2023-2024 California Assessments of Student Performance and Progress (CAASPP) Fall Requirements - Reference Guide

Oct 3, 2026

Uploaded by Hazel

Reference guide outlining 2023-2024 fall requirements for principals, coordinators, test administrators, test examiners, proctors, and support staff for administering California Alternate Assessment (CAA) for Science and Smarter Balanced interim assessments within the CAASPP system. Describes CAASPP components, key role responsibilities, testing timelines, and main changes for the school year. Includes background on CAA for Science, grade-level requirements, embedded performance tasks, version assignment, and exemption procedures using TOMS.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryExam

FormatPDF

Pages10

Reading Time25 min

AccessFree to download

Purpose

Major changes (2023-2024)

Background: CAASPP assessment system

CAA for Science timing and format

Grade-level testing requirements

Interim Assessments overview

Types of interim assessments

Smarter Balanced interim assessment expectations

TITLE: NUMBER: ISSUER: DATE: 2023-2024 California Assessments of Student Performance and Progress (CAASPP) Fall Requirements for Principals, Coordinators, Test Administrators, Test Examiners, and Proctors REF-145315 William R. Johnston, EdD Executive Director Office of Data and Accountability September 11 , 2023 ROUTING Region Superintendents Administrators of Instruction Region Directors Principals School Administrators CAASPP Coordinators PURPOSE: The purpose of this Reference Guide is to outline 2023-2024 fall requirements for Principals, Coordinators, Test Administrators (TAs), Test Examiners (TEs), Proctors, and support staff for the administration of California Alternate Assessment (CAA) for Science and Smarter Balanced Interim Assessments (IAs) . MAJOR This Reference Guide REF – 144107 lists the due dates and timelines for CHANGES: the 2023-2024 school year as the following: • The California Department of Education (CDE) is developing ELPAC IAs for release in fall 2023. • CAST Interim Assessments will be available for preview in September 2023, with full access to administer in mid-October 2023. • Smarter Balanced IAs interim assessments will remain available to schools that choose to administer them although they are not a district’s requirement for the 2023-2024 school year. BACKGROUND: The California Assessments of Students Performance and Progress (CAASPP) is California’s statewide student assessment system. It consists of the following computer-based summative assessments listed below. 1. Smarter Balanced Assessments (SBAs) for English Language Arts (ELA) and Mathematics 2. California Alternate Assessments (CAA) for ELA and Mathematics 3. CAA for Science 4. California Science Test (CAST) 5. California Spanish Assessment (CSA) CAA for Science CAASPP summative assessments, except CAA for Science, are administered in the spring semester of the school year. The testing window for CAA for Science opens in September 2023 and it closes on the last day of school. The CAA for Science is administered as four separate embedded performance tasks (PTs) that are integrated into each student’s instruction. Each PT is administered to the student in a one-on-one setting by a trained Test Examiner shortly after the student has received instruction on the related science content. The CAA for Science is for students with the most significant cognitive disabilities whose Individualized Education Program (IEP) teams have designated the use of an alternate assessment on statewide summative assessments. CDE Guidelines for IEP teams regarding participation in CAAs is available at [https://www.cde.ca.gov/ta/tg/ca/caaiepteamrev.asp](https://www.cde.ca.gov/ta/tg/ca/caaiepteamrev.asp). Schools are assigned specific versions of the CAA for Science. Version assignments for the 2022–23 administration are available on the 2023– 2024 CAA for Science Form Assignments by Name or CDS Code webpage. The CAA for Science is required for all students enrolled in grades 5, 8, and 11. Students who are not tested in grade 11 due to absences and other unforeseen circumstances must be tested in grade 12. Students who repeat grade 5 or grade 8 are required to take the CAA for Science each spring in grade 5 or 8. In high school the CAA for Science is taken only one time even if the student is repeating a grade. However, students repeating grade 12 are not allowed to test even if the student did not take the test in grade 11 or grade 12 the previous years. Parents/guardians may submit a written request to the school to exempt their students from taking the test. If a parent/guardian submits a written request to the school and the Site CAASPP Coordinator submits the exemption request in the Test Operations Management System (TOMS), the exemption remains in place for the entire time the student is in highschool. Therefore, once the exemption is documented in TOMS, the student will not be allowed to log into

FAQs

What is the purpose of this reference guide?

It outlines the 2023-2024 fall requirements for administering California Alternate Assessment (CAA) for Science and related interim assessment activities, including responsibilities for key staff roles.

When is the testing window for CAA for Science?

The CAA for Science testing window opens in September 2023 and closes on the last day of school.

How does the guide define Interim Assessments and their types?

Interim Assessments support teaching and learning throughout the year and are aligned to grade-level content. The guide lists Interim Comprehensive Assessments (ICAs), Interim Assessment Blocks (IABs), and Focused IABs.

Oct 3, 2026

Uploaded by Hazel