State Testing Parent Notification: California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress Summative Assessments, California Science Test, and Physical Fitness Test assessments

State Testing Parent Notification  California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress Summative Assessments, California Science Test, and Physical Fitness Test Assessments

Dear Parent/Guardian:

Every year, California students take several statewide tests. When combined with other measures such as grades, class work, and teacher observations, these tests give families and teachers a more complete picture of their child’s learning. You can use the results to identify where your child is doing well and where they might need more support.

Your child may be taking one or more of the following California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress (CAASPP) and Physical Fitness Test assessments. Pursuant to California Education Code Section 60615, parents/guardians may annually submit to the school a written request to excuse their child from any or all of the CAASPP assessments. This exemption does not exist for the Physical Fitness Test.

CAASPP: Smarter Balanced Assessments for English Language Arts/Literacy (ELA) and Math

• Who takes these tests? Students in grades 3–8 and grade 11.
• What is the test format? The Smarter Balanced assessments are computer-based.
• Which standards are tested? The California Common Core State Standards.

CAASPP: California Alternate Assessments (CAAs) for ELA and Math

• Who takes these tests? Students in grades 3–8 and grade 11 whose individualized education program (IEP) identifies the use of alternate assessments.
• What is the test format? The CAAs for ELA and math are computer-based tests that are administered one-on-one by a test examiner who is familiar with the student.
• Which standards are tested? The California Common Core State Standards through the Core Content Connectors.

CAASPP: California Science Test (CAST)

• Who takes the test? Students take the CAST in grades 5, 8, and grade 12.
• What is the test format? The CAST is computer-based.
• Which standards are tested? The California Next Generation Science Standards (CA NGSS).

CAASPP: California Alternate Assessment (CAA) for Science

• Who takes the test? Students whose IEP identifies the use of an alternate assessment take the CAA for Science in grades 5, 8, and grade 12.
• What is the test format? The CAA for Science is a series of four performance tasks that can be administered throughout the year as the content is taught.
• Which standards are tested? Alternate achievement standards derived from the CA NGSS.

CAASPP: California Spanish Assessment (CSA)

• Who takes the test? The CSA is an optional test for students in grades 3–12 that tests their Spanish reading, listening, and writing mechanics.
• What is the test format? The CSA is computer-based.
• Which standards are tested? The California Common Core State Standards en Español.

Physical Fitness Test 

• Who takes the test? Students in grades 5, 7, and 9 will take the FITNESSGRAM®, which is the test used in California.
• What is the test format? The test consists of five performance components: aerobic capacity, abdominal strength, trunk strength, upper body strength, and flexibility.
• Which standards are tested? The Healthy Fitness Zones, which are established through the FITNESSGRAM®.

San Rafael City Schools strongly encourages all students to participate in CAASPP testing. Parents/Guardians will have access to a digital score report through our student information system (AERIES) that summarizes performance on the CAASPP assessments. Student Score Reports will only be available electronically. Please contact your school for more information on how to activate your Parent Portal account to view scores. 

To learn more about the CAAs, go to the California Department of Education Parent Guides to Understanding webpage. You also can look at sample test questions on the practice tests, which can be found on the CAASPP Web Portal.

School sites will communicate more details about their testing schedule.  

Sincerely, 

Education Services Department
 

San Rafael City Schools www.srcs.org  |  communications@srcs.org 310 Nova Albion Way San Rafael, CA 94903