CAASPP Communication: April 2025
Email Update, April 1, 2025
This communication includes information and updates about CAASPP.
Notice
Assessing Bias and Sensitivity of Items During Test Development
During test development, the California Department of Education (CDE), ETS, and California educators thoroughly review CAASPP and ELPAC questions for sensitivity and bias. Sensitive content includes inappropriate behaviors, or emotionally charged, offensive, or controversial topics. Questions are also reviewed for bias such as presentation of stereotypes, insensitive or negative concepts, and language that implies demeaning assumptions. Test questions are carefully developed to ensure that all children are given their best opportunity to show what they know and can do.
Certain standards require students to encounter concepts which may be sensitive for some. We understand there's a chance that a student may be personally affected by content in a test item. If this occurs and a break from testing is helpful, provide a break while considering the pause rules. We share this information so that coordinators, test administrators, and test examiners are prepared to offer support, if needed. For more information on pausing an assessment, refer to the Pause Rules for Assessments flyer.
Prepare for SSR Electronic Distribution
To Do:
- Ensure connections between the local student information system (SIS) and the Test Operations Management System (TOMS) are active.
- Collaborate with technology personnel as needed.
- Note that this is needed to populate the correct student data in a timely manner for Student Score Reports (SSRs).
- Ensure the reports are properly displayed, parents/guardians can access the report, and parents/guardians can only access scores for their own children.
- Regenerate credentials for the SIS to securely connect to TOMS, if needed.
- The SIS vendor credentials have a 365-day expiration rule.
Resources:
- Refer to the Distributing SSRs chapter in the Scoring and Reporting Guide for information about the LEA's SSR distribution options.
- Refer to the SSR and Reporting Resources web page on the CAASPP & ELPAC Website for the estimated SSR release dates.
The 2024–25 CSA Administration Window and Standard Setting
The 2024–25 California Spanish Assessment (CSA) test administration window opened March 4, 2025. In the summer of 2025, a significant development of the CSA will be the standard setting, a critical part of the assessment development process which defines the different levels of achievement. CSA standard setting will take place July 21–24, 2025, for lower grades; and July 28–31, 2025, for upper grades. Visit the Get Involved web page for more information and the Educator Opportunities Portal to apply. The deadline to apply is April 7, 2025.
Standard setting defines the different achievement levels distinguishing how the highest level of achievement is different from the lowest level of achievement in terms of knowledge, skills, and abilities. It also determines the corresponding cut scores for each achievement level. The recommended achievement levels and their corresponding cut scores will be presented to the State Board of Education for approval in September 2025 after the completion of the standard setting process.
We will be using results from the 2024–25 administration to conduct the CSA standard setting workshop. To successfully conduct the standard setting for each respective grade level or grade band, we need a sufficient number of students to take the CSA during the 2024–25 administration. To ensure that the standard setting process is using accurate data of the students who take the CSA, encourage your LEAs educators to register their eligible students to take the CSA and administer the test.
Upcoming Trainings
April 8: 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.
April 17: New Coordinator Training Webinar #12, 3–4 p.m.
Webinar #12 will focus on preparing for scores after testing and will end with a question and answer session with experienced coordinators.
Register for the 2024–25 New Coordinator Training Webinar Series. This training series provides just-in-time information for LEA CAASPP coordinators and LEA ELPAC coordinators.
Educator Opportunities
We need your input! California educators are an essential part of the assessment development process.
California educators who teach Spanish have a unique opportunity to have input on the CSA threshold score recommendations by participating in the CSA Standard Setting meeting being held virtually July 21–24 (grades three through six) and July 28–31 (grades seven through twelve). Details can be found on the Get Involved web page on the CAASPP & ELPAC Website. The application deadline is April 7, 2025.
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
The Importance of Maintaining Test Security
To ensure the validity of all results, it is critical that all staff working with summative assessment materials are trained in test security. In addition, please confirm that all coordinators in charge of submitting Security and Test Administration Incident Reporting System (STAIRS) cases are trained accordingly. You can find more information, videos, and resources on the Test Security web page on the CAASPP & ELPAC Website.
New Materials Tracking Lookup Tool
The Materials Tracking Lookup Tool is a new way to quickly and easily look up tracking numbers for special versions of CAASPP and ELPAC paper–pencil tests as well as California Science Test (CAST) and Smarter Balanced graphic packages.
2024–25 Smarter Balanced and CAST Scripts Available Now
Administer an Online Test Session documents—commonly referred to as scripts—have been updated for the 2024–25 test administration and are now available for the Smarter Balanced summative assessments for English language arts/literacy (ELA) and mathematics as well as for CAST. This year, new abridged versions with streamlined information are available. These documents can be found on the Administer a Test Session web page.
CERS Sandbox and Interpretive Guide Updates
Last month, the California Educator Reporting System (CERS) Sandbox training tool was updated to better reflect the live version of CERS. New features include
- fictitious data for CAST and ELPAC interim assessments,
- composite claims for Smarter Balanced ELA and mathematics summative assessments, and
- indicators for Summative ELPAC domains when a student is not tested or has been exempted.
The CERS Interpretive Guide, now in a searchable web format, helps educators understand CAASPP and ELPAC results, including CAST and ELPAC interim assessments. Unlike the CERS User Guide, which covers CERS features and reporting, the Interpretive Guide focuses on interpreting assessment results. Both guides and the CERS Sandbox are available on the CERS Resources page.
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 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 remains open for the Accessing Summative Assessment Results in CERS trainings., 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.
- Module One—Summative ELPAC, Summative Alternate ELPAC, and CSA
- May 15, 2025, 3:30–5 p.m.
- Module Two—Smarter Balanced summative assessments for ELA and mathematics; CAST; and the CAAs for ELA, mathematics, and science
- May 22, 2025, 3:30–5 p.m.
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 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. For further support, visit the Contact Us web page.