Statewide Testing Notification

Dear iLEAD Agua Dulce Families,

Every year, California students take several statewide tests. When combined with other measures, such as grades, class work, and teacher observations, these tests give families and teachers a more complete picture of their child’s learning. You can use the results to identify where your child is doing well and where they might need more support.

Your child may be taking one or more of the following California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress (CAASPP), English Language Proficiency Assessments for California (ELPAC), and Physical Fitness Test assessments. Pursuant to California Education Code Section 60615, parents/guardians may annually submit to the school a written request to excuse their child from any or all of the CAASPP assessments. This exemption does not exist for the ELPAC or Physical Fitness Test.

CAASPP: Smarter Balanced Assessments for English Language Arts/Literacy (ELA) and Math: Testing begins in May

• Who takes these tests? Students in grades 3–8 and grade 11.
• What is the test format? The Smarter Balanced assessments are computer-based.
• Which standards are tested? The California Common Core State Standards.

CAASPP: California Alternate Assessments (CAAs) for ELA and Math: Testing begins in May

• Who takes these tests? Students in grades 3–8 and grade 11 whose individualized education program (IEP) identifies the use of alternate assessments.
• What is the test format? The CAAs for ELA and math are computer-based tests that are administered one-on-one by a test examiner who is familiar with the student.
• Which standards are tested? The California Common Core State Standards through the Core Content Connectors.

CAASPP: California Science Test (CAST): Testing begins in May

• Who takes the test? Students take the CAST in grades 5 and 8 and once in high school, either in grade 10, 11, or 12.
• What is the test format? The CAST is computer-based.
• Which standards are tested? The California Next Generation Science Standards (CA NGSS).

CAASPP: California Alternate Assessment (CAA) for Science: Testing begins in May

• Who takes the test? Students whose IEP identifies the use of an alternate assessment take the CAA for Science in grades 5 and 8 and once in high school, either in grade 10, 11, or 12.
• What is the test format? The CAA for Science is a series of four performance tasks that can be administered throughout the year as the content is taught.
• Which standards are tested? Alternate achievement standards derived from the CA NGSS.

CAASPP: California Spanish Assessment (CSA): Testing begins in May

• Who takes the test? The CSA is an optional test for students in grades 3–12 that tests their Spanish reading, listening, and writing mechanics.
• What is the test format? The CSA is computer-based.
• Which standards are tested? The California Common Core State Standards en Español.

ELPAC: Testing begins in March

• Who takes the test? Students who have a home language survey that lists a language other than English will take the Initial test, which identifies students as an English learner student or as initially fluent in English. Students who are classified as English learner students will take the Summative ELPAC every year until they are reclassified as proficient in English.
• What is the test format? Both the Initial and Summative ELPAC are computer-based.
• Which standards are tested? The 2012 California English Language Development Standards.

Alternate ELPAC: Testing begins in March

• Who takes the test? Students whose IEP identifies the use of an alternate assessment and who have a home language survey that lists a language other than English will take the Alternate Initial ELPAC, which identifies students as an English learner student or as initially fluent in English. Students who are classified as English learner students will take the Alternate Summative ELPAC every year until they are reclassified as proficient in English.
• What is the test format? Both the Alternate Initial and Alternate Summative ELPAC are computer-based.
• Which standards are tested? Alternate achievement standards derived from the 2012 California English Language Development Standards.

Physical Fitness Test: Testing begins in April

• Who takes the test? Students in grades 5, 7, and 9 will take the FITNESSGRAM®, which is the test used in California.
• What is the test format? The test consists of five performance components: aerobic capacity, abdominal strength, trunk strength, upper body strength, and flexibility.
• Which standards are tested? The Healthy Fitness Zones, which are established through the FITNESSGRAM®.

NWEA MAP Assessments: Testing begins in March

All K-11th grade learners utilize the MAP NWEA computer-adaptive assessment twice per year: fall and spring. The MAP assessment is a vital part of our holistic approach to education, as evidenced in our Individualized Learning Plans (ILPs).

• As a school that emphasizes each learner’s individual growth and educational journey, MAP is an important measure we use to document and show our progress to our local district authorizers, who in turn determine our school’s renewal status.
• The MAP results, which we will share with you after the assessments are completed, allow us to personalize each child’s learning path by identifying areas of strength as well as areas that need additional support and extension.