The Pasadena Unified School District (PUSD), along with thousands of schools across California, is participating in a field test of the California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress (CAASPP), the computer-based test that replaces the STAR tests. All students in grades three through eight, a sample of students in grades nine and ten, and most eleventh graders will take the Smarter Balanced Field Test at some point between April 7-May 16. No student scores will be captured during the field test; instead, it will prepare schools to successfully launch the new testing system in the 2014-2015 school year.
The computer-based field test will gauge the fairness and accuracy of the test questions, the technical capability of school campuses, and the preparation of students, teachers and staff for next year’s first operational test. This year’s field test will also help determine how well the test measures what students know and what they still need to learn. Additionally, the district’s technical capacity will be tested to determine what additional resources are necessary. Students participating in the field test will get a chance to try out the new system — without consequences.
“The field test will give our students and teachers hands-on experience with the new assessments and allow us to identify and address needs in the district’s technical capacity,” said Superintendent Jon R. Gundry. “Although the field test will produce no student, school or district scores this year, it is a milestone in PUSD’s transition to the new generation of computer-based assessments that align with the Common Core State Standards.”
In addition to the traditional multiple choice questions, there will be questions that require students to highlight text, write short responses, graph answers to questions and listening tasks. PUSD students will use Google Chromebooks to take the field test. The district has purchased over 4000 Chromebooks to use during testing as well as to facilitate 21st century learning activities in the classroom.
“The district is aware that there will likely be problems with administering the test just as there would be with any mass use of new technology for the first time,” said PUSD Director of Information Technology Tendaji Jamal. “We want to reiterate that the results from this state mandated test of the test will not count toward any accountability measures for students or school sites.”
California is part of the Smarter Balanced Assessment System, a multistate consortium that is developing a student testing system aligned with a common core of academic content standards for English language arts/literacy and mathematics. With the introduction of the new Common Core State Standards in all California public schools, students are learning in new ways that deepens their knowledge and how to transfer new knowledge and skills to other subjects. This next generation of assessments is designed to measure student progress toward the goal of college and career readiness.
See the March 6 letter from Chief Academic Officer Brian McDonald, Ed.D sent to parents about testing.
See the types of questions on the test and take the practice test online.
See the California Department of Education’s video overview of the Smarter Balanced Field Test.
