California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress (CAASPP)

  • Signed into law on October 2, 2013, AB 484 (Bonilla) established the California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress (CAASPP) assessment system. The CAASPP system replaces the Standardized Testing and Reporting (STAR) Program.

    The primary purpose of the CAASPP system is to assist teachers, administrators, and pupils and their parents by promoting high-quality teaching and learning through the use of a variety of assessment approaches and item types. The CAASPP will be implemented over multiple school years by the California Department of Education.

For the 2020-2021 school year, CAASPP is comprised of the following:

  • Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium (SBAC) Computer-based Assessments

    • Grades 3-8 and 11,
    • English-language Arts and Mathematics tests, each with
      • Computer Adaptive Test (CAT)* section and
      • Performance Task (PT)** section

    California Science Test (CAST)

    • Grades 5, 8, 11, and 12
    • Assesses Next Generation Science Standards

    California Alternate Assessment (CAA)

    • English-language Arts and Mathematics tests--Grades 3-8, 11
    • CAA Science--Grades 5, 8, 11, and 12

    *CAT: Computer Adaptive Test, where the computer presents more/less difficult items based on student response to previous items for a more precise measurement of student achievement

    **PT: Performance Task, assessment comprised of series of constructed response and/or essay items related to a single task or topic.

CAASPP Testing Window

CAASPP Contact

Resources