California Assessment System

List of the tests for the California Assessment System for students in kindergarten through grade twelve (K–12).

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California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress (CAASPP)

Test	Content	Format	Type	Participants	Grades	Window
Smarter Balanced Summative Assessments	English language arts/literacy (ELA) and Mathematics	Computer Adaptive Test (CAT) and PT	CR MC PT SR TE	All students at designated grade levels Exceptions: • Eligible students participating in the California Alternate Assessments (CAA) • ELA only—English learners who are in their first 12 months of attending school in the United States	3–8 and 11	Local educational agencies (LEAs) may select their own local testing window which must: Have a minimum window of 25 instructional days Fall within available statewide testing window: January 14 through June 30, 2025
California Science Test	Science	CBT	CR MC PT SR TE	All students in designated grade levels Exceptions: • Eligible students participating in the CAA for Science	5 and 8, and once in grade 10, 11, or 12	LEAs may select their own local testing window which must: Have a minimum window of 25 instructional days Fall within available statewide testing window: January 14 through June 30, 2025
California Spanish Assessment	Reading and Language Arts in Spanish	CBT	MC SR TE CR	Students seeking a measure of their Spanish Reading/Language arts skills	3–8 and high school	LEAs may select their own local testing window which must: Have a minimum window of 25 instructional days Fall within available statewide testing window: January 14 through June 30, 2025
California Alternate Assessments	ELA and Mathematics	CBT	CR MC SR TE	Students with the most significant cognitive disabilities whose active individualized educational program (IEP) designates the use of an alternate assessment	3–8 and 11	LEAs may select their own local testing window which must: Have a minimum window of 25 instructional days Fall within available statewide testing window: January 14 through June 30, 2025
California Alternate Assessment	Science	PT and CBT	MC PT SR TE	Students with the most significant cognitive disabilities whose active IEP designates the use of an alternate assessment	5 and 8, and once in grade 10, 11, or 12	September 17, 2024, through last day of instruction or June 30, 2025, whichever comes first.
Interim Assessments	ELA, Mathematics, and Science	CBT	CR MC PT TE	All students in California LEAs may participate	3–8 and high school	Optional tests available at any time throughout the year that may be used in conjunction with Tools for Teachers resources.

English Language Proficiency Assessments for California (ELPAC)

Test	Content	Format	Type	Participants	Grades	Window
Inital ELPAC	Listening, Speaking, Reading, Writing	CBT with paper and pencil test for K–2 Writing	CR MC	All students whose primary language is not English as indicated on the Home Language Survey (HLS) enrolling in a California public school for the first time	K–12(1)	July 3, 2024, through June 30, 2025. Must be administered within 30 calendar days of enrolling in a California public school for the first time.
Summative ELPAC	Listening, Speaking, Reading, Writing	CBT with paper and pencil test for K–2 Writing	CR MC	Identified English learners until they are re-designated as fluent English proficient	K–12(1)	February 3 through May 31, 2025
Initial Alternate ELPAC	Listening, Speaking, Reading, Writing Expressive (Speaking and Writing), Receptive (Listening and Reading)	CBT	CR MC	Students with the most significant cognitive disabilities whose active IEP designates the use of an alternate assessment and whose primary language is not English as indicated on the HLS enrolling in a California public school for the first time	K–12(1)	July 3, 2024, through June 30, 2025. Must be administered within 30 calendar days of enrolling in a California public school for the first time.
Summative Alternate ELPAC	Expressive (Speaking and Writing), Receptive (Listening and Reading)	CBT	CR MC	Identified English learner students with the most significant cognitive disabilities whose active IEP designates the use of an alternate assessment until they are re-designated as fluent English proficient	K–12(1)	February 3 through May 31, 2025
Interim Assessments	ELPAC	CBT	CR MC	All students in California LEAs eligible to take the ELPAC may participate	K–12	Optional tests available at any time throughout the year.

(1) Grade 12 includes adult transition students through age 21.

Physical Fitness Test (PFT)

Content	Format	Type	Participants	Grades	Window
Aerobic Capacity, Abdominal Strength and Endurance, Trunk Extensor Strength and Flexibility, Upper Body Strength and Endurance, and Flexibility	FITNESSGRAM® Performance Assessment The FITNESSGRAM® is a registered trademark of The Cooper Institute.	PA	All students, regardless of whether they are enrolled in a physical education class or participate in a block schedule	5, 7, and 9	February 1 through May 31, 2025

Content

Format

Type

Participants

Grades

Window

Aerobic Capacity, Abdominal Strength and Endurance, Trunk Extensor Strength and Flexibility, Upper Body Strength and Endurance, and Flexibility

FITNESSGRAM® Performance Assessment

The FITNESSGRAM® is a registered trademark of The Cooper Institute.

All students, regardless of whether they are enrolled in a physical education class or participate in a block schedule

5, 7, and 9

February 1 through May 31, 2025

California Proficiency Program (CPP): For information visit the California Department of Education CPP web page.

High School Equivalency (HSE): California has approved the use of two high school equivalency tests: GED® and HiSET®. For more information on these two optional tests visit the California Department of Education (CDE) HSE web page.

National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP): For information visit the CDE NAEP web page.

Questions: California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress Office | caaspp@cde.ca.gov | 916-445-8765

Last Reviewed: Tuesday, July 30, 2024