California Alternate Assessment for Science

The California Alternate Assessments (CAAs) give students the opportunity to demonstrate their learning by taking a test aligned with alternate achievement standards for their grade level. Students whose individualized education program (IEP) designates the use of an alternate assessment to measure learning take the CAAs for English language arts/literacy (ELA) and mathematics in grades three through eight and eleven. Students take the CAA for Science in grades five and eight, and once in high school.

Working with a teacher, your child completed questions independently. Like other California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress (CAASPP) tests, the CAAs offer accessibility resources according to each student’s needs and as described in the student’s IEP.

Students receive an overall score and an achievement level. There are three different achievement levels:

Level 3: Understanding Level 2: Foundational Understanding Level 1: Limited Understanding

Assessment results are only one measure and should be combined with other information to better understand student achievement.

If you have any questions about the assessments or your child’s results, you may contact your child’s teacher and other members of your child’s IEP team for more information.