Testing in California
Schools in California are administering the following tests in 2024-2025. You can access Fact Sheets for these tests by clicking here.
You can find out more about the Smarter Balanced Assessments at: SmarterBalance > https://www.cde.ca.gov/ta/tg/ca/parentguidetounderstand.asp.
English language arts/literacy and mathematics assessments (grades three through eight and grade eleven):
- Smarter Balanced
- California Alternate Assessments (CAAs)
Science assessments (grades five and eight):
- California Science Test
- CAA for Science
English Language Proficiency Assessments for California
The English Language Proficiency Assessments for California (ELPAC) is the required state test for English language proficiency (ELP) that must be given to students whose primary language is a language other than English.
State and federal law require that local educational agencies administer a state test of ELP to eligible students in kindergarten (or year one of a two-year kindergarten program, sometimes referred to as "transitional kindergarten") through grade twelve. The ELPAC is aligned with the 2012 California English Language Development Standards, and is comprised of two separate ELP assessments:
- an initial identification of students as English learners
- an annual summative assessment to measure a student’s progress in learning English and to identify the student's ELP level
Messages About the Redesigned Student Score Reports
Starting this year, students and families will receive redesigned student score reports (SSRs) for the California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress (CAASPP) and the English Language Proficiency Assessments for California (ELPAC) for the 2023–24 summative tests. Redesigned SSRs for the Initial ELPAC and the Initial Alternate ELPAC will be available beginning with the 2024–25 school year.
Feedback from students, parents, and educators has guided the redesign process so that each SSR contains clearer language and images. Student performance is easier to understand with quick access to additional information and resources to further support student learning.
The redesigned SSRs include the following improvements:
New look and organization: Each SSR now includes a cover page that offers a concise overview of the assessments, explains what the scores mean, and includes convenient access to additional information and resources. In addition, all student results for English language arts (ELA), math, and science are in one easy-to-read CAASPP SSR.
Improved results comparisons: SSRs now include school and state comparisons for ELA, math, and science. Comparing student test scores to the average scores for their school and state helps students and families make meaning from test results. In addition, an updated student score history section for ELA and math allows students and families to track progress over time.
More detailed results for ELA and math: The Area Performance Results section for ELA and math has been redesigned to provide more detailed information on student performance within specific areas of each assessment. For ELA, student essay scores have also been added to support a better understanding of student writing performance.
Lexile® and Quantile® measures: These measures are based on student scores from the Smarter Balanced ELA and math tests and are now included in the CAASPP SSRs. A link to the Lexile® & Quantile® Hub is included in the CAASPP SSR so that students and families can use these measures to quickly find reading and math materials targeted to each student’s ability.
Accessing additional information: Students and families have quick and convenient access to more information and resources through a QR code and hyperlinks throughout the SSRs. In addition, the Starting Smarter websites for the CAASPP and ELPAC have been redesigned to provide students and families additional information and resources to further support student learning.
Sample CAASPP SSRs can be found on the CAASPP Starting Smarter website at https://ca.startingsmarter.org/ and sample ELPAC SSRs can be found on the ELPAC Starting Smarter website at https://elpac.startingsmarter.org/.