Assessment Spotlight Issue #68

​Focusing on the California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress (CAASPP) System and English Language Proficiency Assessments of California (ELPAC)—and including, when timely, updates on California's other statewide assessments.

Science Assessment Implementation Modules!

A new resource, the California NGSS 3D Assessment Implementation Modules website, has been developed through a joint effort by the California Science Project, Galt Joint Union Elementary School District, Stanislaus County Office of Education, and Ventura County Office of Education with support from the California County Superintendents Educational Services Association, California Department of Education (CDE), California State Board of Education, and S.D. Bechtel, Jr. Foundation. This website provides teachers with assessment resources for analyzing, modifying, and creating assessment items that support high-quality, three-dimensional science learning. These resources include the following:

• Unpacking the Performance Expectation module
• 3D Assessment Analysis module
• 3D Development/Modification module
• NGSS Assessment Database
• Reference resources

Check out this new science assessment resource today!

Reminder—Smarter Content Explorer Now Available

Attention teachers! The Smarter Content Explorer is a user-friendly web tool that helps bridge the gap between the language of test developers and the language teachers use in the classroom every day. It combines the information provided in the Smarter Balanced Content and Item Specifications—key resources used in test and item development—into an easy-to-use search interface. This tool can help teachers better understand how test questions are designed to provide evidence of what students know and can do. Teachers can access customized content that includes—by subject, grade, and target or standard—the following:

• Sample test items
• Standard and target alignment
• Depth of knowledge levels
• Evidence statements
• Guidance for selecting appropriate stimuli
• Task models

The Smarter Content Explorer also includes a PDF feature that allows for downloading and printing customized search results to share in a professional learning community. Assessment blueprints, accessibility guidelines, scoring rubrics, and construct relevant vocabulary can be accessed as well.

A convenient Smarter Content Explorer flyer is available; please share it with colleagues who may find this resource helpful.

1.0 Percent Justification Survey Deadline Extended

Please remember that local educational agencies (LEAs) must submit the 1.0 Percent Justification Survey along with their data on the percentage of students identified to take the California Alternate Assessments (CAAs). The deadline has been extended to November 15, 2019, due to the current fires and power outages. As a component of the CDE's response to the state's having exceeded the 1.0 percent threshold on alternate assessments, all LEAs are required to submit the percentage of students identified for the CAAs in the 2019-20 school year. LEAs that have exceeded the threshold and cannot provide justification could be subject to increased oversight and monitoring of assessment procedures; Title I grant funding for the state itself could be impacted as well. The survey can be found on the CDE CAASPP 2019–20 CAAs 1.0 Percent Threshold Justification Form website.