CAASPP: February Monthly Update
Email Update, February 3, 2025
This communication includes information and updates about CAASPP.
Notice
CERS Interpretive Guide Update
The California Educator Reporting System (CERS) Interpretive Guide is now available in an easy-to-search, web-based format and now has guidance for interpreting California Science Test (CAST) and ELPAC interim assessments. The CERS Interpretive Guide is designed to help educators interpret and explain interim and summative assessment results. It is different from the CERS User Guide, which assists educators with viewing assessment data, learning about CERS features, and generating reports. Both the CERS Interpretive Guide and the CERS User Guide can be accessed through the CERS Resources web page. Each is also available as a link in CERS and the CERS Sandbox.
Upcoming Trainings
February 11: 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.
February 19: Connect for Success, 10 a.m. to Noon
Meet your Success Agent at Connect for Success, meeting for LEA coordinators. During this event, you will receive information to prepare for summative CAASPP administration, such as deadline reminders, demos for how to complete required tasks, and quick tips on navigating the website and other platforms.
February 20: New Coordinator Training Webinar #10, 3–4 p.m.
Webinar #10 of the New Coordinator Training Series will focus on the topic of completion tracking and security. The training 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.
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 educator meetings:
- Spanish educators needed for the California Spanish Assessment (CSA) Data Review Meeting: June 17 and 18, 2025, daytime hours (Application deadline March 7, 2025.)
- Special education educators needed for the Combined Alternate Assessments Data Review Meeting: June 2025, daytime hours (Application deadline March 5, 2025.)
- Science educators needed for the CAST Data Review Meeting: June 17 and 18, 2025, daytime hours (Application deadline February 10, 2025.)
Details for all upcoming educator 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:
Ongoing Reminders
Test Administrator Tutorial Available in Moodle
The CAASPP Test Administrator Tutorial is 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 English language arts/literacy (ELA) and mathematics; CAST; and the CSA. This tutorial is optional and does not contain any secure materials.
2024–25 CAA Test Examiner Tutorial Available in Moodle
The 2024–25 California Alternate Assessment (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 for that subject. Please note that test examiners who are administering the CAA for Science and the CAAs for ELA and mathematics must complete all three sections. 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.
CERS Spring Trainings
Registration is open for the CDE-sponsored spring 2025 CERS training sessions: CERS Beyond the Basics and Accessing Summative Results in CERS., These training sessions build upon the Introduction to CERS training, which is available as a series of microlearning videos on the Upcoming and On-Demand Trainings web page.
The spring 2025 CERS trainings include:
- CERS—Beyond the Basics for Teachers
- CERS—Beyond the Basics for Coordinators and Administrators
- Accessing Summative Assessment Results in CERS
Further details about each of these trainings are available through the respective registration pages linked in the previous list.
The 2024–25 CSA Administration Window
The CSA administration window for the 2024–25 test administration will open on March 4, 2025., Additional time is required to ensure the revised blueprint changes are applied and tested for accuracy. It is expected that this change will take place only for the 2024–25 test administration and the window will open in January in 2026.
Based on LEA feedback and to reduce the burden on LEAs and test administrators, all speaking and writing constructed response 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.
CAA for Science Administration
The CAA for Science has been available for testing since September 17, 2024, and will remain available through June 30, 2025. 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 throughout the school year.,
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.
Measurement Incorporated is seeking teachers from California to fill the temporary positions of Readers/Evaluators during the upcoming scoring season. California teachers will score Smarter Balanced and CAASPP student responses. The hiring process will take place from early January 2025 and run through March 2025 for assignments starting in late March and ending in June. Those interested in applying can find more information on the 2025 California Educators Reader-Evaluator application web page.
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.