The Curriculum Department of Central Union School
District is responsible for all state and district mandated
assessments. This includes the distribution, training, administration,
collection, and security of the following assessments:
In addition the department coordinates
the training of teachers and administrators, prepares assessment
materials, and facilitates the transfer of assessment information
between district and the state. The department further provides
assistance to the schools with analysis and interpretation of the
results from the various assessments administered district wide.
Assessment results provide crucial information to strengthen
decision-making for administrators and staff. Therefore, the assessment
results enable staff to make sound curricular decisions for the
educational growth of all students.
California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress (CAASPP)
Parent Access to CAASPP and ELPAC Results
Signed into law in October 2013, Assembly Bill 484 established the
CAASP assessment system. This system has replaced the former STAR
Program. The CAASPP assessment system encompasses the following required
assessments:
- Smarter Balanced (SBAC)
System of assessments for mathematics and English-language arts
aligned with Common Core. These assessments are designed to measure
student progress toward college and career readiness. These assessments are computer adaptive and Designated Supports are provided as appropriate for individual students. Children with disabilities who have an individualized education plan (IEP) or 504 have Designated Supports and/or Accommodations to provide additional access.
- California Science Tests (CAST)
California Standards-based test for Science in grades five, eight, and ten.
California public school students beginning in grade three take part in the state’s standardized assessments. These
assessments include a variety of approaches and item types that model
and promote high-quality teaching and student learning and set a course
to ensure that all California students are well prepared to enter
college and careers in today’s competitive global economy.
Starting Smarter
The Starting Smarter websites help parents understand student scores and reports, view sample test questions, and provide additional free resources to support your child’s learning.
CAASPP Starting Smarter
ELPAC Starting Smarter
CAASPP Student Score Report Guides are short documents that describe each part of the student score reports. They currently are available in English, with translations coming soon in ten different languages. The CAASPP Student Score Report Guide for the Standards-based Tests in Spanish for Reading/Language Arts in grades two through eleven is now available in English and Spanish.
CAASPP Key Messages addresses some key concepts of the Smarter Balanced Assessment System.
District Assessments
Central Union School District is piloting assessments in ELA and Math. These assessments are aligned to the Common Core State Standards and provide students with the same format of test questions that they will experience on the Smarter Balance Assessment Consortium (SBAC) Assessment. District Interim Assessments allow students to be aware of areas in which they will continue to learn and enable teachers to monitor growth in students as they master the state standards.
Schedule for ELPAC Assessment
Central Union School Districts administers
the Initial English Language Proficiency Assessment for California
(ELPAC) for initial identification to
all enrolling students who have a primary language other than English
listed on their Home Language Survey (HLS) When enrolling in a
California School for the first time. Once identified, the Summative
ELPAC is administered annually to English learners until they are
reclassified as fluent English proficient (RFEP).
The testing window for the administration
of the Summative ELPAC is February through May. The Initial ELPAC is
administered throughout the year as new students are enrolled for
initial identification.
The purpose of the ELPAC assessment is to identify
students who are Limited English Proficient; determine the level of
English-language Proficiency of students who are Limited English
Proficient; and to assess the progress of Limited-English-Proficient
students in acquiring the skills of listening, reading, speaking, and
writing in English.
ELPAC Overview Video
ELPAC Overview Video: English
ELPAC Overview Video: Spanish
ELPAC Summative Student Score Report Video
ELPAC Summative Student Score Report Video: English (Video; 6:58)
ELPAC Summative Student Score Report Video: Spanish (Video; 8:42)
Introduction to the Initial ELPAC for Parents Video
Introduction to the Initial ELPAC for Parents Video: English (Video; 5:51)
Introduction to the Initial ELPAC for Parents Video: Spanish (Video; 7:08)
Physical Fitness Testing
Each spring, (February - April) Central Union School
District is required to administer the state-designated Physical Fitness
Test (PFT) to all students in grades five and seven.
The FITNESSGRAM is the selected Physical Fitness Test (PFT)
for students in California public schools. The FITNESSGRAM is a battery
of comprehensive, health-related physical fitness assessments.
The FITNESSGRAM consists of six fitness areas:
- Aerobic Capacity
- Body Composition
- Abdominal Strength and Endurance
- Trunk Extensor Strength and Flexibility
- Upper Body Strength and Endurance Flexibility