Information for CSA Results

The California State Board of Education (SBE) approved the expansion of the California Spanish Assessment (CSA) in November of 2021 and approved new threshold scores in September 2025. The expanded blueprint now supports the CSA as an option to meet, in part, the State Seal of Biliteracy requirements. Additionally, the results of the CSA may also be used to meet other local measures and provide student-level data in Spanish literacy. For more information about the CSA and the State Seal of Biliteracy, visit the CDE California Spanish Assessment web page.

Constructed Response (full-write question)

The CSA includes a constructed response writing task for all students that ensures a more comprehensive measure of Spanish literacy, capturing students’ ability to organize ideas and produce extended written constructed responses. It aligns with the expanded blueprint approved by the SBE and reflects the emphasis on authentic language use.

Speaking Domain for High School

For students in the high school grade band (grades nine through twelve), the CSA includes the speaking domain. Students are assessed on oral literacy through constructed response speaking tasks ensuring that oral communication skills (listening and speaking) are evaluated alongside written skills (reading and writing).

Reporting Achievement

Overall Achievement Levels

Student test results for the CSA are reported in the following overall achievement levels:

  • Level 3: Students demonstrate a high degree of Spanish literacy
  • Level 2: Students demonstrate a moderate degree of Spanish literacy but need further development
  • Level 1: Students demonstrate a limited degree of Spanish literacy and require substantial development

Domain Performance Levels

CSA results for the domains of reading, writing, listening, and speaking (high school only) are reported using the following performance levels:

  • Well Developed
  • Progressing
  • Beginning

Composite Achievement Levels

Students within the high school grade band also receive an achievement level for two CSA composites: oral literacy (combined score for listening and speaking); and written literacy (combined score for reading and writing). Composite achievement levels are as follows:

  • Level 3
  • Level 2
  • Level 1

Scale Scores and Range Achievement Level Descriptors

Because the standard setting for the expanded CSA occurred in July 2025 and scale scores were reset, student score reports for CSA administration in 2024–25 and beyond should not be compared to scores from prior test administrations. The CSA expansion included a writing constructed-response question (all students) and speaking questions (high school students only), which means there is more information to report about a student’s Spanish language literacy.

CSA results are reported using scale scores and achievement level descriptors (ALDs). Range ALDs provide the range of expectations specific to each domain for each grade level or the high school grade band. Scale scores and range ALDs are presented in the following documents:

CSA Scale Score Ranges CSA Range Achievement Level Descriptors