The California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress (CAASPP) is the new state academic testing program. CAASPP is a system intended to provide information that can be used to monitor student progress and ensure that all students leave high school college and career ready.
This year, CAASPP includes the Smarter Balanced (SBAC) computer adaptive tests in English–language arts and mathematics for all 7th, 8th and 11th grade students. These tests offer one type of data on whether our students show mastery of the Common Core standards. OCSA will also be administering the new California Science Test (CAST) with all 8th grade students. This new test will assess the Next Generation Science Standards. OCSA will be on a modified schedule from April 14th - 21st to accommodate these assessments.
We do believe these test are important for the following reasons:
● The tests give teachers and administrators one more tool in assessing the success of OCSA’s instruction.
● The tests give parents and students one more tool in assessing student learning.
● The SBAC tests include a component for 11th graders that allow them to earn an exemption in their California State University college placement test in English and Math.
● These scores are used by parents outside of OCSA to determine the quality of our instructional program.
If you would like to learn more about the types of questions on the computer‐based SBAC test and to familiarize your student with the online test interface, you and your child are encouraged to view the practice and training tests online at the California Department of Education (CDE) Smarter Balanced Test Web page here.
Pursuant to California Education Code Section 60615, parents/guardians may annually submit to the school a written request to excuse their child from any or all of the CAASPP assessments.