What is CAASPP?

CAASPP or California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress is the State of California’s system for monitoring student academic progress for students in 3rd through 12th grade. The primary purpose of CAASPP is to assist teachers, administrators, pupils and parents by promoting high-quality teaching and learning through the use of a variety of assessment approaches and item types. The CAASPP comprises the following assessments:

Smarter Balanced Summative Assessments – Computer-based tests in English language arts and mathematics that are administered to students in Grades 3 through 8, and Grade 11.  The Smarter Balanced Assessment System utilizes computer-adaptive tests and performance tasks that allow students to show what they know and are able to do. This system is based on the Common Core State Standards for English language arts/literacy and mathematics. The computer-adaptive section includes a range of item types such as selected response, constructed response, table, fill-in, graphing, etc. The performance tasks are extended activities that measure a student’s ability to integrate knowledge and skills across multiple standards—a key component of college and career readiness.

The California Alternate Assessment (CAA) – Computer-based tests in English-language arts and mathematics that are administered to students who qualify in Grades 3 through 8, and Grade 11.

California Science Test (CAST) – The CAST is an online test based on the Next Generation Science Standards for California. All students in Grades 5 and 8 are required to take the online CAST.

California Alternate Assessment for Science (CAA for Science) – The CAA for Science is available for students in Grades 5 and 8 who qualify, and will be administered as an embedded performance task that is part of classroom instruction. It is delivered one on one by a trained CAA test examiner who is familiar to the student.

Test Results for California's Assessments

For more information regarding CAASPP, visit the California Department of Education CAASPP program website.

For more information, please contact Data and Assessment.