Assessment Spotlight, Issue 305

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 .

Initial ELPAC and Initial Alternate ELPAC Timeline Extension for Local Educational Agencies Impacted by Wildfires

On January 10, 2025, the Governor issued Executive Order N-3-25 (PDF), which includes an extension of the deadline for conducting English language proficiency assessments (California Code of Regulations, 11518.5) by 45 days for those local education agencies (LEAs) directly impacted by this emergency. This means that impacted LEAs will have an additional 45 days to complete the Initial ELPAC or Initial Alternate ELPAC, in addition to the original 30 days. While this provides impacted LEAs with a total of 75 days to administer the Initial ELPAC or Initial Alternate ELPAC, the Test Operations Management System will continue to reflect the 30-day timeline and will not include the additional 45 days. As a reminder, eligible students should begin to receive English learner programs and services on day 30 until the Initial ELPAC or Initial Alternate ELPAC is administered, and the official score is produced.

February Charter School Assessment Coordinator Network Meeting

Register today for the next virtual Charter School Assessment Coordinator Network quarterly meeting scheduled for Wednesday, February 26, 2025, from 9:30 to 11 a.m.

Hear about assessment updates, discuss best practices of assessment coordination, and connect with other charter school assessment coordinators across the state. We hope to see you there!

Site Administrator Resource Survey

The California Department of Education (CDE) is committed to helping educators effectively communicate the importance and benefits of CAASPP and ELPAC testing. We are seeking feedback from site administrators on existing resources and ways we can support sites with communicating the importance of CAASPP and ELPAC to parent/guardians and students. Please forward this short Site Administrator Resource Survey to your site administrators to help us understand how we can best support you in this work. The survey will close on January 31, 2025.

Tools for Teachers—Newly Added Instructional Resources

The Tools for Teachers website (account required) provides resources that help educators incorporate the formative assessment process into classroom instruction. In December 2024, new instructional resources (i.e., lesson plans) became available in the following content areas:

• 40 for ELA (more than 395 total ELA resources now available)
  
• 47 for math (more than 365 total math resources now available)
  

These newly added resources join 13 new science instructional resources that were added to Tools for Teachers earlier this school year, bringing the total to more than 90 science resources.

The CDE will provide information in the coming months about additional Tools for Teachers updates and newly added resources.

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.