CAASPP Communication: October 2023

email update, Monday, October 2, 2023

This communication includes information and updates about the CAASPP .

Urgent Reminders

Setting Up Test Administration Windows

LEA CAASPP coordinators can now begin to set up test administration windows for the CAASPP in the Test Operations Management System (TOMS) . The deadline for setting up a 2023–24 CAASPP test administration window is December 1, 2023.LEAs may need to set up more than one test administration window for schools with varying instructional dates; up to six windows can be configured per LEA. Refer to the TOMS User Guide and the TOMS: Setting Up Your Test Admin Window video for more information.

Upcoming Dates

October: CAST Interim Assessments Available to Administer

In October 2023, the California Science Test (CAST) Interim Assessments will be available to administer, score, and generate results. More information on the new CAST Interim Assessments and new training opportunities is available on the CAASPP Interim Assessment Administration Resources web page.

Upcoming Trainings

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

October 3: Introducing the CAST Interim Assessments, 3:30–4:45 p.m.

Register now for the Introducing the CAST Interim Assessments webinar. This webinar is designed to assist all LEA staff—including coordinators, administrators, and teachers—in understanding the content and appropriate uses of the new CAST Interim Assessments.

October 19: New Coordinator Webinar #3, 3–4 p.m.

Registration is open for the New Coordinator Webinar #3 . This webinar, hosted by the Sacramento County Office of Education (SCOE), will review resources for student assessment practice (e.g., practice tests, interim assessments, etc.) and will include a Q&A session with experienced coordinators. This webinar is designed for LEA CAASPP coordinators and LEA ELPAC coordinators who have been in their role for less than 12 months or want a refresher on the coordinator responsibilities.

October 24 and 26: CERS Trainings

This training is designed for LEA staff who have access to or manage LEA use of the California Educator Reporting System (CERS). To register for the coordinator and administrator training held on October 24, 2023, from 8:30 to 11 a.m. and October 26, 2023, from 1 to 4 p.m., go to the CERS Training for Test Coordinators and Administrators registration web page. To register for the teacher-focused training held on October 24, 2023, from 3:30 to 5 p.m., go to the Introduction to CERS for Teachers Online Training registration web page.

October–November 2023: Interim and Formative Assessment Training Series

Register now for fall sessions of the Interim and Formative Assessment Training Series . This training series provides direct, online training focused on the interim and formative components of the CAASPP and ELPAC system of assessments. It is composed of three distinct, independent modules with multiple opportunities to attend. Modules 1 and 2 apply to Smarter Balanced, the CAST, and the ELPAC collectively, while Module 3 includes separate hand scoring sessions tailored to each assessment. All sessions are held virtually, and the target audience is teachers, instructional coaches, educators on special assignment, and LEA test coordinators and administrators.

2023 California Assessment Conference—Register Today for Two Days of Learning and Connecting

With the theme of Charting the Course Between Instruction and Assessment, the 2023 California Assessment Conference (CAC) sessions will focus on the use of assessment tools, resources, and data to support classroom instruction. Attendees will have the opportunity to customize their learning by selecting sessions presented by educators from across California.

This year's CAC is held October 9 and 10, 2023, at the SAFE Credit Union Convention Center in Sacramento. You can register for the conference at the CAC website . Email any questions to SCOE at caaspp@scoe.net.

Available Now!

Manuals, Instructions, and Quick Reference Guides

CAA for Science Parent/Guardian Testing Notification Letter
- Translated versions are available on the CAASPP Parent/Guardian Notification web page

Videos

Ongoing Reminders

CAA for Science Administration

The California Alternate Assessment (CAA) for Science is available for testing. CAASPP test examiners are encouraged to build their curriculum to allow eligible students to take an embedded performance task during each quarter, following related instruction in each science domain. The four CAA for Science embedded performance tasks can be administered in any order.

2023–24 CAA Test Examiner Tutorial Available in Moodle

The 2023–24 CAA Test Examiner Tutorial is available on the Moodle Training Site (Moodle) . The Test Examiner Tutorial covers general information and highlights best practices for the administration of the CAA for Science and the CAAs for English language arts/literacy (ELA) and mathematics. The tutorial does not contain any secure content.

The CAA Test Examiner Tutorial contains three sections—General Requirements, CAA for Science, and CAAs for ELA and Mathematics. All test examiners must complete the "General Requirements" section of the tutorial and at least one subject area section to receive a certificate of completion. Test examiners must complete this training prior to testing.

Test examiners will need their enrollment key from their LEA coordinator to access the training. LEA coordinators can track test examiner certificate completion in Moodle.

Apply Now: CSA Item Writer Workshop and CAST Item Review Meeting

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 items for California assessment programs.

The upcoming Item Writer Workshop for the California Spanish Assessment (CSA) will be held January 16 and 17, 2024, and January 23 and 24, 2024, and the application closing date has been extended to October 9, 2023. During the workshop, educators will receive training on how to write assessment items and learn about opportunities to write items for use in future test administrations. Spanish teachers are encouraged to apply on the Educator Opportunities Portal .

The upcoming Item Review Meetings for the CAST will be held on January 23, 24, and 30, 2024, and applications are being accepted through October 9, 2023. During the meetings, educators will review items for issues related to content, bias, and sensitivity that may affect the performance of particular groups of students. Science teachers are encouraged to apply on 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.

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