CAASPP/SBAC Assessments
Smarter Balanced
The online Smarter Balanced Summative Assessments are comprehensive, end-of-year assessments of grade-level learning that measure progress toward college and career readiness. Each test, English language arts/literacy (ELA) and mathematics is comprised of two parts: (1) a computer adaptive test and (2) a performance task; administered within a 12-week window beginning at 66 percent of the instructional year for grades three through eight, or within in a 7-week window beginning at 80 percent of the instructional year for grade eleven.
The summative assessments are aligned with the Common Core State Standards (CCSS) for ELA and mathematics. The tests capitalize on the strengths of computer adaptive testing—efficient and precise measurement across the full range of achievement and timely turnaround of results.
California Alternate Assessment (CAA)
In the 2014–15 school year, the CAPA ELA and mathematics tests were replaced by the field test of the online California Alternate Assessment (CAA). The CAA field tests for English–language arts (ELA) and mathematics were administered to students in grades three through eight and grade eleven whose individualized education program (IEP) teams have determined that the student’s cognitive disabilities prevent him or her from taking the online CAASPP Smarter Summative Assessments.
The CAA tests give students the opportunity to demonstrate their achievement of the Common Core State Standards (CCSS) by taking a test commensurate with their abilities. The CCSS are assessed using alternate achievement standards called the Core Content Connectors (CCCs) developed by the National Center and State Collaborative. CCCs take the main achievement standards from the CCSS and were re-written to allow students to receive instruction on the CCSS through alternate standards that are more accessible for students with significant cognitive disabilities.