What is CAASPP?

The California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress (CAASPP) System replaced the Standardized Testing and Reporting (STAR) Program as of July 1, 2013. California’s new assessment system is part of a comprehensive plan to promote high-quality teaching and learning and improve student outcomes. Assessments play an important role in promoting and modeling high-quality instruction. The CAASPP encompasses the Smarter Balanced Assessments and the California Alternate Assessments (CAA). In grades 5, 8 and 10 students are also tested in science with the California Standards Test (CST).


What are the Smarter Balanced Assessments?

The Smarter Balanced Assessments are new computer-based tests that measure student knowledge of California’s English language arts/literacy (ELA) and mathematics standards. Students in 3rd-11th grade are tested.

The Smarter Balanced Assessments reflect the higher, more rigorous standards in the California Common Core. The Smarter Balanced tests assess content knowledge, as well as deeper and more critical thinking skills of our students. These annual school assessments are no longer just about memorizing content. These assessments ask our students to think more deeply, and to demonstrate their understanding in assessment items that represent problem-solving.

The Smarter Balanced Assessments include both a Computer Adaptive Test and a Performance Task. These tests are taken online. The Computer Adaptive Tests adjust based on student responses. The Performance Tasks require students to apply critical thinking to a prompt or problem and explain or justify their approach to the problem or solution in writing. 

 

Why is this assessment important?

Like an annual medical check-up, the tests will provide an annual academic check-up, letting educators and parents read the “vital signs” that indicate whether students are on track for academic success. Such assessments will encourage systemic improvements in teaching and learning that will enhance the rigor of students’ academic lives and ultimately benefit their futures as adults and productive members of society.


What will the Smarter Balanced tests measure?

Smarter Balanced tests provide one measure of student knowledge of the subject matter (ELA/Math), as well as critical thinking, analytical writing, and problem-solving skills. The tests provide timely and actionable student information so that teachers and schools can adjust and improve teaching to ensure students have the knowledge and skills they need to succeed in school and beyond.


When will the Smarter Balanced Assessments take place in the District? What tests will they actually take?

The assessment window in the Larkspur-Corte Madera School District generally occurs during the month of May. Each school site will share their specific testing dates. All of the tests are untimed, but these assessments typically take students 60 to 120 minutes to complete and are spread out over a 2-3 week period.

 

These assessments are not used as a single determinant of placement or aptitude and are only one of many progress measures teachers use throughout the year. They will be used only to inform teachers about student proficiency and progress towards standards and to guide or adjust instruction. Scores are not used to determine whether a student moves on to the next grade.

Parents have access to a report of their child’s test results that indicates achievement levels and scores. The results of the Smarter Balanced Assessments are available on the Aeries Parent Portal. To access your child’s report, sign into Aeries (https://larkspurcortemadera.aeries.net/student/LoginParent.aspx). The school office does not manage Aeries parent portal passwords, so please use the Forgot Password link on the sign in page if you need password support. If you are still having difficulty signing in, please contact the school office. Once you are signed in, select Test Scores from the menu on the left. From here you can select any of the following:

• Test Details - Lexile and Quantile Scale Scores for current and prior years

• State Test Scores Report - PDF version of your child’s score report for CAASPP, CAST (Science), and ELPAC (if appropriate)

• Test Scores - Overview of scale score, performance level, Lexile and Quantile for each year of tests

 

Resources for Parents

The California Department of Education (CDE) has developed several resources to help students and parents understand the grade expectations of the Smarter Balanced Summative Assessments:

• CAASPP Parent Starting Smarter Guide - The Starting Smarter website includes information on student score reports, sample test questions, parent-teacher conferences, and other no-cost resources in English and Spanish.

• CAASPP Parent Guides - These guides provide parents with answers to key questions about the what, why, who, how, and when. They are available for each assessment program.

• CAASPP Practice and Training Tests - This link accesses both the practice and training tests portal. The practice tests provide students with grade-specific testing experiences that are similar in structure and format to the summative assessments. The training tests provide students with the opportunity to quickly become familiar with the software and interface features. The training tests are organized by grade bands (e.g., 3–5).

• CAASPP Results Website - CAASPP results for every California school and district