On April 27 we will begin our State testing after a year’s hiatus since the state of California has adopted the Common Core State Standards (CCSS). These tests have been called various names, however the official name is the California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress (CAASPP) – because we never met an acronym we didn’t like! Below you will find the schedule for testing, the amount of time estimated for each grade level, and the subjects that will be tested. Finally, I’ve shared the Camarena philosophy of assessment to set the proper tone.
We will begin with 3rd grade during the week of April 27 through May 1 and we will test one grade level at a time. The amount of time for each test is an estimate as these are NOT timed tests, so students can take as long as they need, however they need to finish each portion of the test on the day they begin that portion.
|
Date |
Grade Level |
English Language Arts |
Math |
| April 27 – May 1 |
3rd Grade |
4 hours |
3 hours |
| May 4 – May 8 |
4th Grade |
4 hours |
3 hours |
| May 11 – May 15 |
*5th Grade |
4 hours |
3 hours |
| May 18 – 22 |
6th Grade |
4 hours |
3.5 hours |
*5th Grade also takes Science California Standards Test (CST) on May 7
Adaptive Testing
There is one unique feature of the CAASPP tests that our students have never experienced. These tests are adaptive, which means, that as students answer questions the tests will get easier or harder depending on whether they get the answers correct or incorrect. This will mean that students who struggle, will find that the test will get easier and students who do well will find that the tests get progressively more challenging. This is certainly an improvement from the one size fits all approach in years past.
Mindset
Assessment is a natural and important part of any educational setting. Our philosophy is that this testing should not be approached as more significant than any other day for our students. We expect students to bring their best thinking to school every day and testing should be no different. There should be NO PRESSURE placed on students to perform at a certain level. The effort they have extended since July and the instruction that we have carefully designed has prepared them to show what they know on these assessments and that is all we can ask. Therefore, we will learn from how our students perform this year in order to improve our practices and strategies in the coming years. Please contact your teacher or administration directly if you have any questions about the testing at the end of this school year. Thanks for your partnership in creating the best possible testing environment – and indeed – the best possible learning environment all year long.
Camarena Elementary School 