Assessment Spotlight, Issue 286

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 .

Systems Downtime Reminder

This is a final reminder that the following CAASPP and ELPAC systems will be unavailable beginning today, Friday, August 2, at 5 p.m. to Tuesday, August 6, at 8 a.m., for a scheduled downtime:

• Completion Status System
• Interim Assessment Viewing System
• Interim Assessment Item Portal
• Test Delivery System, including Test Administrator Interface
• Teacher Hand Scoring System

Visit the 2024–25 CAASPP-ELPAC System Downtime Schedule web page for more information.

The Brand New Coordinator How-to Hub

We are thrilled to announce the launch of the new Coordinator How-to Hub, designed for coordinators looking to complete tasks in a timely manner. This hub provides essential “how-to” resources for all local educational agency (LEA) assessment coordinators. This includes vignettes from experienced coordinators discussing how they think through coordinator duties, such as setting test windows, loading accessibility resources, and more! Every topic features videos by two coordinators from small LEAs, two from medium LEAs, two from large LEAs, two from charter schools, and one from a county office of education.

We look forward to continuing this journey together and achieving even greater success in the development of coordinators. Visit the CAASPP & ELPAC Coordinator How-to Hub web page.

Updated ELPAC Information Guide Just Posted

We are happy to announce that the newly updated ELPAC Information Guide has been posted for 2024–25. This guide provides LEAs, schools, educators, and families with information on the ELPAC, including the processes for initial identification, classification, and reclassification of English learner students. In addition, this guide helps teachers understand and use their students’ ELPAC results and effectively communicate these results to parents/guardians.

The updates made this year include:

• The entire guide is now in HTML format for easier access and searchability. The guide is still printable, if necessary.

• The What Is New section has been updated to include information needed by LEAs for the 2024–25 administration year.

• The guide has been updated with additional guidance and legal citations to support LEAs in making decisions related to the ELPAC.

• The Reclassification section has been simplified with all guidance now located on the Multilingual Support Division's Reclassification web page.

• All sections within the guide have been reorganized for better consistency and flow throughout the guide.

• The Appendices has been combined into a single section with chapters and reorganized to allow for more effective access to information and resources.

• A link to Acronyms and Disclaimers has been added to the In Chapter Menu.

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 California Department of Education Assessment Spotlight web page.