Reporting Achievement Level Descriptors
for the Smarter Balanced for English Language Arts/Literacy (ELA) and Mathematics and the California Science Test (CAST)
Summative assessments are an important tool that provide valuable information about student learning. California has adopted new reporting achievement level descriptors (ALDs) and labels for the California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress (CAASPP) ELA, mathematics, and science assessments.
Starting with reporting for the 2025–26 summative assessment, you will see new reporting labels on the Student Score Reports. These new reporting labels make the results easier to understand.
Additional Parent and Guardian Resources on the CAASPP Starting Smarter Website
Coming Soon
Sample Test Questions and Student Responses
New Reporting Achievement Level Descriptors
| Level 4 | Level 3 | Level 2 | Level 1 |
|---|---|---|---|
|
The student demonstrates advanced grade-level knowledge and skills and shows a sophisticated understanding of and ability to apply the knowledge and skills in English language arts/literacy needed for success in future coursework. |
The student demonstrates proficient grade-level knowledge and skills and shows a thorough understanding of and ability to apply the knowledge and skills in English Language arts/literacy needed for success in future coursework. |
The student demonstrates developing grade-level knowledge and skills and shows an initial understanding of and ability to apply the knowledge and skills in English language arts/literacy needed for success in future coursework. |
The student demonstrates minimal grade-level knowledge and skills and shows a limited understanding of and ability to apply the knowledge and skills in English language arts/literacy needed for success in future coursework. |
The criteria and cut scores for each level have not changed. Overall results can still be compared from year to year.
| Level 4 | Level 3 | Level 2 | Level 1 |
|---|---|---|---|
|
The student demonstrates advanced grade-level knowledge and skills and shows a sophisticated understanding of and ability to apply the knowledge and skills in mathematics needed for success in future coursework. |
The student demonstrates proficient grade-level knowledge and skills and shows a thorough understanding of and ability to apply the knowledge and skills in mathematics needed for success in future coursework. |
The student demonstrates developing grade-level knowledge and skills and shows an initial understanding of and ability to apply the knowledge and skills in mathematics needed for success in future coursework. |
The student demonstrates minimal grade-level knowledge and skills and shows a limited understanding of and ability to apply the knowledge and skills in mathematics needed for success in future coursework. |
The criteria and cut scores for each level have not changed. Overall results can still be compared from year to year.
| Level 4 | Level 3 | Level 2 | Level 1 |
|---|---|---|---|
|
The student demonstrates advanced grade-level knowledge and skills and shows a sophisticated understanding of and ability to apply the knowledge and skills associated with the performance expectations of the California Next Generation Science Standards. |
The student demonstrates proficient grade-level knowledge and skills and shows a thorough understanding of and ability to apply the knowledge and skills associated with the performance expectations of the California Next Generation Science Standards. |
The student demonstrates developing grade-level knowledge and skills and shows an initial understanding of and ability to apply the knowledge and skills associated with the performance expectations of the California Next Generation Science Standards. |
The student demonstrates minimal grade-level knowledge and skills and shows a limited understanding of and ability to apply the knowledge and skills associated with the performance expectations of the California Next Generation Science Standards. |
The criteria and cut scores for each level have not changed. Overall results can still be compared from year to year.
To align with the revisions to the overall ALDs, the performance area levels used to report results at the claim and domain levels were also revised as follows:
| Level | New Area Reporting Label |
|---|---|
|
3 |
Above Proficient |
|
2 |
At or Near Proficient |
|
1 |
Below Proficient |
The criteria and cut scores for each level have not changed. Area-level results can still be compared from year to year.
Resources
Below are resources that comprise a Communications Toolkit that can be used with different audiences in supporting understanding of student results, including the changes to the ALDs.