State Mandated Tests
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California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress (CAASPP)Top of Page
Signed into law on October 2, 2013, Assembly Bill 484 launched a new student testing system for California’s schools, now called the California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress (CAASPP). The CAASPP system is based on the State’s new California Common Core State Standards (CA CCSS) for English Language Arts/Literacy (ELA) and mathematics, adopted by the State Board of Education in 2010. This new system replaces the Standardized Testing and Reporting (STAR) Program that was based on 1997 standards. The primary goal of the new statewide testing program is to better prepare all students for college and careers in the twenty first century. Computer-based assessments, developed through the Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium, form the cornerstone for CAASPP. All eleventh grade students take the new exams. For our severely disabled students, an alternative exam is available. In addition, 10th graders take a Life Science exam.
How CAASPP Results Are Used?
CAASPP test results are used for the following purposes:
Communicating with Parents and Guardians
Along with student report cards and information from school and classroom tests, results on the CAASPP Reports can be used by parents and guardians to talk with teachers about ways to improve their children's achievement.
Monitoring Student Achievement
These assessment results, along with other school and school district reports and teacher information, are used to monitor student achievement for a variety of purposes. Test results, however, should never be used as the only source of information to make important decisions about a student s education
Evaluating School Programs
Each year, district and school staff thoroughly review test results for groups of students by grade and subject to identify program strengths and weaknesses.
Providing Data to Accountability Programs
CAASPP test results are used for state and federal accountability programs that monitor the progress of each school district and school toward achieving established goals.
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CELDT - California English Language Development TestTop of Page
State and federal laws require all school districts in California to give a state test each year to every student whose home language is not English and who is currently identified as an English Learner. The name of this test is the California English Language Development Test (CELDT). Its purpose is to see how well each student is learning to listen, speak, read, and write in English.
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Physical Fitness Testing (PFT)Top of Page
The goal of California's physical fitness test is to facilitate learning about physical activity and physical fitness concepts in order to increase the likelihood students will adopt lifetime patterns of physical activity. All students must pass this test to graduate. It is initially taken in the 9th grade and can be retaken each year until the requirement is met. Students who do not pass the test as a freshman are required to take Physical Education courses until they pass.
The physical fitness test designated for California public school students is the FITNESSGRAM®, developed by The Cooper Institute. The test assesses six major fitness areas, including aerobic capacity (cardiovascular endurance), body composition (percentage of body fat), abdominal strength and endurance, trunk strength and flexibility, upper body strength and endurance, and overall flexibility. A number of test options are provided so that most students can participate.
A score in the HFZ represents the level of fitness thought to provide some protection from the potential health risks imposed by a lack of fitness in this measure. The HFZ reflects reasonable levels of fitness that can be attained by most students that participate regularly in various types of physical activity.