CAASPP Communication: February 2024

CAASPP email update, February 1, 2024.

This communication includes information and updates about the CAASPP .

Reminders

CAASPP Test Administrator Tutorial

The 2023–24 Test Administrator (TA) Tutorial is available on the CAASPP Test Administrator Tutorial web page and in the Moodle Training Site (Moodle) . The TA Tutorial is an optional course designed to prepare test administrators to administer the Smarter Balanced for English language arts/literacy (ELA) and mathematics, the California Science Test (CAST), and the California Spanish Assessment (CSA).

Upcoming Trainings

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

February 13: Coffee Session, 2–3 p.m.

These virtual monthly Coffee Sessions, hosted by the California Department of Education and ETS, offer opportunities for LEA staff to ask questions and get answers about assessments, trainings, resources, and more. If you are not already registered, you can register for one or more upcoming sessions of the 2023–24 Coffee Session Series .

February 22: New Coordinator Webinar #4, 3–4 p.m.

Register now for the 2023–24 New Coordinator Training Webinar #4 . This webinar, hosted by the Sacramento County Office of Education, provides information about the Security and Test Administration Incident Reporting System process and types of security incidents, along with a question-and-answer session with experienced coordinators.

February 28: Charter School Assessment Coordinator Network Meeting, 9:30–11 a.m.

Registration is now open to all for the February 2024 Charter School Assessment Coordinator Network Meeting . If you are wondering how other charter schools handle statewide assessment administration or simply looking to connect with other charter school assessment coordinators, this meeting is for you! Space is limited, so save your spot today.

CERS—Beyond the Basics for Teachers

Register now for the California Educator Reporting System (CERS)—Beyond the Basics for Teachers webinar. This 90-minute training will cover intermediate and advanced CERS features and is designed for teachers and other educational staff who have or will have access to CERS assessment results. It is highly recommended that participants have a basic understanding of CERS before attending.

This webinar will be held on February 28, 2024, and March 5, 2024, from 3:30 to 5 p.m. Both sessions are identical, and educators can choose to attend either session.

Educator Meeting Opportunities

Spanish teachers are invited to apply to participate in developing the CSA. Participation offers many opportunities to provide powerful input into the development and administration of the CSA. Opportunities include the speaking range finding, item review, and writing range finding meetings. The application windows will remain open until all slots are filled.

For science teachers, opportunities are available for the CAST Data Review meeting taking place June 17, 18, and 20, 2024. The application window closes on March 1, 2024.

Details for upcoming meetings can be found on the CAASPP Opportunities to Get Involved web page on the CAASPP website.

To apply for these meetings and for other opportunities, go to the Educator Opportunities Portal . Those without an Educator Opportunities Portal account can create an account via the Educator Opportunities Portal Account Creation Form in the Educator Opportunities Database. For any questions, please contact the Educator Opportunities Team by phone at 916-228-2682 or by email at edopportunities@scoe.net.

Available Now

CERS Updates

As of January 26, 2024, additional item-level information is available in CERS for the CAST and ELPAC Interim Assessments. For more information, access the CERS Update for LEA Coordinators email sent on January 30, 2024.

Ongoing Reminders

CSA Available to Administer

The CSA is now available to administer! This year, the CSA has been expanded to include the speaking domain and one full-write item for the writing domain. For spring 2024, the new items of the expanded CSA will be administered as a field test before they become operational for the 2024–25 test administration. As many LEAs as possible are needed to participate to ensure the validity of the new test items. For the 2023–24 test administration, ETS will be scoring the full test; LEAs will not be responsible for scoring any part of this test administration. More information can be found on the California Spanish Assessment web page on the CAASPP website.

CAASPP Interim Assessments Available to Administer

CAASPP Interim Assessments are currently available to administer for the following assessments:

Smarter Balanced for ELA
Smarter Balanced for Mathematics
(New!) CAST

Educators can access CERS to view results. Interim assessments can be administered in a standardized or nonstandardized manner. More information on the CAASPP Interim Assessments and training opportunities is available on the CAASPP Interim Assessment Administration Resources web page.

CAA for Science Administration

The California Alternate Assessment (CAA) for is currently available for testing. Test examiners (TEs) are encouraged to build their curriculum to allow eligible students to take the four embedded performance tasks throughout the year, following related instruction in each science domain. The four CAA for Science embedded performance tasks can be administered in any order. The Organization of the California Alternate Assessment for Science flyer can be shared with TEs to support their administration of this assessment.

Summative Assessment Scoring Job Opportunities

ETS applications for scorers. This is an excellent opportunity for educators to become more familiar with the California assessments. Scoring schedules are flexible and can include four-, six-, and eight-hour weekday or weekend shifts. California educators interested in applying can find more information on the ETS Online Scoring web page. Questions about the application or hiring process should be directed to etsrater@ets.org . Current scorers can reach out to ratercertify@ets.org for any scoring-related questions.

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 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 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