Updates to the 2025–26 CAA for Science

Email Update, May 21, 2025

Dear LEA CAASPP Coordinator, Site CAASPP Coordinators, and CAASPP Test Examiners:

Starting with the 2025–26 test administration, the California Alternate Assessment (CAA) for Science will reduce the required number of embedded performance tasks (PTs) to three instead of four. Each embedded PT will assess one of the three domains—Earth and Space Sciences, Life Sciences, and Physical Sciences—and will now have 15 questions instead of 10 questions.

Additionally, starting with the 2025–26 test administration, the CAA for Science will no longer have the brief set of survey questions about student responsiveness previously found at the end of each PT.

Everything else about the administration of the CAA for Science will remain the same as in previous administrations. Test examiners should continue to use the CAA for Science Administration Planning Guides, which will be available in mid-July, 2025, to determine which Science Connectors will be assessed in the test administration and to plan when during the school year to administer each PT.

For further support, visit the Contact Us web page.

Sincerely,

California Outreach Team
CAASPP & ELPAC Website