New Reporting ALD Toolkit Coming Soon
Email Update, May 7, 2026
Dear LEA CAASPP Coordinator:
Starting with results from the 2025–26 CAASPP Summative Assessments, California will begin using the new reporting achievement level descriptors (ALDs) and labels adopted by the California State Board of Education.
The following new reporting ALDs will apply to the Smarter Balanced English language arts/literacy (ELA) and mathematics assessments as well as the California Science Test (CAST):
| Level | Old Reporting Label | New Reporting Label |
|---|---|---|
|
4 |
Standard Exceeded |
Advanced |
|
3 |
Standard Met |
Proficient |
|
2 |
Standard Nearly Met |
Developing |
|
1 |
Standard Not Met |
Minimal |
You will see these new reporting ALDs across all assessment results reporting, including the Student Score Reports (SSRs) sent to students and families, Student Score Data Files from the Test Operations Management System (TOMS), results in the California Educator Reporting System (CERS), and other locations where assessment results are displayed.
The reporting ALDs were revised to help students, their families, and the public better understand student performance on the summative ELA, mathematics, and science and increase transparency. The new ALDs also address the inaccurate perception that Level 3 represents a grade-level cutoff, and students scoring below Level 3 were “below grade level.” This is not an accurate representation of the assessment or student performance. All items on the assessment measure grade-level standards, and student performance at the various levels demonstrate a range of understanding.
Communications Toolkit Available Now
The CDE has launched an ALD Communications Toolkit to help coordinators and educators communicate this change. The toolkit, located on Reporting Achievement Level Descriptors web page, focuses on four main audiences, and includes the following:
- For All Audiences
- California’s New Reporting ALDs Video
- What Do the Scores Mean? – ELA Flyer
- What Do the Scores Mean? – Math Flyer
- What Do the Scores Mean? – Science Flyer
- For Students and Families
- New Reporting ALDs Flyer
- Question Guide
- Sample Items by Achievement Level
- Next Steps Flyers
- For Educators
- New Reporting ALDs Flyer
- Dialogue Guide (companion to the Question Guide)
- Sample Items by Achievement Level
- Next Steps Flyers
- For LEA-level and School-level staff
- New Reporting ALDs Flyer
- Editable Slide Deck
- Summary of Changes Memo
For additional information and resources, visit the Reporting Achievement Level Descriptors web page.
Sincerely,
California Outreach Team
CAASPP & ELPAC Website