Summative Assessments

• ELA/Literacy Summative Assessment Blueprint and Mathematics Summative Assessment Blueprint - The test blueprints describe how that content will be assessed to reflect the depth and breadth of the performance expectations for the CCSS. These test blueprints provide information about the number of items, score points, and depth of knowledge for items associated with each assessment target. 
• Manuals and Instructions - houses all CAASPP related manuals including, but not limited to the Online Test Administration Manual, Day of the Test Guide, Guide to CAASPP Completion Status and Roster Management, Accessibility Guide for CAASPP, and the Online Reporting System User Guide.
• Estimated Testing Times for Smarter Balanced Assessments - this table contains rough estimates of the time most students will take to complete the Smarter Balanced online assessments.
• Smarter Balanced Scale Score Ranges for ELA & Mathematics - by content area, grade level, and achievement level.
• CAASPP Bandwidth Checker - allows you to check the current bandwidth of your network.
• Smarter Balanced Paper-Pencil Test Administration DFAs - directions for the administration of the Paper-Pencil exams.
• Directions for Administration (DFA) of the SBAC and CAST - directions for administration of the Smarter Balanced Assessments and CAST.
• Sample Items Website - how to find items by target, definitions of targets, try out text-to-speech support, and more. 
• Quick Guides
  • Summative Assessment – Start a Training Test (PDF)
  • Summative Assessment – Start a Practice Test (PDF)
  • Summative Assessment – Start a Test Session (PDF) – This resource is intended for California educators and requires district log-in credentials.
  • Accessing Results
    • Compare Test Results (PDF)
    • View Change Over Time (PDF)
    • View Student Groups (PDF)
    • View Test Results (PDF)

• Blueprints 
  • CAA Blueprint for ELA
  • CAA Blueprint for Mathematics, revised November 2016
  • CAA Blueprint for Science
• Data Entry Interface - web page for transcribing test results.
• Secure DFAs for the CAAs for English language Arts/literacy (ELA) and mathematics:
  • located in the Test Operation Management System (TOMS) [Help] tab.
  • You must log on to TOMS to access these materials.
• Embedded performance tasks for the CAA for Science Pilot 2
  • Located in the TOMS [Help] tab.
  • You must log on to TOMS to access these materials.
• Click here to access your school site's Version Assignments for 17-18 ELA/Mathematics. Find our district and your school site.
• Quick Guides
  • CAA – Start a Training Test (PDF)
  • CAA – Start a Practice Test (PDF)
  • CAA – Start a Test Session (PDF) – This resource is intended for California educators and requires district log-in credentials.
  • CAA Science Guidelines - who takes the science tests?

• California Science Test (CAST) Blueprint - the blueprint outlines how the CAST is constructed and documents the alignment of the CAST with the CA NGSS.
• CAST Guidelines - who takes the CAST?
• Directions for Administration (DFA)of the SBAC and CAST - directions for administration of the Smarter Balanced Assessments and CAST.
• CAST Information Video - This video provides a general overview of the pilot California Science Test (CAST) and how it is aligned to the California Next Generation Science Standards (CA NGSS).
• Quick Guides
  • CAST – Start a Training Test (PDF)
  • CAST – Start a Test Session (PDF) – This resource is intended for California educators and requires district log-in credentials.
  • Available Resources Guide for the CAST

• Draft CSA Blueprint - The proposed test blueprint for the California Spanish Assessment (CSA) provides the proposed numbers of items and points to be included in an operational assessment for each language-arts domain assessed in grades three through eight and high school.
• California Spanish Assessment Online Test Administration Manual - this document includes information on student eligibility and participation, roles and responsibilities, TSC and TA checklists, and the Directions for Administration (DFA).
• California Spanish Assessment Pilot Test Testing Interface Tutorial
• California Spanish Assessment Pilot Test Administration
• Quick Guides
  • CSA – Start a Training Test (PDF)
  • CSA High-Level Test Design
  • CSA Fact Sheet
  • CSA Field Test Agreement to Participate Form

Q. Who takes the SBAC?

A. Eligible students in grades three through eight and grade eleven; unless the student is taking the CAAs or has been designated as an English learner and is within his or her first 12 months of enrollment in a U.S. school as of April 15 of the previous year (this exemption applies only to the ELA portion of the SBAC).

• Manuals and Instructions - houses all CAASPP related manuals including, but not limited to the Online Test Administration Manual, Day of the Test Guide, and the Accessibility Guide for CAASPP.
• Estimated Testing Times for Smarter Balanced Assessments - this table contains rough estimates of the time most students will take to complete the Smarter Balanced online assessments.
• CAASPP Bandwidth Checker - allows you to check the current bandwidth of your network.
• Smarter Balanced Paper-Pencil Test Administration DFAs - directions for the administration of the Paper-Pencil exams.
• Directions for Administration (DFA) of the SBAC and CAST - directions for administration of the Smarter Balanced Assessments and CAST.
• Quick Guides
  • Summative Assessment – Start a Training Test (PDF)
  • Summative Assessment – Start a Practice Test (PDF)
  • Summative Assessment – Start a Test Session (PDF) – This resource is intended for California educators and requires district log-in credentials.
  • Accessing Results
    • View Test Results (PDF)
    • View Student Groups (PDF)
    • View Change Over Time (PDF)
    • Compare Test Results (PDF)

Q. Who takes the CAA?

A. Eligible students in grades three through eight who have an individualized education program that indicates the use of an alternate assessment on statewide assessments. 

Q. Who takes the CAA Science?

A. Eligible students in grades five and eight and once to each student while that student is in high school who has an individualized program that indicates the use of an alternate assessment on statewide assessments.

• Data Entry Interface - web page for transcribing test results.
• Secure DFAs for the CAAs for English language Arts/literacy (ELA) and mathematics:
  • located in the Test Operation Management System (TOMS) [Help] tab.
  • You must log on to TOMS to access these materials.
• Embedded performance tasks for the CAA for Science Pilot 2
  • Located in the TOMS [Help] tab.
  • You must log on to TOMS to access these materials.
• Click here to access your school site's Version Assignments for 17-18 ELA/Mathematics. Find our district and your school site.
• Quick Guides
  • CAA – Start a Training Test (PDF)
  • CAA – Start a Practice Test (PDF)
  • CAA – Start a Test Session (PDF) – This resource is intended for California educators and requires district log-in credentials.
  • CAA Science Guidelines - who takes the science tests
• How to Access the Data Entry Interface Quick Reference Guide (PDF)
• How to Input CAA for Science Results into the DEI
• Test Examiner Checklists (PDF)
• Guidance on Using Eye-Gaze as a Response Method (PDF)
• 2015–16 California Alternate Assessments Item Routing Training Video

Q. Who takes the CAST?

A. Eligible students in grades five and eight and once to each student while that student is in high school. 

• CAST Guidelines - who takes the CAST?
• Directions for Administration (DFA)of the SBAC and CAST - directions for administration of the Smarter Balanced Assessments and CAST.
• CAA Guidance for IEP Teams - This document is intended to help guide individualized education program (IEP) teams in determining whether the California Alternate Assessments (CAAs)—alternate assessments based on alternate achievement standards—are the most appropriate assessments for an individual student.
• Quick Guides
  • CAST – Start a Training Test (PDF)
  • CAST – Start a Test Session (PDF) – This resource is intended for California educators and requires district log-in credentials.
  • Available Resources Guide for the CAST
• Science Reference Tools
  • Printing Enlarged Science Reference Tools - quick start guide if the student requires the science reference tools to be enlarged and printed on 11x17 paper by the test administrator.
  • Periodic Table - periodic table of the elements for grade 8 and high school.
  • Grade 8 Reference Sheet
  • High School Reference Sheet
  • CAST Translated Directions

Q. Who takes the CSA?

A. Students receiving instruction in Spanish in California and/or students seeking a measure that recognizes their Spanish-specific reading, writing, and listening skills. 

• California Spanish Assessment Online Test Administration Manual - this document includes information on student eligibility and participation, roles and responsibilities, TSC and TA checklists, and the Directions for Administration (DFA).
• California Spanish Assessment Pilot Test Testing Interface Tutorial
• California Spanish Assessment Pilot Test Administration
• Quick Guides
  • CSA – Start a Training Test (PDF)
  • CSA High-Level Test Design
  • CSA Fact Sheet
  • CSA Field Test Agreement to Participate Form

The Practice and Training Tests Portal - houses the TA and TE practice and training site along with resources to help with scoring. The Practice Tests provide students with grade-specific testing experiences that are similar in structure and format to the Summative Assessments. The Training Tests provide students with the opportunity to quickly become familiar with the software and interface features.

Student Accessibility Resources and Test Settings - this Web page contains links to manuals, instructions, and other resources related to accessibility, including accommodations, for students who are taking the CAASPP tests.

Accessibility Resources, Module One - training module that provides an overview of common terms, unlisted resources (UR), and guidelines for use of these resources. 

Testing Signs - Do Not Disturb and No Electronic Devices

Training Videos and Resources

• Equation Response Editor tool - the purpose of this tool is for students to preview and practice with the features found in the Test Delivery System outside of the testing environment. This tutorial simply gives students short tasks to learn how to maneuver around using the tool.
• Equation Response Editor Tutorial - a short video tutorial for students to familiarize themselves with the Equation Response Editor tool.
• Testing Session Notice - "Unauthorized Electronic Devices May Not Be Used at Any Time During the Testing Sessions" (PDF)
• Embedded Universal Tools, Designated Supports, and Accommodations Video Tutorials - houses 'how to use' CAASPP related tutorials including, but not limited to the expandable passages, highlighter, stacked translations and test directions, streamline, and many others.
• Accessibility Guide for CAASPP Online Testing - includes updates to chapters with instructions on how to configure student accessibility resources and how and when to use the available test settings used in the testing environment, and the Matrix One: displays the universal tools, designated supports, and accommodations (embedded and non-embedded) allowed as part of the CAASPP system.
• Sample Items website - provides examples of test questions used on the SBAC ELA/Mathematics. 
• Test Administrator Resources for Summative Assessments - contains resources that include, but are not limited to the scribing protocol, the instructions for using embedded glossaries, the periodic table of the elements for grade 8 and high school, and the types of calculators available:
  • Grades 3-5: no calculator used for on-screen Smarter Balanced assessment.
  • Grade 6: Four-function Calculator
  • Grades 7 & 8: Scientific Calculator
  • High school/grade 11: Graphing Calculator
  • The Desmos Online Calculator