Teachers use multiple measures to understand what their students know and what they need to know. One a day-to-day basis, teachers use classroom observations, check for understanding strategies, and exit slips to adjust their instruction. They also use formal assessments such as running records, benchmark assessments, classroom exams, and state assessments to gauge academic progress.
District-Wide Assessments
California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress (CAASPP) System
The CAASPP system is comprised of the following assessments:
- Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium (SBAC) for grades 3-8, which includes a computer adaptive assessment and performance tasks in English Language Arts and Math.
- California Alternative Assessment (CAA) for grades 3-8 as an alternative assessment as determined by a student's Individualized Education Plan (IEP) in English Language Arts and Math.
- California Science Test, for grades 5 and 8, is aligned to the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS). IEPs also allow for participation in an alternative assessment through the California Alternate Assessment (CAA).
- English Language Proficiency Assessments for California (ELPAC) is the mandated state test for determining English language proficiency (ELP). It must be given to students whose primary language is one other than English. The ELPAC is aligned with the 2012 California English Language Development Standards and is comprised of two separate ELP assessments: the Initial ELPAC and the Summative ELPAC.
Student Score Reports
The report will contain information on your child's performance for each of the assessments that were administered. If your child participated in SBAC or CAA last year, it will also show a comparison of the data. You may also look up your child's assessment results in the Aeries Parent Portal.
Click below for additional resources to understand your child's CAASPP score reports:
Using Assessment Data
District administrators and staff use the CAASPP data in preparation for the upcoming school year. The data provides an overarching picture of our district and schools' academic performance, as well as an understanding of how we are meeting the needs of the diverse learners in our community. This is one formal assessment of student data that is factored into our district and classroom measures that guide our professional development, program development, and resources.
California School Dashboard
California School Dashboard is a website designed to help communicate important information about TK-12 districts and schools. It features reports on multiple measures of school success, including test scores, English learner progress, and suspension rates. The Dashboard is part of California's accountability system which is raising the bar for student learning and placing a focus on equity for all students.
