2025–26 System Release Dates

Email Update, June 26, 2025

Dear LEA CAASPP Coordinator or LEA ELPAC Coordinator:

As you prepare for the 2025–26 test administration year for CAASPP and ELPAC, please take note of the following dates:

July 7, 2025

• LEA CAASPP coordinators and LEA ELPAC coordinators can upload site coordinators and other site-level users in the Test Operations Management System (TOMS) for the 2025–26 test administration.
  • Note: Site-level users who will continue to administer the 2024–25 interim assessments will require a new 2025–26 role in TOMS, as site-level user roles do not roll over from year to year.
• The 2025–26 Initial ELPAC and Initial Alternate ELPAC administration year begins.
  • The 2025–26 LEA ELPAC Coordinator Checklist has been updated for the current test administration.
  • The secure Directions for Administration (DFAs) will be available in TOMS.
  • Picture cards for the Initial Alternate ELPAC will be available in TOMS.
  • The nonsecure Preparing for Administration (PFA) documents for the Initial ELPAC and Initial Alternate ELPAC will be available for each assessment on the Administer a Test Session web page on the CAASPP & ELPAC Website and on the Moodle Training Site (Moodle).
• The 2025–26 LEA CAASPP Coordinator Checklist has been updated and is available for the current test administration.
• The 2025–26 California Alternate Assessment (CAA) for Science form assignments will be available in early July on the CAA for Science Form Assignments web page.
• The 2025–26 CAA for Science PFA is available on the Administer a Test Session web page.
• The CAA for Science Administration Planning Guides will be available on the CAA for Science Administration Planning Guides web page in early July.

August 5, 2025

• The 2025–26 Smarter Balanced, California Science Test (CAST), and ELPAC interim assessments administration year begins. Secure interim assessment materials are available and can be found under the [Resources] tab in TOMS.

September 16, 2025

• CAASPP
  • The CAA for Science and its embedded performance tasks will be available in the secure Test Delivery System (TDS).
  • Test examiners intending to administer the CAA for Science must complete the tutorial in Moodle prior to administration.
  • Note: Students’ test assignments should be updated to reflect the CAA prior to administration.
  • CAA for Science DFAs will be available in TOMS.

January 20, 2026

• CAASPP
  • The following assessments will be available in the secure TDS:
    • Smarter Balanced for English language arts/literacy (ELA) and mathematics
    • CAST
    • CAAs for ELA and mathematics
    • CSA
  • The secure DFAs for the CAAs for ELA and mathematics will be available in TOMS. The PFAs will be available on the Administer a Test Session web page on the CAASPP & ELPAC Website and in Moodle.
    • Note: Test examiners should complete the CAA Test Examiner Tutorial located in Moodle prior to administering any alternate assessments.
  • Students will have access to the summative CAASPP within their LEA’s selected testing window, determined by the LEA CAASPP coordinator, after 66 percent of the instructional year for the LEA has passed.
    • Note: The CAA for Science is excluded from this requirement. The CAA for Science becomes available for administration on September 16, 2025.
• ELPAC
  • The secure DFAs for the Summative ELPAC and Summative Alternate ELPAC will be available in TOMS. The PFAs will be available on the Administer a Test Session web page on the CAASPP & ELPAC Website and in Moodle.

February 2, 2026

• The Summative ELPAC and Summative Alternate ELPAC will be available in the secure TDS from February 2 through May 31, 2026.

Please notify all site coordinators within the LEA of upcoming assessment component releases and system downtimes. System downtime dates are now available on the System Downtime Schedule web page.

For further support, visit the Contact Us web page.

Sincerely,

California Outreach Team
CAASPP & ELPAC Website