Available Resources for the Smarter Balanced Summative Assessments
The following resources are designed for classroom educators to support their understanding of the Smarter Balanced Summative Assessments for English language arts/literacy (ELA) and mathematics. Additional resources are provided for site administration to use when communicating to parents/guardians about the assessments.
Fact Sheet
Answers general questions about various aspects and objectives of the Smarter
Balanced Summative Assessments
https://www.cde.ca.gov/ta/tg/ca/documents/sbsumfactsheet.pdf
Overview Video
This video explores the Smarter Balanced summative assessments
https://youtu.be/FEy3PxOCE58
Practice and Training Tests
Opportunities to become familiar with the types of test questions that may appear on the ELA and mathematics summative assessments
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Online Practice and Training Test Portal
Direct access to the practice and training tests, available for all subjects and grade levels
http://www.caaspp.org/practice-and-training/index.html -
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 -
Take a Practice Test with Your Child
A flyer that can be shared with parents/guardians who want to learn more about the type of test questions on the summative assessments
https://www.cde.ca.gov/ta/tg/ai/documents/caaspppractice.pdf
Sample Items
Smarter Balanced website that provides sample test questions for the ELA and
mathematics tests at each grade
https://sampleitems.smarterbalanced.org/
Parent Guide to Understanding
Designed for parents/guardians to address basic questions, such as who takes the
assessments, why, when, and how; can be shared during back to school night, at
teacher conferences, with the letter that notifies parents/guardians that their child will be
taking yearly assessments, or with the annual Student Score Reports
https://www.cde.ca.gov/ta/tg/ca/documents/pgtu-summative.pdf
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
Talking About the CAASPP
PowerPoint templates for site administrators to use when talking about the Smarter Balanced Summative Assessments and the California Science Test
- Talking to Parents
https://www.caaspp.org/rsc/pdfs/talkingparentscaaspp.pptx - Talking to Educators
https://www.caaspp.org/rsc/pdfs/talkeducatorscaaspp.pptx
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
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Notice of Administration
https://www.caaspp.org/administration/parent-notification.html
Last Reviewed: September 16, 2022