Understanding Annual Statewide Test Scores

Sponsored by ETS

Beginning in June, parents should be on the lookout for their child’s Student Score Report on the California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress (CAASPP). The California Department of Education in partnership with the state’s assessment developer, ETS, provides a variety of resources to help parents/caregivers understand their child’s performance on the statewide assessment. While test scores provide a common yardstick to measure student progress, it is important to remember that they provide only one measure of performance and should be considered along with the rest of a child’s learning experience.

Information on the child’s score report will help identify their academic strengths as well as where they might need a little more help. This information, along with their schoolwork and teachers’ feedback, will provide a broad picture of how a child is progressing in their academic career.

Parents can familiarize themselves with student score reports by visiting Starting Smarter where they can view a sample report that identifies each performance area and what the scores mean. For example, if a student is identified at, “Level 3 Standard Met,” that means they are performing at about grade level. The score report also shows how the child performed compared to the school and school district average. This information helps parents/caregivers and educators better understand what support the child needs to be successful in their academic journey.

Resources to Support Your Child’s Academic Progress

Now that you understand what their scores mean and have identified areas where a child might need a little more help and areas where they have excelled, there are free resources provided by the state in partnership with MetaMetrics to help them grow in reading and math. These resources can be accessed year-round.

In addition to a child’s score on the statewide assessments, the student score report will also provide a Lexile (reading) and Quantile (mathematics) measure. This information is based on the child’s reading and math ability and helps parents and educators find texts, books, and materials that are appropriately challenging to a child. Parents can access the Lexile and Quantile tools to learn more about the Lexile and Quantile measures as well as find books and materials that match their child’s comprehension level.

A Lexile (reading) measure will be shown with a number and the letter “L” at the end. Lexile measures range from below 0L for beginners to above 1600L for advanced readers. The higher the Lexile measure, the higher the students reading level. A student’s ideal choice of reading materials falls between 50L above their reported measure and 100L below their reported measure. For example, if a child has a Lexile (reading) measure of 1240L, books that fall between 1140L to 1290L are appropriate for that child. Once you’ve identified a child’s Lexile (reading) measure, you can input their Lexile range (in this case 1140L to 1290L) in the Find-a-Book tool to see suggested reading materials. For example, for a child with a Lexile range of 1140L to 1290L, books such as “Walden” by Henry David Thoreau and Herman Melville’s “Moby Dick” should be challenging enough to help them grow in reading and literature. 

The Quantile (math) Measure uses a similar process. A Quantile (math) Measure will be shown as a number with a “Q” at the end. A student’s ideal math comprehension is 50Q above and 50Q below their reported measure. For example, if a child has a Quantile measure of 500Q, their math comprehension sweet spot is between 450Q to 550Q. That means math games, worksheets, and other activities that fall within that range, which you can find using the Math@Home tool, will help them grow their math skills.

Just like test scores, Lexile and Quantile Measures provide one indicator of a child’s learning and should be considered along with their other schoolwork and teacher feedback.

Parents can also visit the CAASPP parent resources website to get access to practice and training tests as well as a technology checker that is presented in the form of a game-like tool to help identify their child’s readiness for online testing. We encourage parents to use these free resources and tools all year, and especially during summer break to help students stay engaged and continue their academic progress.

California State PTA is a nonprofit and non-commercial volunteer organization and does not endorse any product, publication or business associated with sponsorship partners.

Test Scores Can Help Jump Start the Learning Process

Register Now!

California State PTA Presents:
A Zoom presentation by Educational Testing Service and Metametrics
September 2, 2021 – 4-5pm

 

We often think of test scores as the ending point of a student’s learning, a “final score.” But test results can actually be the start of learning. In this presentation you’ll learn how to use the results of state testing to find just the right tools for continuing your child’s progress in reading and math. 

Register here and attend on September 2 from 4:00 to 5:00 p.m.

During the presentation, which will be facilitated by California State PTA President Carol Green, experts from ETS and Metametrics will explain the Lexile and Quantile Framework. If you look at the 2021 Student Score Report, based on tests most students took at the end of last school year, you’ll see Lexile and Quantile measures. (You’ll find them on page 5 of this sample Student Score Report.)

You can use your child’s Lexile and Quantile measures to find their reading and math levels. The California Department of Education has arranged for all parents to have access to a set of free family-friendly tools, including Find-A-Book and Math@Home, that enable you to match learning resources and activities to your child’s learning levels in both reading and math. 

These two parent guides will give you the basics.

Lexile: https://lexile.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/Lexile-Parent-Guide.pdf

Quantile: https://www.quantiles.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/Quantile-Parent-Guide-1.pdf

 

But even better, register for and attend our September 2 presentation.   

ETS Update: Spring Assessments

This article was provided by our sponsor ETS. Read more about ETS here.

State tests are underway and like this school year when learning is  different—whether your child is in a school, learning at home, or both—the tests are also different.

We recognize that the COVID-19 pandemic that prompted sudden school closures has created a very challenging learning environment not only for students, but also for parents and teachers. We applaud the hard work, sacrifices and efforts made by families and teachers to help ensure that students continue to learn and progress in their academic career. There is no doubt that the COVID-19 closures have caused learning gaps, which is why it is more important than ever to measure student learning to understand the impact the pandemic and the different learning environments have had on students.

This year, districts have the option to give the California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress (CAASPP) either remotely or in person. The English language arts and mathematics test are shorter than in previous years to decrease stress on students and time it takes away from valuable instruction. School districts will also have more time to administer the assessments. The results of the tests are going to be used for learning only. They will not be used to rate schools but to help identify where leaning loss has occurred and provide the state, teachers, and parents with this very important data to help make decisions on how to best help student catch up.

All the test subjects, in addition to ELA and math, administered under CAASPP are available this year as well as the tests administered to English learners. Most of these tests are available remotely or in person. However, if your child qualifies for the alternate assessments, these tests will need to be given in person because these tests require one-on-one administration with students so they can better demonstrate what they know and can do.

Below is a list of available tests, who takes them, how they are administered, and timeline. Check with your child’s teacher for more information about your child’s testing schedule and which tests they need to take. Parents can also visit the CAASPP/ELPAC website for more information, including instructions and videos on how to prepare for testing at home and practice tests.

Smarter Balanced English Language Arts (ELA) and mathematics (shortened version)

Results for this test will only be used to get information on how to help students.

  • Who takes the test: All students from grades 3-8 and 11 except students participating in the California Alternate Assessments (CAAs) for ELA and mathematics and ELA only for English learners in U.S. schools less than 12 months.
  • How it’s administered: In-person or remote, depending on school district.
  • Testing period: February – July
  • When parents can expect their child’s score report: July 2021

California Alternate Assessments (CAA) in English language arts and mathematics

Results for this test will only be used to get information on how to help students.

  • Who takes the test: Students with the most significant cognitive disabilities whose active individualized education program (IEP) designates the use of an alternate assessment
  • How it’s administered: In-person only
  • Testing period: January – July
  • When parents can expect their child’s score report: September 2021

California Science Test (CAST)

Results for this test will only be used to get information on how to help students.

  • Who takes the test: All students in grades 5 and 8, and once anytime in high school, except eligible students participating in the CAA for Science
  • How it’s administered: In-person or remote, depending on school district
  • Testing period: January – July
  • When parents can expect their child’s score report: July 2021

California Alternate Assessments in Science

Results for this test will only be used to get information on how to help students.

  • Who takes the test: Students with the most significant cognitive disabilities whose active IEP designates the use of an alternate assessment, for grades 5 and 8, and once anytime in high school
  • How it’s administered: In-person only
  • Testing period: September – July
  • When parents can expect their child’s score report: TBD

English Language Proficiency Assessment for California (ELPAC) (Initial and Summative)

Results of this test are used to identify English learners and to reclassify EL status

Initial ELPAC Listening, Speaking, Reading and Writing

  • Who takes the test: K-12 students whose primary language is not English as indicated on the Home Language Survey; administered within 30 calendar days of enrollment
  • How it’s administered: In-person or remote
  • Testing period: All year
  • When parents can expect their child’s score report: As soon as the student takes the test

*Summative ELPAC Listening, Speaking, Reading and Writing

  • Who takes the test: K-12 students who have been identified as English learners and participate annually until reclassified fluent English proficient
  • How it’s administered: In-person or remote
  • Testing period: February – July
  • When parents can expect their child’s score report: June 2021

 *Students who took a locally administered alternate assessment of English proficiency will continue to receive a Summative ELPAC student score report.

California Spanish Assessment

This is an optional test for native English-speaking students who want to demonstrate proficiency in Spanish language.

  • Who takes the test: All students in grades 3-8 and high school who want to demonstrate Spanish reading and language arts
  • How it’s administered: In-person or remote
  • Testing period: January – July

When parents can expect their child’s score report: September 2021

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