California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress
Summative Assessments
Parent and Guardian Notification Letter
Dear Parent/Guardian:
Each year, students in grades three through eight and high school participate in the California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress (CAASPP).
This year, your child will take the following tests:
Smarter Balanced Summative Assessments for English language arts/literacy in grade eleven
Smarter Balanced Summative Assessment for Mathematics in grade eleven
California Science Test (CAST) in grade eleven
The Smarter Balanced Summative Assessments are online tests that measure what your student knows and is able to do. The tests include many different types of questions that allow students to interact with the test questions. Results help identify gaps in knowledge or skills early on so your child can get the support needed to be successful in school. 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.
This year, we will be completing this testing on campus in your child’s classes. Testing will begin March 7 and finish March 22, 2023. Students will test during their regularly scheduled Math and English courses on designated days.
You are an important part of your child’s education. To make sure your child feels comfortable taking tests, you can:
Explain to your child that these tests are tools to help them learn, and they should not be anxious or scared.
Explore the practice tests with your child at caaspp.org/practice-and-training/index.html so they can become familiar with the platform and setup of the tests.
Remind your child that you and their teacher want them to try their best and are there to help, every step of the way.
You will receive your child’s results at or before the beginning of the next school year. The results will identify where your child is doing well or needs more help, so you can better support their learning at home and teachers can better support their learning in the classroom.
To learn more about these tests go to the Starting Smarter web page at ca.startingsmarter.org/, or review the Parent Guides to Understanding at cde.ca.gov/ta/tg/ca/parentguidetounderstand.asp.
To learn more about the Smarter Balanced Summative Assessments, go to the California Department of Education Parent Guides to Understanding web page at https://www.cde.ca.gov/ta/tg/ca/parentguidetounderstand.asp. You also can look at sample test questions on the practice tests, which can be found on the CAASPP Web Portal at http://www.caaspp.org/practice-and-training/index.html.
If you have questions, please contact Alyssa Reyes at avreyes@esusd.net
Sincerely,
Alyssa Reyes
ESHS Assistant Principal