tab. includes access to a variety of documents including a list of approved test-taking devices, the Smarter Balanced Technology Readiness Calculator, and the network capacity worksheet, as well as links to suggested bandwidth speed tests.

CAASPP Web site External link opens in new window or tab. provides access to a variety of resources to support local educational agencies (LEAs) in their steps toward technology preparedness for the spring 2015 online California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress (CAASPP) System administration. This site includes access to the Test Operations Management System (TOMS), information about the 2015 CAASPP assessments, and a list of soon-to-be released secure browsers and other important information about the Smarter Balanced assessments.

SmarterApp External link opens in new window or tab. is a community of organizations devoted to collaboration on an open software suite for the support of educational assessment. The project is used by but is not exclusive to the Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium External link opens in new window or tab..

Contact Info

California Department of Education
Assessment Development and Administration Division

1430 N Street, Suite 4409
Sacramento, CA 95814
Phone: 916-445-8765
E-mail: caaspp@cde.ca.gov

California Technical Assistance Center (CalTAC)
Educational Testing Service
Phone: 1-800-955-2954
E-mail: caltac@ets.org

For additional CAASPP information, view the testing contractor’s CAASPP Web site. External link opens in new window or tab.

Questions:   California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress | caaspp@cde.ca.gov | 916-445-8765
Last Reviewed: Tuesday, January 3, 2017
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