State Assessments

Statewide Testing

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.

In addition to the information below, the Parent Guides to Understanding web page provides links to two-page flyers that answer key questions (what, why, who, how, and when) about California's assessment programs.

Update Spring 2022 CAASPP Results Summary

During the September 13, 2022 Board Meeting, staff presented PAUSD Promise - 2022 Early Literacy CAASPP Data. This report provided an update on the Every Student Reads Initiate (ESRI) Progress Indicators 1 and 2 with 2022 Smarter Balanced results for grade 3.

In the coming months staff will present 2022 Smarter Balanced assessment results to the Board in a formal report. Preliminary results are provided below.

In alignment with California student confidentiality requirements, no scores are reported for any group of 10 or fewer students.

Statewide results are still undergoing a review and validation process by the CDE to ensure reliability and completeness across all districts. Final data for CAASPP and ELPAC will be released publicly by the CDE later this year in conjunction with the California School Dashboard. Once released by the CDE, the public may view state, district, school, and student group results on the CDE Test Results for California's Assessments website.

2022 Smarter Balanced - English Language Arts (ELA)
2022 Smarter Balanced - Math

2022 Smarter Balanced - English Language Arts (ELA)

2022 Smarter Balanced - Math

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CAASPP, CAA, CAST?

On January 1, 2014, California Education Code Section 60640 established the California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress (CAASPP) System of assessments. While PAUSD has a broad CAASPP testing window (March through May), each school determines their site-specific CAASPP schedule. Principals or site testing coordinators will notify families of their testing dates. CAASPP summative assessments include the following:

Smarter Balanced Assessments for English Language Arts/Literacy (ELA) and Math

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.

California Alternate Assessments (CAAs) for ELA and Math

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.

California Science Test (CAST)

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).

California Alternate Assessment (CAA) for Science

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.

What is ELPAC?

The English Language Proficiency Assessments for California (ELPAC) is the required state test for English language proficiency (ELP) that must be given to students whose primary language is a language other than English. For additional details about the ELPAC, visit the following links:

PAUSD's English Learner Program webpage https://www.pausd.org/student-supports/english-learner-program
ELPAC Parent Resources https://www.cde.ca.gov/ta/tg/ep/elpacparentresource.asp
Understanding the Summative ELPAC Student Score Report-English (Video)
Understanding the Summative ELPAC Student Score Report -Spanish (Video)

ELPAC

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

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.

What is PFT?

The Physical Fitness Test (PFT) for students in California schools is the FitnessGram®. The main goal of the test is to help students in starting lifelong habits of regular physical activity.

Physical Fitness Test

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®.

How do I access my child's CAASPP or ELPAC score report?

When will CAASPP and ELPAC summative STUDENT SCORE REPORTS (SSRs) be available to parents/guardians?

CAASPP and Summative ELPAC Student Score Reports (SSRs) are released by the testing vendor (ETS) during the summer months. SSRs become available on a rolling basis as the tests are scored. As a result, SSRs for students in the same household may not become available at the same time.

To access your child's report:

Login to id.pausd.org.
Click the Infinite Campus tile to open the application.
Click Menu in the upper left corner.
Under Menu, click More.
Click Assessments.
(Note: Ignore the banner at the top of the page that states "No assessments available." We are working with Infinite Campus to remove this banner, which appears even when student results are available.)
If you have more than one child enrolled in the district, select the child whose report you are looking up (top right corner).
Select a language, and then click the Generate button.
If you need assistance accessing the results, please contact us via Let’s Talk.