CAASPP Communication: January 2026

Email Update, January 5, 2026

This communication includes information and updates about CAASPP.

Notice

Test Administrator Tutorial on Moodle

The Test Administrator Tutorial, which is one of three training options available to prepare test administrators for summative CAASPP testing, is now available on the Moodle Training Site (Moodle). Test administrators will require a Moodle enrollment key that should be provided to sites by the LEA CAASPP coordinator. All Moodle enrollment keys can be found on the Administration Scoring and Training (AST) website.

CAA for Science

The California Alternate Assessment (CAA) for Science opened for testing September 16, 2025. Students assigned to the CAA for Science should complete an embedded performance task shortly after the student has received instruction on related science content. Students who have not begun testing should begin to do so as soon as possible. More information about administering the CAA for Science is available in the CAA for Science Administration Planning Guides.

Locked Demographics Fields

Student demographic information in the Test Operations Management System (TOMS) will have multiple fields locked when a student opens a summative assessment. This includes fields locked for CAASPP when ELPAC is opened. A complete list of locked fields for CAASPP and ELPAC is available in the Locked Fields subsection of the TOMS User Guide.

Test Security

Security Policies and Best Practices for Handling Test Materials

The following is a list of key points for team briefing on the security protocols and practices for handling summative CAASPP materials:

• Test security affidavits and test security agreements must be signed to access CAASPP systems. For more information, refer to the Security Agreements and Security Affidavits section of the TOMS User Guide.
• Test administration training is nonnegotiable. Only trained test administrators and test examiners can administer the assessments. For more information, refer to the Test Administration Trainings and Tutorials web page.
• Secure materials must be handled appropriately at all times and locked when not in use.
• Special paper–pencil testing materials must be handled and returned securely, following the instructions provided with the shipment.
• Students must not see test content before administration.
• Security incidents must be reported immediately.
  • Use the Security and Test Administration Incident Reporting System (STAIRS) to report any testing irregularities or breaches associated with summative assessments.
  • Contact your success agent to report any testing irregularities or breaches for interim assessments.
• Keep test security affidavits and audit records for at least 12 months.

Reminders

Accessibility Resources

The following content is available to assist in making decisions about assigning student accessibility resources:

• California Assessment Accessibility Resources Matrix
• Accessibility Resource Graphics web page
• Accessibility Guide
• Test Settings subsection of the TOMS User Guide
• CAASPP Student Needs Matching Tool
• Individual Student Assessment Accessibility Profile (ISAAP) Tool

Accessibility resources should be assigned to a student on the basis of individual need, as determined by the student’s educational team.

2024–25 California Test Results Public Release

The 2024–25 CAASPP results—including the California Spanish Assessment (CSA) results—have been released to the public and are available on the Test Results for California’s Assessments website. Aggregate results for Smarter Balanced Summative Assessments, the California Science Test (CAST), the CAAs, and the CSA are available.

FedEx Replaces UPS for PPT Deliveries and Returns

FedEx is the new carrier for PPT deliveries and returns. PPT materials include special version braille and large-print assessments. Complete return instructions will be included with orders for PPT materials. Other changes for PPT orders include the following:

• PPTs sent to the LEA will be bundled in packs of 5 instead of 10.
• Smarter Balanced and CAST PPTs will use the new returns portal to generate return labels instead of including preprinted labels with the order.
• Materials will be returned to North Carolina instead of New Jersey.

Required Trainings

Completion of all CAASPP test administration training is mandatory to ensure accurate and appropriate test administration and scoring. CAASPP test administrators and CAASPP test examiners must complete the CAASPP Test Security Affidavit in TOMS prior to administering summative assessments.

CAASPP test administrators have three options for training:

1. The CAASPP Test Administrator Tutorial that is available through Moodle and went online in December
2. Local training using the CAASPP Test Administrator Training Deck and Resource Guide
3. Local training using information located on the CAASPP & ELPAC Website

CAASPP test examiners are required to complete the CAASPP Test Examiner Tutorial for the CAAs for English language arts/literacy (ELA), mathematics, and science. The tutorial is available through Moodle now.

LEA CAASPP coordinators received training through the Pretest Virtual Training Series in December. The recorded training series and associated materials are available in the [All Trainings and Recordings (A-Z)] tab on the Upcoming and On-Demand Trainings web page.

Note that in addition to any of the listed training options, local training policies and procedures must be followed.

Visit the Test Administration Trainings and Tutorials web page for a complete list of required trainings and deadlines.

Upcoming Trainings

To register or locate additional details about upcoming trainings, including dates, times, and content, visit the Upcoming and On-Demand Trainings web page.

January 13: Coffee Session, 2–3 p.m.

These monthly virtual Coffee Sessions, hosted by the California Department of Education (CDE) 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 13 and 20: Site Administrator Assessment Convenings

Help site administrators kick off the new year in the know! The January Site Administrator Assessment Convening is an opportunity to hear directly from CDE staff about assessment resources offered by the CDE, ask questions, and share ideas with other site administrators throughout the state. This one-hour convening will focus on accessibility resources for students on the CAASPP and ELPAC; formative assessment resource updates; and upcoming training opportunities for school staff. Two convening dates and times are available to choose from.

• January 13, 2026, 9–10 a.m.
• January 20, 2026, noon–1 p.m.

Please encourage site administrators in your area to register for the January 2026 Site Administrator Convening.

January 15: New Coordinator Training Webinar Series #9, 3–4 p.m.

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

Register for one or more sessions of the 2025–26 New Coordinator Training Webinar Series. This training series provides just-in-time information for LEA coordinators.

January 27: Connect for Success, 10 a.m.–12 p.m.

Meet your Success Agents at Connect for Success, a monthly regional meeting for LEA coordinators. During this event, you will receive information such as deadline reminders, demonstrations on how to complete required tasks, and quick tips for navigating the CAASPP & ELPAC Website and other platforms.

Register now for the January 27 Connect for Success session.

January 28: Supporting Individual Needs: Criteria for Alternate Assessment Participation Webinar, 10–11 a.m.

Choosing the right statewide assessment is an essential part of designing a meaningful Individualized Education Program (IEP). Join the CDE and the High Quality IEPs project staff to learn about the criteria for the alternate assessment and strategies for reviewing participation to ensure students are assigned the appropriate assessments.

Register now for the Supporting Individual Needs: Criteria for Alternate Assessment Participation webinar.

January 28: 2025–26 Video Student Score Reports Webinar, 1–2 p.m.

Join ETS to learn about how to order personalized and engaging video Student Score Reports for the 2025–26 Smarter Balanced for ELA and mathematics, Initial ELPAC, and Summative ELPAC.

Register now for the 2025–26 Video Student Score Reports webinar.

January 29: Flexible by Design: Formative and Accessibility Strategies for Every Learner, 3:30 to 5 p.m.

Join CDE staff, classroom teachers, and administrators as they share how they promote and use formative assessment and accessibility strategies to support teaching and learning in the classroom. This webinar is the first of a three-part series featuring California educators sharing their insights. Each webinar in the series will focus on a different topic, including formative assessment and accessibility strategies, instructional resources for science, and professional learning resources that support English language development.

Please encourage teachers and administrators to register now for the Formative Assessment Shared Practices Webinar Series.

Educator Involvement Opportunities

Data Review Opportunities

Shape tomorrow’s assessments today—there’s still time!

The following opportunities to participate are still available:

• The CAST Data Review Meeting will be held for grades five and eight on June 16, 2026; and the high school grade band on June 17, 2026. This application closes on February 27, 2026.
• The CSA Data Review Meeting will be held on June 16 and 17, 2026. This application closes on February 27, 2026.
• The Combined Alternate Assessments Data Review Meeting will be held on June 23, 24, and 25, 2026. This application closes on March 6, 2026.

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.

More information is available on the Get Involved web page.

Tools for Teachers K–2 Educator Recruitment

Smarter Balanced will soon begin developing ELA and mathematics lesson plans for kindergarten, first grade, and second grade (K–2) for inclusion on the Tools for Teachers website. The CDE is looking for California K–2 teachers to assist in the development of these new lesson plans—specifically, current K–2 classroom teachers with strong expertise in grade-level expectations and experience supporting the unique needs of young learners. For further details, or to submit the name of a K–2 teacher for consideration, please contact Tammy Saldaña at tsaldana@cde.ca.gov.

On-Demand Trainings and Recordings

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

• December Coffee Session
• Lexile Framework for Reading
• Quantile Measures for Mathematics

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 region’s 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.

For further support, visit the Contact Us web page.

Sincerely,

California Outreach Team
CAASPP & ELPAC Website