Dear Olympian High School Parents/Guardians,

As we prepare for CAASPP/SBAC scores to be mailed home to you we’d like to make you aware of how to read the new scores.

We are anticipating that scores may be low. We ask that you not try to compare the scores from the CST’s to CAASPP/SBAC as they are two very different assessments.

Below is a 3.5 minute video that will assist you in understanding the CAASPP/SBAC scores.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FQi4qlOCrmk (English and Spanish video)

Below are some Q&A’s that may answer some of your questions.

How are the new assessments an improvement over previous statewide tests?

The new assessment system uses online tests. It is designed to measure student growth over time, which was not possible in California’s previous system.

They are aligned with the skills students need to start taking college courses.

The computer-based testing includes accommodations that will give all students—including English learners and students with disabilities—the opportunity to fully demonstrate their knowledge and mastery of the state standards in English language arts and mathematics.

What will the new assessments measure?

The new assessments will provide help in measuring students’ knowledge of the subject matter as well as critical-thinking, analytical-writing, and problem-solving skills. They will provide important information about whether students are on track to succeed in college and the workforce by the time they graduate from high school.

The results are only one source of information we will be using regarding student progress.

What results can we expect from the new assessments?

New standards in English and math set higher expectations for students, and the new tests are designed to assess student performance against those higher standards, raising the bar for all students.

It should not be surprising if fewer students score within the top tiers on the testing spectrum considering the increased rigor. This does not mean that students have fallen behind or learned less. It simply means that we’re expecting more from them and aligning what’s being taught in the classroom with what they will need to know when entering college or the workforce.

The new assessments are fundamentally too different from the old exams to make any reliable comparisons between previous scores and new ones. Rather, this year’s results will establish a baseline for the progress we expect students to make over time.

Think of it as pushing the reset button on assessment results—getting a fresh start.

How will this system help improve teaching and learning?

The new assessments are an academic check-up designed to give teachers the feedback they need to improve instruction. The tests measure critical thinking, analytical writing, problem solving, and subject-area knowledge, providing teachers with multiple sources of information about student strengths and areas where students need additional support.

The system provides two types of interim assessments that teachers and schools can use to assess student learning at key points in the instructional year and to measure student preparedness for annual tests each spring. Both of these assessments provide information for teachers to adjust and differentiate teaching in response to the results.

The system provides a digital library of professional learning and instructional resources to help teachers assess individual student learning during instruction, provide feedback to students in a timely manner, and adjust teaching and learning as needed.

How can parents help?

Learning doesn’t end in the classroom, and parents can help provide support and a home environment that will help children succeed at school.

There are a variety of ways parents can help students prepare for these new assessments. A good start is to run through one of the practice tests available on www.smarterbalanced.org with children and ask them to explain their reasoning as they select answers. Helping children learn important computer skills such as typing and mouse control can also help them navigate the online assessments.

To encourage children to think critically as called for in the new standards, parents can ask their children to analyze whatever they are reading and to support their answers with information from the book.

Other strategies that can be helpful depending on a child’s age include reading to them or encouraging them to read, discussing their day at school, playing word games, helping them understand academic vocabulary, setting high expectations, focusing on the process rather than the answer, encouraging them to see math in the real world and asking children to explain why they think a certain answer is correct.

Common Core State Standards and CAASPP/SBAC

You are invited to attend a parent information night to learn more about:

Common Core State Standards and CAASPP/SBAC

Click here for more information