Assessment Spotlight, Issue 242

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 website and the ELPAC website .

2023 California Department of Education Local Educational Agency Coordinator Survey

Are you a local educational agency (LEA) CAASPP or ELPAC Coordinator? We want to hear from you!

The California Department of Education (CDE) is launching its sixth annual LEA Coordinator Survey. This brief survey asks CAASPP and ELPAC coordinators about a variety of assessment topics to help guide the development and improvement of trainings and resources released statewide. Please take a few minutes to tell us about the resources and training you need to be successful in your role as coordinator by completing the 2023 LEA Coordinator Survey .

The survey will close on Friday, September 1, 2023. If you have any questions about this survey, please contact Nikki Antonovich, Coordinator at the Sacramento County Office of Education by email at caaspp@scoe.net.

Updates to the Student Accessibility Resource Web Page

The CDE’s Student Accessibility Resources web page contains important information regarding accessibility resources for all students, including those who are English learners and students with disabilities. These resources ensure that the assessments meet the needs of all students.

Updates that have been made to this page include the addition of the Accessibility Strategies for Teaching and Learning (PDF) document which provides a description of what accessibility resources look like in direct and indirect teaching and learning environments. This update also includes the addition of the Accessibility Resources Planning Tool (PDF) document which organizes many of the accessibility resources that are available for the CAASPP and ELPAC according to their connection with the Universal Design for Learning guidelines.

More information about student accessibility resources can be found on the Student Accessibility Resources web page.

August’s Featured Resource in Tools for Teachers—Time Waits For No One

This month’s featured Tools for Teachers resource, Time Waits For No One (account required), is a grade three math lesson that teachers can use to help students determine elapsed time, using a number line. This engaging lesson provides teachers with step-by-step directions that use the gradual release of tasks through the “I Do/We Do/You Do” model of instruction while students solve three different elapsed time situations.

Students work individually and in pairs to answer math problems using a number line. Math problem questions focus on determining elapsed time to the nearest minute when either end-time, elapsed time, or start-time is unknown. Use of mini whiteboards throughout the lesson helps teachers to quickly assess students’ level of understanding, identify possible misconceptions, and modify questions to include hours and minutes for students performing above standard. The lesson helps students move beyond the base-10 system and strengthens their understanding of time, which is based on 60 minutes. This resource includes a digital presentation for teachers to model how to solve elapsed time problems and includes key considerations for meeting students where they are in their learning.

This instructional resource can be found in two Interim Assessment Connections Playlists for grade three: 1) Measurement and Data and 2) Time, Volume, and Mass. Each playlist consists of instructional resources that can be used to teach the content assessed on the corresponding Interim Assessment Block. To view this and other instructional resources, LEA staff need a Tools for Teachers account which can be obtained either through self-registration, described in the flyer How to Self-Register for Tools for Teachers (PDF), or through their LEA CAASPP coordinator.

Please share this email with any educators in your LEA who would be interested in or benefit from this information. To join the email list, send a blank email message to subscribe-caaspp@mlist.cde.ca.gov. Are you a new subscriber? Visit the CDE Assessment Spotlight web page to find previous issues.