Assessment Spotlight, Issue 281

Focusing on the CAASPP System and English Language Proficiency Assessments for California (ELPAC)—and including, when timely, updates on California’s other statewide assessments. For questions related to test administration, coordination, and trainings, visit the CAASPP and ELPAC website .

Upcoming Downtime for CAASPP and ELPAC Systems

The following CAASPP and ELPAC systems will be unavailable from Friday, June 28, at 5 p.m. to Wednesday, July 3, at 8 a.m., for a scheduled downtime.

• Test Operations Management System
• Test Delivery System, including Test Administrator Interface
• Completion Status System
• Data Entry Interface
• Teacher Hand Scoring System

The 2024–25 CAASPP-ELPAC Planned System Downtime web page provides a calendar of scheduled downtimes through June 2025 as well as a glossary of abbreviations.

Direct any questions about the scheduled downtime to your local educational agency’s (LEA’s) assigned LEA Success Agent. You can locate your assigned agent on the LEA Success Agents web page. For other support options, visit the California Outreach web page.

Student Score Report Delivery

As we near the end of testing this year, it is important that each LEA has a plan for how they will notify parents and guardians of the availability of Student Score Reports (SSRs), as well as how SSRs will be made available in a timely manner.

Sections 863 and 11518.15 of the California Code of Regulations outline the timeline by which LEAs should make individual student results available to parents and guardians for the CAASPP and ELPAC, respectively.

• For the CAASPP, LEAs are required to make SSRs available to parents and guardians within 20 working days from receipt of SSRs in Test Operations Management System (TOMS). If the LEA does not receive the SSRs until after the last day of instruction for the school year, the LEA shall make the SSRs available no later than the first 20 working days of the next school year.
  

• For the ELPAC, LEAs are required to make SSRs available to parents and guardians within 30 calendar days from the receipt of SSRs in TOMS. If the LEA does not receive the SSRs until after the last day of instruction for the school year, the LEA shall make SSRs available within 15 working days of the start of the next school year.

If an LEA is planning to print and distribute paper SSRs, they can either distribute the SSRs as they receive them, or they can notify parents and guardians and distribute results once all SSRs have been received. If an LEA plans to distribute SSRs electronically and has established their SIS credentials for SSR delivery in TOMS , parents and guardians will receive SSRs in the parent portal soon after they are delivered to the LEA.

Educators Needed for Smarter Balanced Data Review!

Smarter Balanced is recruiting educators for the Data review meetings for the Smarter Balanced Summative Assessments for English language arts/literacy (ELA) and mathematics! These virtual events, hosted by Smarter Balanced, will be held August 14–15, 2024.

In these Data review meetings, educators will review ELA or mathematics items with statistical flags to determine if the items are appropriate for inclusion in the Smarter Balanced item bank. Reviewers will receive training on interpreting the statistical flags and on the data review process. If you or educators at your site or district are interested in participating, apply today at the Smarter Balanced Educator Recruitment web page.

Summer Trainings Starting Soon!

There is still time for LEA staff to register for two upcoming trainings that will start in July! These free training sessions are a great way for LEA staff to prepare for the 2024–25 school year.

Interim and Formative Assessment Training Series

These training sessions are organized into the following three modules:

• Module 1—Deep dive into formative assessment practices and resources, including an exploration of the Tools for Teachers website.

• Module 2—Deep dive into the CAASPP and ELPAC Interim Assessments and associated online systems and how to use these resources to support teaching and learning.

• Module 3—In-depth instruction and practice in hand scoring interim assessments for Smarter Balanced ELA and mathematics, California Science Test, and ELPAC. This module is split into four modules to accommodate each assessment.

Further information, including training dates, times, and registration details, can be found on the 2024 Interim and Formative Assessment Training Series registration web page.

Introduction to California Educator Reporting System Training

Learn about the features and functions of California Educator Reporting System (CERS) through these two-hour and three-hour CERS training sessions. Separate sessions have been developed for two specific audiences—coordinators and administrators, and teachers. Further information, including training dates, times, and registration instructions, is available through the following links:

• Introduction to CERS for Coordinators and Administrators registration page
• Introduction to CERS for Teachers registration page

Register for one or more of the summer and fall training sessions today!

To receive future CAASPP updates and notifications, subscribe to the CAASPP mailing list by sending a blank email message to subscribe-caaspp@mlist.cde.ca.gov. Are you a new subscriber? For previous Assessment Spotlight issues, visit the CDE Assessment Spotlight web page.