CAASPP Communication: October 2025

Email Update, October 1, 2025

This communication includes information and updates about CAASPP.

Notice

Practice Test and Training Test Enhancements

The following test delivery system enhancements were made to the practice tests and training tests in September 2025. Refer to the What’s New in 2025–26 section of the Accessibility Guide after its release this fall for a full list of corresponding assessments and descriptions of these resources. These enhancements will be available for summative assessments.

• In-test accessibility controls for the embedded text-to-speech designated support and accommodation; and the embedded color contrast and mouse pointer designated supports
• Enhanced embedded word completion accommodation
• Denser embedded strikethrough universal tool
• Embedded 100s number table designated support (science) and accommodation (mathematics)
• Embedded multiplication table designated support (science) and accommodation (mathematics)
• Constructed-response toolbar (to include text-to-speech and word completion buttons, when assigned)

Additionally, the logon sequence students use has been updated.

Test Security

Protecting Student PII

LEAs must establish secure procedures for handling student assessment logon credentials across all assessments. ETS recommends using the interim assessments as a model to develop and refine your site’s procedures for securely managing student personally identifiable information (PII).

Interim Assessments and Test Security Protocols

Ensure that all staff and students are aware of and adhere to the following best practices:

• Access Control
  • Only authorized persons may be present during test sessions. This includes students taking the assessment and staff members.
• Display Protocol
  • If test questions are displayed using a projector, ensure visibility is restricted to the classroom only.
• Secure Handling of Materials
  • Store test materials securely when not in use to prevent unauthorized access.
  • Keep usernames, passwords, and student logon credentials confidential. Share logon details only with the correct student.
  • Do not allow students to use another student’s logon, and do not log on as a student yourself.
• Reporting Breaches
  • If site staff becomes aware of a potential security breach (for example, improper sharing of test materials), it should be reported immediately to a site coordinator, LEA coordinator, or both. The LEA coordinator should immediately call their success agent to report the breach, and within 24 hours following the call, the site coordinator or LEA coordinator should submit a case in the Security and Test Administration Incident Reporting System (STAIRS).

A new Sample Interim Assessment Test Security Agreement was recently added to the Test Security web page. Although a test security agreement is not required by the state for interim assessments, this form may be used at the discretion of the LEA and may be modified as needed for local use.

Reminders

Smarter Balanced, CAST, and the CAAs—2024–25 Remaining Results Available

All remaining Student Score Reports for the following assessments are available now, in the Test Operations Management System (TOMS) and the California Educator Reporting System (CERS), for students who have completed testing:

• Smarter Balanced Summative Assessments for English language arts/literacy (ELA) and mathematics
• California Science Test (CAST)
• California Alternate Assessments (CAAs) for ELA, mathematics, and science

The results for the California Spanish Assessment (CSA) will be made available December 2025.

CAA for Science

The three performance tasks (PTs) for the CAA for Science can be administered in any order beginning September 16, 2025, through the end of the school year or June 30, 2026, whichever comes first. Administration of an embedded PT should occur immediately after instruction on the related science content. Refer to the CAA for Science Administration Planning Guides web page for help with early planning and scheduling for administration of the embedded PTs.

Upcoming Trainings

To register or locate additional details about upcoming trainings, including dates, times, and content, visit the Upcoming and On-Demand Trainings web page.

October 7: Introduction to CERS for Test Coordinators and Administrators 8:30–11:30 a.m.

This training will cover an overview of CERS, accessing summative assessment results, interim assessment data, and procedures for giving LEA staff the access they need to view student results. Register now for the 2025–26 Introduction to CERS for Test Coordinators and Administrators.

October 9: Introduction to CERS for Teachers, 3:30–5:30 p.m.

This session will provide hands-on practice with CERS features, including accessing assessment results, creating custom student groups, and using available resources to support instruction. Register now for the 2025–26 Introduction to CERS for Teachers.

October 14: Coffee Session, 2–3 p.m.

The 2025–26 virtual monthly 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. LEA coordinators are recommended to register annually on the Coffee Sessions registration web page. By registering once, you will be eligible to attend all upcoming sessions.

October 16: New Coordinator Training Webinar #6, 3–4 p.m.

This webinar, which focuses on practice tests, training tests, and interim assessments, is meant for LEA coordinators who have been in their role for less than 12 months or want a refresher. A question and answer session with experienced LEA coordinators will close the session. Register now for the 2025–26 New Coordinator Training Webinar Series.

If you cannot make it but wish to receive materials or be notified when the recording is available, please fill out the 2025–26 New Coordinator Training Materials and Recordings form.

October 21, 2025: Lexile and Quantile Virtual Training Series, 3–4 p.m.

The CDE and ETS invite testing coordinators and their teachers to this virtual training series, which consists of two sessions providing general overviews of the Lexile Framework® and the Quantile Framework® along with live demonstrations of tools available within the Lexile & Quantile Hub®.

• Introduction to the Lexile Framework for Reading, which will be held on October 21, 2025, 3–4 p.m.
• Introduction to the Quantile Framework for Mathematics, which will be held on October 23, 2025, 3–4 p.m.

Register now for the Introduction to the Lexile Framework for Reading or the Introduction to the Quantile Framework for Mathematics.

October 28: CAASPP and ELPAC Accessibility Resources Webinar, 3–4 p.m.

This online webinar, focused on foundational topics about accessibility resources, will cover:

• the importance of making accessibility resources available to all students,
• where to find important information about accessibility resources, and
• how to use practice, training, or interim tests with accessibilities to prepare students for summative testing.

All educators including education teams and LEA staff involved in CAASPP and ELPAC testing would benefit from this webinar. Register now for the CAASPP and ELPAC Accessibility Resources Webinar.

January and February 2026: Formative Assessment Shared Practices Webinar Series

This upcoming series of three independent webinars is presented by the California Department of Education, classroom teachers, and administrators to share how they are promoting and using formative assessments to support teaching and learning in the classroom.

Registration is now open for the Formative Assessment Shared Practices webinar series.

Educator Meeting Opportunities

Do not miss out on exciting opportunities to help shape the future of California’s assessments. Apply now for the following:

• California Spanish Assessment Item Review Meeting, which will be held January 27 and 28, February 19, and April 7, 2026 (The application closes October 1, 2025.)

Other educator meetings are available for these programs and the CAAs.

To apply for item review, data review, and range finding 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.

More information is available on the Get Involved web page.

Available Now!

On-Demand Trainings and Recordings

Recordings of the following trainings are now available on the Upcoming and On-Demand Trainings web page:

• September Coffee Session
• Introduction to CERS for Teachers (2025–26)
• New Coordinator Training Webinar #4
• New Coordinator Training Webinar #5

Ongoing Reminders

CAA Test Examiner Tutorial

The 2025–26 CAA Test Examiner Tutorial is available now on the Moodle Training Site (Moodle). 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 content area section to receive a certificate of completion. Test examiners are required to complete the training prior to administering the CAAs.

Interim Assessments

Interim assessments are available to administer for Smarter Balanced for ELA and mathematics, and CAST.

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 region’s 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.

Sincerely,

California Outreach Team
CAASPP & ELPAC Website