California Alternative Assessment

The California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress (CAASPP) System includes required assessments for English language arts/literacy (ELA), mathematics, and science, and is designed for all students, including students with disabilities.  For science, students with disabilities may participate in either the California Science Test (CAST) or the CAA for Science on the basis of their IEP.  Students with the most significant cognitive disabilities who are unable to take the Smarter Balanced Summative Assessments even with accessibility supports and whose individualized education program (IEP) indicates assessment with an alternate test.

The California Alternate Assessments (CAAs) for ELA and mathematics are part of the California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress (CAASPP) System. The purpose of the CAAs is to measure what students know and can do. These measures help identify and address gaps in knowledge or skills early so students can receive the support they need.

The CAAs are administered one-on-one by a trained test examiner who is familiar with the student and his or her needs. The CAAs are computer-based and are stage-adaptive, adjusting the level of difficulty to the student’s performance at selected stages within the test. Student results are reported as one of three performance levels.

The CAAs are aligned with alternate achievement standards—called the Core Content Connectors—and linked to the Common Core State Standards (CCSS) for ELA and mathematics.  Students are eligible to take the CAA only if it is indicated in their active individualized education program (IEP). The CAAs for ELA and mathematics will be administered to all eligible students in grades three through eight and grade eleven.

The content of the alternate assessment is based on alternate achievement standards derived from the CCSS for students with the most significant cognitive disabilities. The CAAs are computer-based two-stage adaptive tests. They are administered to students in a one-on-one environment by a test examiner who is familiar with the student. More information about the alternate assessments and the alternate achievement standards can be found on the CDE CAASPP California Alternate Assessments Web page