Assessment Spotlight, Issue 294

Focusing on the California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress (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 .

Complete the Initial ELPAC and Initial Alternate ELPAC Before Census Day

As of September 25, 2024, almost 92 percent of all eligible students had completed all four domains on the Initial ELPAC and 75 percent completed the Initial Alternate ELPAC. The California Department of Education (CDE) recognizes all the hard work that local educational agencies (LEAs) have done to test their eligible students this fall.

To ensure that newly enrolled students are included in the Unduplicated Pupil Count, which is used to determine funding for the supplemental and concentration grants under the Local Control Funding Formula for 2024–25, students must complete the entire Initial ELPAC (all four domains) or Initial Alternate ELPAC by Tuesday, October 1, 2024.

Final Sessions of the 2024–25 Introduction to the California Educator Reporting System Training

Space is still available for the final two sessions of the online facilitated 2024–25 Introduction to the California Educator Reporting System (CERS) training. LEA staff are invited to attend one or both sessions offered for specific audiences:

• Register for Introduction to CERS for Test Coordinators and Administrators , Tuesday, October 8, 2024, from 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
• Register for the Introduction to CERS for Teachers ,Tuesday, October 8, 2024, from 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.

If you have any questions about these training opportunities, please contact Nikki Antonovich, Coordinator, Sacramento County Office of Education at caaspp@scoe.net.

1.0 Percent Threshold Survey

The 2024–25 1.0 Percent Threshold Justification Survey is now available and will be open until the close of business on October 11, 2024. LEAs can find the link to the survey, which applies to the 2024–25 administration year, and guidance for completing the survey on the CDE’s One Percent Threshold on Alternate Assessments web page.

The Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) requires LEAs to notify the CDE if they expect to exceed 1.0 percent of their total assessed student population taking alternate assessments in English language arts/literacy, mathematics, and science. The CDE requires all LEAs to complete the survey, regardless of whether the LEA:

• Anticipates exceeding the 1.0 percent cap
• Anticipates not exceeding the 1.0 percent cap
• Has no students expected to take the alternate assessments

The overall intent of the ESSA regulations is to help address concerns about disproportionality related to potentially overidentifying students for alternate assessments. The state undergoes increased monitoring and oversight by the U.S. Department of Education as a consequence for exceeding the threshold. If an LEA continues to exceed the 1.0 percent threshold, they may be identified for monitoring by the CDE.

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.