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Students in Irvine Unified School District participate in statewide assessments each year to provide information about their skills in English language arts/literacy, mathematics, science, and physical fitness. Students identified as English Learners also participate in an annual assessment of English language proficiency. In IUSD, we see these assessments as an academic checkup. Like class assignments and report cards, these assessments provide one piece of information about student progress toward college and career readiness. Stateassessment results should always be interpreted as one of multiple measures of a student's skills.
The California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress (CAASPP) supports educators in assessing student performance in writing, critical thinking, and problem solving, which are some of the skills that are needed to succeed in college and a 21st century career.
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CAASPP includes the following summative assessments:
- Smarter Balanced Assessments (SBAC): Students participate in the SBAC in English language arts/literacy (ELA) and mathematics in grades 3-8 and 11.
- California Science Test (CAST):Students participate in the CAST in grades 5, 8, and once in high school (typically grade 11).
- California Alternative Assessments (CAAs): The CAAs are designed for students with significant cognitive disabilities as indicated in their individualized education program (IEP).Eligible students participate in the CAAs for English language arts and mathematics in grades 3-8 and 11, and in the CAA for science in grades 5, 8, and once in high school.
Accessing Your Child’s Scores
The state releases CAASPP results over the summer on a rolling basis as the tests are scored. This means that some students may receive their score reports earlier than others. When your child's scores are available you will receive an automated e-mail from DoNotReply@aeries.com and can view results in the Parent Portal on any device connected to the internet.
In addition to CAASPP score reports, parents/guardians of students in grades 3-8 and 11 will have access to a separate Lexile and Quantile report. Lexile and Quantile scores are calculated based on your child's performance on the Smarter Balanced Assessments and are not the result of any additional tests.
IUSD will use scores from these assessments as one of many measures when looking at individual student learning strengths and needs, and will also use scores as part of our efforts to continuously improve high quality instruction. Scores will NOT be used as the sole determining factor for any high stakes decisions, including promotion or retention, intervention, or qualification for special programs. As always, your child’s teacher is your best resource for information regarding your child’s academic progress.
Additional Resources
- CAASPP Starting Smarter Website - Understand student scores and reports, view sample test questions, and access free resources to support your child’s learning
- Aggregate Scores for Schools, Districts, and Counties
- California Department of Education's CAASPP Website
- IUSD 2022 Results
- ELA Exemption for English Learners Within First 12 Months of Enrollment in a US School
The California Physical Fitness Test (PFT) is administered to all students in grades 5, 7, and 9. Students are assessed in five fitness areas: aerobic capacity, abdominal strength and endurance, upper body strength and endurance, trunk extensor strength and flexibility, and flexibility. There are multiple test options for most of the fitness areas so that all students, including those with special needs, have the chance to participate.
Accessing Your Child’s Scores
Your child’s scores are available in Parent Portal. The state has suspended the assignment of a “pass” or “no pass” overall score, so only raw scores for each fitness area are reported. For fitness areas where more than one test was given to your child, only the highest score is reported. It is important to note that body composition is no longer part of the PFT, and those scores will therefore be left blank. Please disregard the overall test status listed in Aeries that may appear as “Not tested/Undetermined” - this is left over from the old “pass” “no pass” field. If you have any questions about your child’s performance on this assessment, please contact your school site directly.
PFT results may help students plan personal fitness programs, help teachers design the curriculum for physical education programs, and help parents/guardians understand their children’s fitness levels. Results should be used as one of multiple measures in evaluating a student’s fitness levels.
Additional Resources
The English Language Proficiency Assessment for California (ELPAC) is the mandated state test for determining English language proficiency (ELP). It is administered as an initial assessment to newly enrolled students whose primary language is not English and annually as a summative assessment to students previously identified as English learners. Three domains of the assessment are computer-based (Listening, Reading and Writing) while Speaking is assessed one-on-one by a trained examiner. For students in kindergarten through grade two, the Writing domain is administered as a paper-pencil test.
Types of ELPAC Assessments
Initial ELPAC
- Primary identification of students as English learners (ELs)
- Administered to students whose primary language is not English as indicated on the Home Language Survey (HLS)
- The administration window is July 1 to June 30.
- Initial ELPAC Fact Sheet
Summative ELPAC
- Annual assessment to measure an EL student's progress and to identify the student's English language proficiency level
- The administration window is February 1 to May 30
- Summative ELPAC Fact Sheet
Alternate ELPAC
- Assessments for EL students with the most significant cognitive disabilities
- Initial Alternate ELPAC: The administration window is July 1 – June 30
- Summative Alternate ELPAC: The administration window is February 1 to May 30
Additional Resources
- Parent Guide to Understanding the ELPAC
- Translations of the ELPAC Parent Guide
- ELPAC Starting Smarter– Understand the ELPAC Score Reports, view test questions, access resources to support your child’s learning
- Practice and Training Tests
- Tools for Teachers
Tools for Teachers includes K-12 lessonsand formative assessment resources created by classroom teachers. Each resource is vetted by trained educators using quality criteria. Teachers can log in using the same login they use to access the CAASPP assessments, or can sign up for a Tools for Teachers account using these directions.
- Smarter Balanced Sample Items Website
This website provides sample Smarter Balanced test items, allowing you to filter items by grade level, assessment claims, or standard.
- Smarter Balanced Annotated Response Tool
This website is designed to help educators better understand the rubrics used to score students' written responses on Smarter Balanced items. Educators can view examples of student writing, scoring annotations, and rubrics to help understand what to look for when reviewing student responses.
- Lexile & Quantile Hub
The Lexile and Quantile Hub includes instructional planning resources for educators and a variety of tools that support teachers in monitoring student growth in reading and math. The link above will support educators in accessing the Hub through the Test Operations Management System (TOMS).
