Assessment Spotlight, Issue 304

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 visit the CAASPP and ELPAC website .

January Site Administrator Assessment Convenings

Site administrators—There is still time to register for this month’s Site Administrator Assessment Convenings! These sessions offer an opportunity to learn about assessment resources offered by the California Department of Education (CDE), ask questions, and exchange ideas with other site administrators throughout the state.

This month’s focus is on supporting educators in identifying accessibility resources for students on the CAASPP and ELPAC and implementing these strategies at your site. Site administrators or their designees are encouraged to attend. The convenings will take place on:

• Wednesday, January 22, 2025, 9–10 a.m.
• Thursday, January 23, 2025, noon–1 p.m.

The same content will be shared on both dates, so registrants only need to select one date. Site administrators can register here for one of the convenings.

CERS Interpretive Guide Update

The California Educator Reporting System (CERS) Interpretive Guide is now available in an easy-to-search, web-based format and includes new guidance for interpreting California Science Test (CAST) and ELPAC interim assessments. This guide helps educators interpret and explain interim and summative assessment results. It is different from the CERS User Guide, which assists educators with viewing assessment data, learning about CERS features, and generating reports. The CERS Interpretive Guide can be accessed through the CERS Resources web page . It is also available as a link in CERS and the CERS Sandbox.

Deadline Extensions—Teaching and Learning Innovation Award

The application deadlines for the Smarter Balanced Teaching and Learning Innovation Award have been extended. The new deadlines are as follows:

• Stage 1—January 27, 2025
• Stage 2—February 24, 2025

Please see the Teaching and Learning Innovation Awards website for more information, including the full timeline and details about this exciting opportunity for local educational agencies (LEAs) to be recognized for their success in using Smarter Balanced resources to support teaching and learning.

Questions about this opportunity should be directed to Smarter Balanced at sb@smarterbalanced.org.

California Proficiency Program

The Proficiency, Equivalency, and Fitness Testing Office is pleased to announce that PSI HiSET, the vendor for the California Proficiency Program (CPP), has released a CPP Passer Roster Contact Designation Form . This form will allow Superintendents to designate one or more individuals from their district to receive a quarterly list of CPP passers, facilitating the maintenance of their local records.

PSI HiSET currently emails a quarterly list of CPP Passers to district superintendents to inform them of the passers in their districts. The new CPP Passer Roster Contact Designation Form allows superintendents to select additional individuals from their district to receive this information.

January’s Featured Resource in Tools for Teachers—Understanding Smarter Balanced Interim Assessments

This month’s featured Tools for Teachers professional learning resource Understanding Smarter Balanced Interim Assessments (account required), is designed to introduce educators to the Smarter Balanced Interim Assessments for English language arts/literacy and mathematics. A facilitator, with a group of educators, can use this professional learning resource to help build an understanding of the various types of Smarter Balanced Interim Assessments which are standards-aligned and available year-round.

The step-by-step directions guide participants through collaborative activities and discussions about the types of interim assessments offered, their purpose, and the flexible ways they can be administered. The resource is embedded with collaborative formative assessment strategies such as a Think-Pair-Share activity and a Card Sort activity. An extension activity is also available for educators who want to learn more about the different ways in which interim assessments can be used to support teaching and learning.

To view this professional learning resource, LEA staff need a Tools for Teachers account, which they can obtain either through self-registration, described in the flyer How to Self-Register for Tools for Teachers (PDF), or through their LEA CAASPP or ELPAC coordinator.

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.