California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress (CAASPP) and The Smarter Balanced Assessment (SBA) - Understanding the New State Testing and Reporting System and a Look at Our Year One Results

Oct 3, 2026

Uploaded by Asher

Explains California’s new statewide student assessment system, CAASPP and the Smarter Balanced Assessment (SBA), including what replaced STAR, which grades and subjects are assessed, and how the assessments function. Describes real-world test items, computer adaptive testing, and interim benchmarks used to support instruction and track student growth over time. Summarizes how year-one results should be treated as a baseline, clarifies achievement levels and score ranges, and outlines claim categories for ELA/Literacy and Mathematics.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryExam

FormatPDF

Pages20

Reading Time50 min

AccessFree to download

Why CAASPP?

Avoiding Misrepresentation of Results

Understanding Baseline CAASPP Scores

Two Components

Overall Achievement Level Descriptors

Skill Areas Tested

California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress (CAASPP) and The Smarter Balanced Assessment (SBA) Understanding the new state testing and reporting system and a look at our year one results Presented to The PGUSD Board of Education September, 17, 2015 California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress (CAASPP) • California’s new assessment program (replacing STAR) for Grades 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and 11 • California Standards Test (CST), CMA, CAPA Science grades 5, 8, and 10 • First statewide administration: spring 2015. • Two subject areas only: o English Language Arts (ELA)/Literacy o Mathematics • A single measure to assess student progress—one tool to gauge what students know and are able to do. o Used to guide instructional decision making California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress (CAASPP) -continued • Comprised of real-world test items and performance tasks: ocritical thinking oproblem-solving oapplication of knowledge and skills • Computer Adaptive: test questions are tailored to more accurately identify knowledge and skills • Designed to measure student growth over time. • Interim Assessment Benchmarks for ELA/Math Why CAASPP? • New standards (California State Content Standards) a new name for Common Core • New skills students must have to succeed intoday’s global, knowledge-based economy • New teaching methods and strategies • Needed to measure student performance against the new state standards over time (which was not possible under STAR) Avoiding Misrepresentation of Results • 2014-15 was starting point. These results are best viewed as a baseline. • The results are best used on helping each student make as much progress as possible, next year and beyond. • CAASPP is a big adjustment for all. o New skills being taught o New technologies learned Understanding Baseline CAASPP Scores Two Components 1. Overall scores: Each student will receive an overall score for English language arts/literacy (ELA) and mathematics, expressed as a number between 2000 and 3000. 2. Achievement levels: Each overall score falls into one of four achievement levels: standard not met, standard nearly met, standard met, and standard exceeded. 6 Overall Achievement Level Descriptors Standard Exceeded Standard Met Standard Not Met Standard Nearly Met Demonstrates progress toward mastery. May require further development for success in future coursework. Needs substantial improvement for success in future coursework. Demonstrates advanced progress toward mastery. Source: [http://www.cde.ca.gov/ta/tg/sa/index.asp](http://www.cde.ca.gov/ta/tg/sa/index.asp). Skill Areas Tested • Highlight students' strengths and areas in need of support in key skill areas for both ELA/Literacy and Mathematics • Each skill area is known as a “Claim”(4 for ELA/Literacy and 3 for Mathematics): ELA/Literacy Claims: Reading Writing Speaking and Listening Research/ Inquiry Mathematics Claims: Concepts & Procedures Problem Solving & Data Analysis Communicating Reasoning Claim-Level Performance • Unlike Overall Scores, A student’s claim performance falls within one of three levels: o Above Standard o At or Near Standard o Below Standard Our Results

FAQs

What is CAASPP and how does it relate to the Smarter Balanced Assessment (SBA)?

CAASPP is California’s new assessment program (replacing STAR) and it includes the Smarter Balanced Assessment (SBA). It focuses on two subject areas: ELA/Literacy and Mathematics.

How should year-one CAASPP results be interpreted?

The 2014-15 results are a starting point and should be viewed as a baseline. They are best used to help each student make as much progress as possible next year and beyond.

How do overall scores and achievement levels work in CAASPP?

Overall scores are reported as a number between 2000 and 3000 for ELA/Literacy and Mathematics. Each overall score falls into one of four achievement levels: standard not met, standard nearly met, standard met, or standard exceeded.

Oct 3, 2026

Uploaded by Asher