CAASPP Communication: January 2025

Email Update, January 2, 2025

This communication includes information and updates about CAASPP.

Important Updates

Recordings Available: CAASPP and ELPAC Pretest Training Series

The recordings for the Pretest Virtual Training Series are now available on the Upcoming and On-Demand Trainings web page. This training series covers information about changes and updates to CAASPP and ELPAC testing for the 2024–25 test administration.

• Pretest Virtual Training Series—What's New for CAASPP
• Pretest Virtual Training Series—What's New for the ELPAC

Upcoming Dates

January 14: Summative Assessments Available

On January 14, 2025, the following assessments will be available in the secure Test Delivery System:

• CAASPP Smarter Balanced for English language arts/literacy (ELA) and mathematics
• California Science Test (CAST)
• California Alternate Assessments (CAAs) for ELA and mathematics

Each LEA has a unique testing window that can be viewed in the Test Operations Management System.

January 14: Test Administrator Tutorial Available in Moodle

On January 14, 2025, the CAASPP Test Administrator Tutorial will become available on the Moodle Training Site (Moodle). This tutorial covers all the basic information needed to prepare test administrators to administer Smarter Balanced Summative Assessments for ELA and mathematics, CAST, and the California Spanish Assessment (CSA). This tutorial is optional and does not contain any secure materials.

Upcoming Trainings

January 14: Coffee Session, 2–3 p.m.

These monthly virtual Coffee Sessions, hosted by the California Department of Education and ETS, offer opportunities for LEA staff to ask questions and get answers about assessments, trainings, resources, and more. If you are not already registered, you can register on the Coffee Session Series registration web page. By registering once, you will be eligible to attend all upcoming sessions.

January 16: New Coordinator Training Webinar #9, 3–4 p.m.

Webinar #9 of the New Coordinator Training Series will focus on the topic of support during testing and will end with a question and answer session with experienced coordinators.

Register for one or more sessions of the 2024–25 New Coordinator Training Webinar Series. This training series provides just-in-time information for LEA CAASPP coordinators and LEA ELPAC coordinators.

January 22–23: Site Administrator Assessment Convening

Register now for the January 2025 Site Administrator Assessment Convening. This virtual training hosted by the Sacramento County Office of Education will focus on preparing for summative testing. This convening will provide an opportunity to learn about resources and tools offered to aid administration. You can choose one of two sessions; the same content will be presented during each session:

• January 22, 2025, 9–10 a.m.
• January 23, 2025, noon–1 p.m.

Educator Opportunities

Apply now! Here is your chance to be involved in and influence the development of California assessment programs. Teachers who work closely with students provide an important perspective that informs and improves CAASPP and the ELPAC. This is an excellent opportunity for participating educators to provide vital input in test composition, accessibility, and implementation. Meetings are held virtually, and compensation may be available. Refer to the following details on the upcoming assessment development meeting:

• Spanish teachers needed for CSA Achievement Level Descriptors Review Meeting: April 28–30, 2025, daytime hours (Application deadline has been extended to January 17, 2025.)

Details for this meeting and other upcoming meetings can be found on the Get Involved web page on the CAASPP & ELPAC Website.

To apply for educator meetings, go to the Educator Opportunities Portal. Those without an Educator Opportunities Portal account can create an account via the Educator Opportunities Portal Account Creation Form. For any questions, please contact the Educator Opportunities Team by phone at 916-228-2682 or by email at edopportunities@scoe.net.

Available Now!

On-Demand Trainings

Recordings of the following trainings are now available on the Upcoming and On-Demand Trainings web page:

• Pretest Virtual Training Series—What's New for CAASPP
• Pretest Virtual Training Series—What's New for the ELPAC

Ongoing Reminders

Registration Open for Spring CERS Trainings

Registration is now open for spring California Educator Reporting System (CERS) trainings, which are designed as a follow-up to the Introduction to CERS training. It is recommended that participants have a basic understanding of CERS before attending the spring trainings. Introduction to CERS microlearning videos are available on the Upcoming and On-Demand Trainings web page for educators looking to build a foundational knowledge of CERS prior to attending.

The available spring CERS trainings are as follows:

• 2024–25 CERS—Beyond the Basics for Teachers (March 2025)
• 2024–25 CERS—Beyond the Basics for Coordinators and Administrators (March 2025)
• 2024–25 Accessing Summative Assessment Results in CERS (May 2025)

Questions about these trainings can be directed to Nikki Antonovich, Coordinator, Sacramento County Office of Education by email at caaspp@scoe.net.

Blueprint Change for the CSA

In September 2024, the California State Board of Education (SBE) approved revisions to the test blueprint and addendum to the high-level test design for the CSA, removing the speaking domain from the assessments for grades three through eight, beginning with the 2024–25 test administration. The speaking domain will remain as a part of the high school grade band, as intended to meet, in part, the requirements for the State Seal of Biliteracy. Furthermore, the full-write and constructed-response (CR) items will remain for all assessments in grades three through eight and the high school grade band.

Additional time is required to ensure the revised blueprint changes are applied and tested for accuracy end-to-end; therefore, the CSA administration window for the 2024–25 test administration will open on March 4, 2025., It is expected that this change will take place only for the 2024–25 test administration.

Based on LEA feedback and to reduce the burden on LEAs and test administrators, all speaking and writing CR items will be scored by the testing vendor, ETS. There will be no local scoring by the LEA for the CSA and therefore no required scoring training for LEAs. More details about the CSA will be provided as they become available. Refer to the September 11 Board Item for additional information on the revisions that were approved by the SBE.

2024–25 CAA Test Examiner Tutorial Available in Moodle

The 2024–25 CAA Test Examiner Tutorial is available in Moodle. The CAA Test Examiner Tutorial covers general information and highlights best practices for the administration of the CAA for Science and the CAAs for ELA and mathematics. The tutorial does not contain any secure content.

The CAA Test Examiner Tutorial contains three sections—General Requirements, CAA for Science, and CAAs for ELA and Mathematics. All test examiners must complete the General Requirements section of the tutorial and at least one subject-area section to receive a certificate of completion. Test examiners must complete this training prior to testing. Test administrators who are second scoring for the CAA for ELA must complete the General Requirements section and the CAAs for ELA and Mathematics section of the tutorial prior to second scoring.

Test examiners and test administrators will need their enrollment key from their LEA coordinator to access the training. LEA coordinators can track test examiner certificate completion in Moodle.

CAA for Science Administration

The CAA for Science is available for testing. Teachers are encouraged to use the planner located in the Administration Planning Guides on the CAA for Science Administration Planning Guides web page to aid in scheduling testing based on when the related science instruction will be taught. This approach allows eligible students to complete one embedded performance task (PT) per quarter, following instruction in each science domain. The four CAA for Science embedded PTs can be administered in any order.,

Summative Assessment Scoring Job Opportunities

ETS applications for scorers. This is an excellent opportunity for educators to become more familiar with the California assessments. Scoring schedules are flexible and can include four-, six-, and eight-hour weekday or weekend shifts. California educators interested in applying can find more information on the ETS Online Scoring web page. Questions about the application or hiring process should be directed to etsrater@ets.org. Current scorers can reach out to ratercertify@ets.org for any scoring-related questions.

Previous CAASPP Monthly Communications

Previous CAASPP monthly communications, as well as other email communications, are located on the Coordinator Emails web page.

Additional Help

• Direct questions about policies, regulations, and requirements to caaspp@cde.ca.gov.
• Contact your Success Agent for answers to questions about assessment coordination, development, and administration, as well as for technical support.
• Direct questions about Moodle, certification, and calibration to moodlesupport@scoe.net.
• Get Answers from a user-friendly lookup tool available to help LEA coordinators quickly find answers to the most common testing questions. Users can also suggest Additional Questions for the FAQ, which will be reviewed on a regular basis.

For further support, visit the Contact Us web page.