Quick Answers to Questions About State Testing

Do your learning coaches and scholars have questions about state testing? Here are a few simple answers to our most popular FAQs about testing:

• Why does Compass participate in state testing?Public charter schools in California, like Compass, are required to have at least 95% of their enrolled scholars participate in state testing. The Every Student Succeeds Act, a Federal regulation, requires that all schools and scholar groups meet the 95% participation rate and that the participation rate is factored into the Academic Indicator on the California Dashboard.
• Why should I have my scholar test?There are a few very important reasons why scholars should test. But, arguably the most important reason is that as a public school, Compass is required by Federal regulation to have 95% of its scholars participate in state testing. New laws, like AB1505, have been passed that restrict the growth of public charter schools and put our school under a microscope. Failure to meet the testing requirement puts our school’s future in jeopardy and could risk our ability to continue serving your child and thousands of other children in California. If you love Compass for your scholar, please ensure your scholar attends State Testing this year.(Continued…) Also, the scores can be used by you, the parent, and our teachers to gather information about your scholar so that we can work together to better support them. The scores help us all better understand what your scholar needs in order to be academically successful. State test scores are just one piece of the puzzle. We also use work samples, interaction with your scholar, quizzes, projects, writing samples, and benchmark assessments to get to know your scholar and truly personalize their education at Compass.
• What does state testing have to do with Compass’ future?Over the past year, things have really changed for public charter schools in California like Compass. New laws have been put in place that significantly impacts the future of our school. For example, California law AB1505 was recently passed. It gives local school districts more control to say when and where a charter school can open and expand its reach. Our state test scores are shared with our authorizing school districts that now have the ability to deny the renewal of our charter school without any further intervention. If our authorizing school districts are displeased with our state test participation rates or scores, they may be more likely to decline our charter renewal, which would likely prevent Compass from being able to support your child and other children throughout California.
• What is the California Dashboard?The California Dashboard is an online tool shows how schools are performing on the state and local indicators included in California’s school accountability system. It helps schools pinpoint the strengths and weaknesses of their scholar population. Failure to meet the participation rate reduces a school’s Academic Indicator.
• Where are the scores reported?Participation rates are reported to the state and our authorizing districts. High participation rates and improving test scores are important for our continued charter renewals with our authorizing districts (Mountain Empire School District in San Diego, Acton-Agua Dulce in Los Angeles, and Winters Joint Unified School District in Yolo) so that we can keep supporting your child and other children in California. If you love Compass for your scholar, please ensure your scholar attends State Testing this year. Individual scores are never shared with anyone except scholars, parents, and teachers. When reporting to the state and our authorizers, disaggregated data is shared using categories such as grade level or gender, for example.
• How does the state test actually work?Many believe that a standardized test means every child across California is given the same test, regardless of level or ability.  That isn’t the case with CAASPP testing. The CAASPP test is a Computer-Adaptive Test (CAT) and a Performance Task (PT) for both ELA and math. The CAST (science) is also computer adaptive. This means that each scholar is given a test that adapts to them, and depending on how they answer, the difficulty of the test questions vary to meet each scholar’s level of ability.  The standardized component of the CAASPP testing is that all test site proctors read the same directions, and we strive to provide equitable testing environments for all our scholars.
• How long does testing usually take?The average test time for the CAASPP (ELA and Math) is 6-7.5 hours. This is total test time and does not include time for instructions, logging into the test delivery system, or breaks. The CAST is estimated to take 2 hours. These estimates are for scheduling purposes, as the assessments are untimed.
• What does CAASPP, CAST, PFT and ELPAC mean? Are these the state tests people talk about? Some of these tests are state tests and others are federally required tests. TheCalifornia Assessment of Student Performance and Progress (CAASPP) is an annual measure of what scholars know and can do using the Common Core State Standards for English language arts/literacy and mathematics. CAASPP consists of the Smarter Balanced Summative Assessments for English language arts/literacy (ELA) and mathematics; the California Science Test (CAST); the California Alternate Assessments (CAA) for ELA, mathematics, and science; and the California Spanish Test (CSA).  The purpose of the Smarter Balanced Summative Assessments is to assess knowledge and skills for English language arts/literacy (ELA) and mathematics, as well as how much scholars have improved since the previous year. These measures help identify and address gaps in knowledge or skills early so scholars get the support they need for success in higher grades and become ready for college or a career.The California Science Test (CAST) is based on the California Next Generation Science Standards (CA NGSS), which focuses on understanding the scientific concepts found in life sciences, earth and space sciences, and physical sciences. The purposes of the CAST are to assess knowledge and skills in science, to foster science education at every grade level, to measure the range and depth of the CA NGSS, and to prepare scholars for college and careers.The English Language Proficiency Assessments for California (ELPAC) consists of two assessments: Initial ELPAC and Summative ELPAC. The Initial ELPAC is administered to scholars in kindergarten through grade twelve who have a language other than English on the home language survey. The purpose of the Initial ELPAC is to identify scholars as being either an English learner or fluent English proficient. It is administered only once during a scholar’s initial enrollment in a California public school.  The Summative ELPAC is administered only to scholars who have previously been identified as an English learner based upon the results of the Initial ELPAC. The Summative ELPAC measures how well English learners are progressing toward English language proficiency.
• Which tests do my children need to take?The table below is a great way to determine if your scholar needs to take an assessment, and which one(s).All Assessments

*if identified as an English Learner or enrolling for the first time in CA public school with a Primary, First, or Home language other than English. 

• How do I enroll my child to participate in state testing?Scholars will be automatically registered for the test site closest to their physical address. Learning coaches will receive a confirmation email and will have the opportunity to request a site change through their Supervising Teacher. Instructions for site changes will be in that initial confirmation email. Reminder emails will be sent for each testing site as the testing date for that site approaches.
• Where does my child actually take the test? At home?We have test sites across the state, based on mapping scholar clusters. We use colleges and universities, both computer labs and classrooms, to host state testing (CAASPP). CAASPP testing is required to be proctored by school employees and cannot be administered at home.
• How do I know the location where my scholar needs to take their state tests?Parents will receive a confirmation email once their scholar has been registered for the site closest to their physical address, and additional follow up reminders.
• Can I change my scholar’s test location? If so, how?Yes, you can change your scholar’s test location. Please talk to your scholar’s Supervising Teacher to request a location change. Instructions will also be available in the confirmation email.
• These were our planned sites for spring 2020:We intend to plan sites in or near the same cities for spring 2021.

Bakersfield
Brentwood
Clear Lake
Concord
Fairfield
Lancaster
Long Beach
Los Angeles (near LAX)
National City
Novato
Palm Springs
Pasadena
Petaluma
Rancho Cucamonga
Riverside
Sacramento
San Diego (2 locations)
San Marcos
Santa Ana (select days)
Temecula
Thousand Oaks
Victorville/Hesperia
Whittier
Winters Area
Woodland Hills