CAASPP: 2026–27 Deadline for Test Administration Window Setup

Email Update, October 21, 2026

Dear LEA CAASPP Coordinator:

The deadline for setting up a 2026–27 CAASPP test administration window in the Test Operations Management System (TOMS) is December 1, 2026. Refer to the TOMS User Guide and the new TOMS: Setting Up Your Test Administration Window video for additional information, including the steps needed to set up a test administration window.

The following are considerations when establishing an LEA test administration window:

• An LEA must set up an instructional calendar in TOMS that includes all noninstructional days before setting up the LEA test administration window(s).
• A CAASPP test administration window must contain at least 25 instructional days.
• A test administration window cannot start sooner than January 19, 2027, except for the California Alternate Assessment (CAA) for Science. For the CAA for Science, note the following:
  • The CAA for Science became available on September 15, 2026, and will remain available through either the final day of the LEA instructional calendar or June 30, 2027, whichever comes first.
  • The Activate checkbox for the CAA for Science administration window is checked by default and cannot be edited.
  • Administration of the three CAA for Science embedded performance tasks should take place throughout the instructional calendar and shortly after the student has received instruction on the related science content.
• The California Spanish Assessment (CSA) is available from January 20, 2027, through either the final day of the LEA instructional calendar or June 30, 2027, whichever comes first. During test administration setup in TOMS, the Activate checkbox for the CSA is unchecked because the CSA is optional; check this box to add the CSA to the test administration window.
• After setting up the test administration window(s), the LEA CAASPP coordinator will use the [School Admin Assignment] tab to select the schools to associate with the test administration. Note the following when assigning a testing window to schools:
  • A new pop-up window has been added to this section. It confirms that your LEA’s test administration has been saved and prompts the assignment of school sites to your newly created administration window.
  • Quick instructions to assist with the completion of this process are available in the CAASPP LEA Test Administrations section in the TOMS User Guide; these instructions are also included at the end of this email for easy reference.
• Access to the Smarter Balanced Summative Assessments for English language arts/literacy (ELA) and mathematics, California Science Test (CAST), and CAAs for ELA and mathematics will open on the first day of the selected test administration window. Once the selected test administration window has closed, students in the LEA assigned to test during that window will no longer have access to these summative assessments. A test administration window cannot be reopened.

Schools within an LEA may have varying instructional dates because of multiple tracks, which means an LEA CAASPP coordinator may need to set up more than one test administration window. The test administration window is applicable to the Smarter Balanced Summative Assessments for ELA and mathematics, CAST, CAAs for ELA and mathematics, and CSA. Up to six test administration windows can be configured. LEAs must be sure to assign each school to a test administration window in TOMS.

The following are additional reminders of actions to take prior to testing:

• Verify that the primary shipping, secondary shipping, billing, and reporting shipping addresses listed for the LEA are correct in TOMS:
  • Select the [Organizations] tab in the top navigation bar, search for the LEA or entity within the LEA, select the [Addresses] tab, and then select the [Edit] pencil icon.
  • Ensure that each address is a physical address; special version materials (braille and large print) cannot be shipped to a post office box.

• Verify that all student information is up to date and correct in CALPADS.

For further support, visit the Contact Us web page.

Sincerely,

California Outreach Team
CAASPP & ELPAC Website