Assessment Spotlight, Issue 298

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 .

New Coordinator Training Webinar #7–Preparing for Testing

Register now for the upcoming New Coordinator Training Webinar – Preparing for Testing on November 21, 2024, 3–4 p.m. The session will take a deep dive into the tasks associated with preparing for the 2024–25 assessment administration:

• Understanding the Test Operations Management System
• Planning
• Training plan for coordinators
• Technology planning
• Communication plan

Charter School Assessment Coordinator Network Meeting

Register today for the next virtual quarterly meeting of the Charter School Assessment Coordinator Network scheduled for December 4, 2024, 9:30–11 a.m. Topics for this session will include shared practices on preparing for CAASPP and ELPAC testing.
These quarterly meetings are designed to offer targeted support to charter school coordinators and administrators through the sharing of assessment updates, best practices, and support networks.

New! Interim Assessment Shared Practices Webinar Playlist

Earlier this fall, the California Department of Education (CDE) hosted a shared practices webinar series focused on supporting students with interim assessments. This series featured classroom teachers and administrators across the state sharing how they promote and use CAASPP and ELPAC interim assessments to support teaching and learning. State-provided interim assessments are available for:

• Smarter Balanced English language arts/literacy and mathematics
• California Science Test
• ELPAC

A new YouTube Playlist of the webinar recordings is available from the CDE for easy access to the tips, strategies, and resources shared by educators during this webinar series. Check out the Interim Assessment Shared Practices Webinar playlist today and tell colleagues about it!

Complete the 1.0 Percent Threshold Survey

Attention LEA CAASPP coordinators: If you have not yet completed the annual 1.0 Percent Threshold Survey for the California Alternate Assessments in ELA, mathematics, and science, please do so by Monday, November 4, 2024. The 1.0 Threshold Survey and guidance can be found on the CDE’s 1.0 Percent Threshold on Alternate Assessments web page.

The 1.0 Percent Threshold Survey is conducted in response to the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), which 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, the LEA may be identified for monitoring by the CDE.

To receive future CAASPP and ELPAC 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.