CAASPP Communication: March 2023

CAASPP email update, March 1, 2023.

This communication includes information and updates about the CAASPP .

Upcoming Trainings

To register or locate additional details about upcoming trainings, including dates, times, or content, visit the CAASPP Training Opportunities web page.

March 8: Data-Driven Decision-Making Training Series for Educational Leaders (Module 3)

This training series consists of four ninety-minute modules. The last offering of this session, Module 3 , covers the connection between data in the California Educator Reporting System (CERS) and systems of support, including Tools for Teachers, the Smarter Balanced Content Explorer, Lexile and Quantile scores, the Smarter Annotated Response Tool, and information on accessibility resources. Team attendance is encouraged, and teams could include LEA and site coordinators, curriculum leads, and teacher leaders or coaches.

March 14: Coffee Session, 2–3 p.m.

Register now for the March 2023 Coffee Session . This session will include members from the This session will include members from the CDE's Analysis, Measurement & Accountability Reporting Division who will provide information on the Dashboard Academic Indicator and the English Learner Progress Indicator. Use the Coffee Session Content Request Form to submit questions, request demonstrations, or share a best practice.

April 20: New Coordinator Training Webinar #5, 3–4 p.m.

The New Coordinator Training Webinar #5 will provide a review of upcoming coordinator checklist tasks, dive into resources for preparing to receive scores, and include a question and answer session with experienced coordinators.

April 24 and 27: Data-Driven Decision-Making Training Series for Educational Leaders (Module 4)

This training series consists of four ninety-minute modules. Module 4 will cover why a local data-driven decision-making system is important, as well as protected team planning time to construct actionable steps for creating or improving a robust local data system. Team attendance is encouraged, and teams could include LEA and site coordinators, curriculum leads, and teacher leaders or coaches.

Available Now!

Manuals, Instructions, and Quick Reference Guides

CAASPP Online Test Administration Manual
Smarter Balanced Summative and California Science Test (CAST) scripts section of the CAASPP Online Test Administration Manual
Smarter Balanced Summative and CAST scripts PDF web document

Web Page Updates

Videos

Ongoing Reminders

CAA Test Examiner Tutorial

Test examiners must complete the California Alternate Assessment (CAA) Test Examiner Tutorial in the Moodle Training Site (Moodle) and receive a certificate of completion before administering the CAAs. Coordinators can monitor test examiner progress within Moodle. Coordinators received the CAASPP: Resources to Prepare for the 2022–23 California Alternate Assessments email on July 25, 2022, which provided information about accessing and completing the course.

LEAs should have begun preparing for and administering the CAAs for English language arts/literacy (ELA), mathematics, and science. The four embedded performance tasks for the CAA for Science are to be administered throughout the year. Each embedded performance task is administered shortly after the student has received instruction on the related science content.

Form assignments for the 2022–23 test administration of the CAAs for ELA and mathematics and CAA for Science are available on the following web pages:

Use this information to determine which form of the grade-level Directions for Administration to download for each student in the Test Operations Management System (TOMS) . Some schools assigned to Form 2 will be required to second-score rubric-scored items for the CAA for ELA. To find schools assigned to second scoring, refer to the CAA for ELA Second Scoring Assignments web page.

Please visit the CAAs web page for more information on certification and test administration and the Moodle Training Site Information web page for more information about estimated completion time for the CAA Test Examiner Tutorial and for the accompanying document, CAA Test Examiner Tutorial: Moodle At-A-Glance.

CAASPP Test Administrator Tutorial

Available both on the Test Administrator Tutorial web page and in Moodle, the Test Administrator Tutorial is designed to prepare test administrators to administer the Smarter Balanced Summative Assessment for ELA and mathematics, the CAST, and the California Spanish Assessment. This year, a new test administration video, How to Administer a Test from Start to Finish , is included.

Asynchronous Hand Scoring Learning Modules

This new set of asynchronous training modules focuses on how to hand score the Smarter Balanced Interim Assessment performance tasks for ELA and mathematics. Content for these new offerings is accessed on the following web pages:

These learning modules can be completed at any time, individually or as part of a professional learning community. There is no secure content on these web pages, but access to secure materials, including training guides and exemplars, is necessary to engage with the learning modules. Instructions are provided that guide teachers and other LEA staff in accessing secure materials for hand scoring through TOMS.

Educator Opportunities Upcoming Meetings

The CAASPP Opportunities to Get Involved web page provides information about meetings for educators who want to be involved in the development and review of test questions for California assessment programs. For example, ETS and the California Department of Education will conduct CAST item review meetings in March during which educators will review and provide feedback on newly developed grade five items before they are used for field-testing on the 2023–24 CAST administration.

To apply for future meetings, go to the Educator Opportunities Portal . If you do not have an Educator Opportunities Portal account, you will need to create an account in the Educator Opportunities Database. If you have forgotten your password or have any questions about how to get involved in educator opportunities, please contact the Educator Opportunities Team by phone at 916-228-2682 or by email at edopportunities@scoe.net.

Previous CAASPP Monthly Communications

Previous CAASPP monthly communications, as well as other email communications, are located on the CAASPP Coordinator Emails web page.

Additional Help

Direct questions about policies, regulations, and requirements to caaspp@cde.ca.gov.
Contact your region's Success Agent for answers to questions about assessment coordination, development, and administration, as well as for technical support.
Direct questions about Moodle , certification, and calibration to moodlesupport@scoe.net.
Get Answers from a new user-friendly lookup tool available to help LEA coordinators quickly find answers to the most common testing questions. Users can also suggest Additional Questions for the FAQ , which will be reviewed on a regular basis.
Chat with Anita, your virtual assistant for LEA help, which is available on the CAASPP and ELPAC home pages. Unanswered questions will be routed to your LEA Success Agent.

Sincerely,

California Outreach Team

CAASPP website