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Assessments

CAASPP - California Assessment of Performance and Progress

California's Science Assessments

The new science assessment is known the California Science Test or CAST. The alternate science assessment is known as California Alternate Assessment for Science or CAA-Science. Both CAST and CAA-Science are part of the larger statewide system of assessments know as CAASPP - the California Assessment of Performance and Progress.

2018 CAST and CAA Science Test Results

On December 10, 2018, CDE released the results from the 2018 administration of the CAST field test and CAA-Science Year 2 Pilot. The aggregate results are available on the CAASPP Results Web site at the state, county, LEA, and school levels for all students and by student groups. The results include a "preliminary indicator." Preliminary indicators offer a general indication of student content knowledge. The results include a percent of items answered correctly on machine-score items and an indicator category. They are not scale scores and are not achievement levels. The scores are also not comparable between students, schools, or LEAs, as not all students took the same test.

It is important to remember that 2017/18 was a field test year. This means that the test was still in development when it was administered it to your students. This is normal. What is not normal is reporting these results to families because they are not precise enough to gauge performance at the student level. CDE is fulfilling a requirement by the federal government to provide results to families. The preliminary indicators may be used to inform LEAs about the progress of local implementation of CA NGSS. Results should be leveraged where possible to advocate for additional investment in the implementation of the standards, including professional development.

Preliminary Indicator Levels

  • 3: Student performance suggests a considerable understanding of the California NGSS
  • 2: Student performance suggests a moderate understanding of the California NGSS
  • 1: Student performance suggests a limited understanding of the California NGSS

A complete timeline of the release of the preliminary indicators, including the audience and agency responsible for distributing the information is available from CDE. LEAs are responsible for providing assessment preliminary indicators to parents/guardians. Access the Toolkit A timeline for the release of the test results is also available.

CAST CAA-Science
2018/19 Administration Window Opens January 9, 2019 Field Test: Window Opens January 2019
Operational Administration 2018/2019 2019/2020
Grades Administered 5, 8, and once in 10-12* 5, 8, and once in 10-12*
Format Computer-Based with Variety of Item Types Computer-Based, Performance Tasks
Additional Information CAST Information Page CAA-Science Information Page

*LEA's will have discretion as to when to administer the operational assessments in grades 10, 11, or 12. See respective information pages for more information.

You Can Be Involved!

CDE is recruiting classroom science teachers to participate in item writing, item review, and other science assessment development activities. If you would like to be involved in developing California's new science assessment, register yourself today:

CAST Development Application

Assessment Resources

Since their initial release in 2013, there has been a great deal of effort put forward to develop assessments of all types aligned to the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS). Here are a few resources relating to assessing NGSS that may prove useful. Their inclusion in this list is does not constitute an endorsement or a recommendation from CSTA. Please evaluate each resource carefully. Scroll down for information about California's statewide summative assessment.

Assessment Timeline:

Year California Science Test (CAST) California Alternate Assessment - Science
2017 Pilot Test Pilot Test
2018 Field Test Pilot Test
2019 Operational Test Field Test
2020 Operational Test Operational Test

Source: http://www.cde.ca.gov/be/ag/ag/yr16/documents/may16item08.doc

CAST High-Level Assessment Design

On November 8, 2017 the California State Board of Education voted to approve a revision to the high-level test design for the California Next Generation Science Standards General Summative Assessment - known as the CAST.

Segment A

Segment B

Segment C

CA NGSS PEs measured by grade/grade span

Gr. 5: 3-5 PEs*
Gr. 8: 6-8 PEs
Gr. 10/11/12: All High School PEs

Gr. 5: 3-5 PEs*
Gr. 8: 6-8 PEs
Gr. 10/11/12: All High School PEs

Gr. 5: 3-5 PEs*
Gr. 8: 6-8 PEs
Gr. 10/11/12: All High School PEs

Number and Types of Items

32–34 discrete (stand-alone) items that include selected-response, technology enhanced, machine-scorable items

Two performance tasks (PTs) (with 4–6 item sets)

Six or seven discrete items that includes selected-response, technology enhanced items (like Segment A) OR one PT (like Segment B, with 4–7 item sets)

Scope & Depth of Measurement

Wide breadth - measures a broad sample of CA NGSS PEs

Deep - measures a targeted sample of of a few PEs provided in item sets

Broad and deep - measures a full range of PEs for each grade span

Reporting Level

Contributes to Student and Group Score

Contributes to Student and Group Score

Contributes to Group Score

*Includes foundational concepts that are addressed in kindergarten through grade two (K-2).

Source: California Department of Education: https://www.cde.ca.gov/be/ag/ag/yr17/documents/nov... and https://www.cde.ca.gov/be/pn/im/documents/memo-pptb-adad-aug18item01.docx

CAST Blueprints

Assessment blueprints document the content standards to be measured using the assessment. The CAST Blueprints were approved by the CA State Board of Education on November 8, 2017. The blueprint is available from CDE.

CAST General Achievement Level Descriptors and Score Reporting Structure (Operational Assessment)

On November 8, 2017, the SBE also approved CDE’s recommendation for the CAST general Achievement Level Descriptors (ALD) and Score Reporting Structure. General ALDs provide descriptions of student performance level expectations across four levels. These general ALDs will be used to develop both student level reporting of performance and grade-level specific ALDs.

Level

Description

4

The student has exceeded the performance expectations of the California Next Generation Science Standards (CA NGSS) by demonstrating a thorough understanding of the CA NGSS and a thorough ability to apply his or her knowledge and skills through the CA NGSS Science and Engineering Practices, Disciplinary Core Ideas, and Crosscutting Concepts.

3

The student has met the performance expectations of the CA NGSS by demonstrating an adequate understanding of the CA NGSS and an adequate ability to apply his or her knowledge and skills through the CA NGSS Science and Engineering Practices, Disciplinary Core Ideas, and Crosscutting Concepts.

2

The student has nearly met the performance expectations of the CA NGSS by demonstrating a partial understanding of the CA NGSS and a partial ability to apply his or her knowledge and skills through the CA NGSS Science and Engineering Practices, Disciplinary Core Ideas, and Crosscutting Concepts.

1

The student has not met the performance expectations of the CA NGSS by demonstrating a minimal understanding of the CA NGSS and a minimal ability to apply his or her knowledge and skills through the CA NGSS Science and Engineering Practices, Disciplinary Core Ideas, and Crosscutting Concepts.

Source: California Department of Education: https://www.cde.ca.gov/be/ag/ag/yr17/documents/nov...

The operational CAST score reporting structure will include an overall scale score and three sub-scores, one each for three-dimensional Earth/space, life, and physical sciences. Assessment items measuring PEs from the Engineering, Technology, and Application of Science domain will be set in the context of life, physical, or Earth and space sciences and those items will be reported according to one of those three domains in the reporting structure.

Graphic showing that the three dimensional overall scale score will be made up of three dimensional life, physical, and earth and space sciences.

Source: California Department of Education: https://www.cde.ca.gov/be/ag/ag/yr17/documents/nov... and http://www.caaspp.org/rsc/pdfs/CAST-Administration-Slides...

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