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California uses rigorous college- and career-ready standards in math and English language arts, and established the California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress (CAASPP) system in 2014, which is based on the high-quality Smarter Balanced summative and interim assessments.
In spring 2017, the state piloted its California Science Tests (CAST), which is aligned with the California Next Generation Science Standards.
California provided a detailed description of its accommodations for English learners, particularly Spanish-speaking students.
The state provides stacked translation in Spanish, along with language glossaries, as well as an alternate assessment with accommodations based on a student’s individualized education plan. The state has a number of tests under development, including science and Spanish language arts (bi-literacy), and is in the process of transitioning to a new ELP assessment (ELPAC).
The state could strengthen its plan by implementing a process to ensure that it is meeting the 1 percent cap on alternative assessments for students with the most significant cognitive disabilities. Also, California could strengthen its plan by providing more information about its alternative achievement standards and aligned assessments for students with the most severe cognitive disabilities.