Fact Sheet

Answers general questions about various aspects and objectives of the CAST
https://www.cde.ca.gov/ta/tg/ca/documents/castfactsheet23.pdf

CAST Informational Video

A six-minute video that provides a general overview of the CAST and how it is aligned with the California Next Generation Science Standards
https://www.cde.ca.gov/ta/tg/ca/castinfovideo.asp

Parent Guide to Understanding

Designed for parents and guardians to address basic questions, such as who takes the CAST, why, when, and how; may be shared during back to school night, at teacher conferences, with annual Student Score Reports, or in other settings as needed
https://www.cde.ca.gov/ta/tg/ca/documents/pgtu-cast.pdf

Practice and Training Tests

Opportunities to become familiar with the types of test questions that may appear on the CAST:

• Online Practice and Training Test Portal
  Provides direct access to the CAST online training and practice tests for students in grades five and eight and high school; scoring guides and rubrics also available
  http://www.caaspp.org/practice-and-training/index.html

• Practice and Training Test Flyer
  Information to introduce students, parents/guardians, and teachers to the practice and training tests
  https://www.cde.ca.gov/ta/tg/ca/documents/castpracticetraining.pdf

• How to Start a Training Test
  Step-by-step instructions for how to access and start a training test
  https://www.cde.ca.gov/ta/tg/ca/documents/qrgstarttrainingtest.pdf

• How to Start a Practice Test
  Step-by-step instructions for how to access and start a practice test
  https://www.cde.ca.gov/ta/tg/ca/documents/qrgstartpracticetest.pdf

CAST Item Specifications

Connect the Disciplinary Core Ideas, Science and Engineering Practices, and Crosscutting Concepts elements to the phenomena and prompts used in the development of the CAST items; can serve as an important tool along with the 2016 Science Framework for California Public Schools for educators to use to gain a better understanding of the three-dimensional nature of the CAST
https://www.cde.ca.gov/ta/tg/ca/castitemspecs.asp

How to Start a Test Session

Step-by-step instructions for how to access and start a test session https://www.cde.ca.gov/ta/tg/ca/documents/qrgstarttestsession.pdf

For Site Administrators

Parent Notification Letters

Sample letter templates to serve as notice to parents/guardians of the yearly statewide assessment and when sharing information about student scores

• Notice of Administration
  https://www.caaspp.org/administration/parent-notification.html

High School Test Administration

Provides guidance for determining when high school students must take the CAST
https://www.cde.ca.gov/ta/tg/ca/documents/sciencetestadminhs.pdf

Organization of the CAST

https://www.caaspp.org/rsc/pdfs/organizationcast.pdf