CAASPP
CAASPP (California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress)
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ExploreAbout this exam
The CAASPP & ELPAC site is the California Assessment System's working hub for testing coordinators and educators, not a single credential exam. It gathers the state's assessment programs in one place: the Smarter Balanced Summative Assessments for ELA and Mathematics, the California Science Test (CAST), the California Alternate Assessments (CAAs), the California Spanish Assessment (CSA), and the English Language Proficiency Assessments for California (ELPAC), which includes Initial ELPAC, Initial Alternate ELPAC, Summative ELPAC, and Summative Alternate ELPAC. CAASPP and ELPAC Interim Assessments are also listed. The site describes CAASPP and the ELPAC as systems of assessment designed to support educators, administrators, and students by promoting high-quality teaching and learning. Its audience is broad: coordinators managing test operations, teachers administering sessions and hand scoring, and parents and guardians seeking score-report information through Starting Smarter. Because the site is an access point rather than a curriculum, preparation means learning the systems and supports it links. Test Operations Management System (TOMS) handles operations; the California Educator Reporting System (CERS) and the Interim Assessment Viewing System support reporting; the Teacher Hand Scoring System (THSS) and Data Entry Interface (DEI) cover scoring; Tools for Teachers, Practice and Training Tests, accessibility resources, coordinator checklists, notification letter templates, and training materials round out the resources. Live support runs Monday–Friday, 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.
What you'll study
About CAASPP preparation
Is the CAASPP a single exam I register for?
No. The CAASPP & ELPAC site presents a system of assessments, including Smarter Balanced Summative Assessments for ELA and Mathematics, CAST, the CAAs, the CSA, the ELPAC variants, and interim assessments. Your role and your students determine which assessment and which system links apply to you.
Who is this site actually for?
Testing coordinators and educators are the primary audience, using it for testing systems, training materials, and resources. Parents and guardians are pointed to the Starting Smarter website for score reports and subject expectations, so families should start there rather than in the coordinator tools.
What systems will I need to learn?
The site lists TOMS for test operations, the Test Administrator Interface for administering sessions, CERS and the Interim Assessment Viewing System for reporting, and THSS plus DEI for hand scoring and data entry. Completion Status and the Web-based Student Testing Interface are also linked.
How should a new coordinator prepare?
Work through the coordinator checklists, notification letter templates, accessibility resources, and training and tutorials first, then practice in the Practice and Training Tests and confirm browser and technology requirements. Manuals and the Manuals Library sit alongside these for reference during administration.
Where do I go when something breaks during testing?
Check System Status on the site, which shows downtime and known issues, then use Get Answers or Contact Us. Live support hours are Monday–Friday, 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., so issues outside that window should be documented and raised when support reopens.
What help exists for scoring constructed responses?
The Teacher Hand Scoring System (THSS) and Data Entry Interface (DEI) are the listed scoring resources, supported by form assignments, second scoring, and RSVP scoring resources. Training and tutorials cover administration, and the Interim Assessment Viewing System lets you examine interim items.
Are there materials to support instruction between tests?
Yes. Tools for Teachers is listed as a resource, and interim assessments are available for both CAASPP and ELPAC. Lexile and Quantile Measures appear under reporting, giving educators ways to connect results to instruction rather than treating testing as an isolated event.
What is the most common preparation mistake?
Treating the site as a test-day-only tool. Coordinators who skip checklists, notification letters, accessibility setup, and secure browser checks tend to hit avoidable problems in live sessions. Reviewing training materials and system status before administration prevents most of these.
How do I stay current on deadlines and changes?
Use Announcements & Tips and Key Dates & Events on the site, plus the Coordinator Emails, the CAASPP and ELPAC YouTube Channel, CDE Assessment Spotlight, and the Moodle Training Site. These are the listed channels for updates, training, and administration guidance.