Administration Information for the CAA for Science

Overview of the Assessment

The CAA for Science is a computer-based, summative assessment that is aligned with the Science Connectors (i.e., alternate standards) derived from the CA NGSS, and is administered to students with the most significant cognitive disabilities. This assessment offers a developmentally appropriate opportunity for these students to be assessed on their science knowledge, skills, and abilities while providing meaningful information about academic performance to both students and teachers.

All LEAs are required to administer the CAA for Science to eligible students in grades five and eight and one time in high school (i.e., grade ten, eleven, or twelve) for students whose IEP indicates an alternate assessment. High school students have only one opportunity to take the CAA for Science. LEAs can elect to administer the CAA for Science to students in grade ten or eleven. Students in grade twelve who have not yet met the science testing requirement will automatically be registered to take the CAA for Science if they are designated as taking any alternate assessment. Students repeating grade twelve are not eligible to test. All students will receive their CAA for Science scores in an SSR after they have tested.

Students who meet the following eligibility requirements will take the CAA for Science:

  • The student has a significant cognitive disability that is described in the student’s IEP.
  • The student is learning content derived from the California content standards.
  • The student requires extensive direct individualized instruction and substantial resources to achieve measurable gains in the grade-level curriculum.

The CAA for Science embedded PTs may be administered between September 17, 2024—the date on which the embedded PTs become available—through the final day of the LEA’s instructional calendar or June 30, 2025, whichever comes first.

Embedded PTs

The four embedded PTs that make up the CAA for Science are administered one-on-one by a trained TE throughout the instructional year and shortly after instruction of related science content is complete. A student must sign on to all four embedded PTs to be considered as participating. DFAs for each embedded PT are available as PDFs that can be downloaded from TOMS. Each embedded PT measures two Science Connectors from the same domain. TEs should use the “No Response” button functionality within the TDS for students who do not respond after being presented with a test question.

End of Performance Task Survey

A survey for the TE about the student is included at the end of each embedded PT following a routing question.

Testing Window

TEs must administer all four required CAA for Science embedded PTs so the student can be counted as participating. These PTs should each be administered within the TDS throughout the normal course of instruction between September 17, 2024, and the final day of the LEA’s instructional calendar or June 30, 2025, whichever comes first.

The CAA for Science is administered one-on-one shortly after the student has received related science instruction in the classroom. While testing should take less than one average class period per embedded PT, the assessments are untimed, and the amount of time each student needs can vary. Tests may be administered to a student over as many testing sessions and days as required to meet the needs of that student. It is not recommended that students be administered more than one CAA for Science embedded PT per test session or participate in test taking over consecutive days.

TE Resources

Preparing for Administration

The PFA for the CAA for Science contains nonsecure information. A TE can use the PFA to prepare for test administration.

Directions for Administration

Directions for the CAA for Science administration are specific to the science domain, grade level, and form tested. Note that one of the science domains will have two DFAs (for example, Physical Sciences A and Physical Sciences B).

These secure documents are to be downloaded from TOMS just prior to administering the embedded PT. DFAs are sorted by grade level and form number in TOMS. Form assignments are found on the CAA for Science Form Assignments web page.

CAASPP test site coordinators or TEs should download the CAA for Science DFAs by taking the following steps in TOMS:

  1. Select the [Resources] navigation tab on the TOMS top navigation bar.
  2. Select CAA for Science DFAs from the Available Materials list.
  3. Select the button corresponding with the grade level or grade band being assessed.
  4. Scroll down the page to find the DFA and then select a PDF link to initiate the download process for each embedded PT for the science domain being assessed. Each DFA should be downloaded only as it is needed.

Practice and Training Tests

Training PTs and the practice PTs for the CAA for Science are linked on the CAASPP Online Practice and Training Tests web page. Students can take these tests using either a secure browser or a web browser.

Administration Planning Guides

The grade- and form-specific administration planning guides are available to assist in planning and scheduling testing. The guides do not include test content, but they do identify the Science Connectors that are assessed by the CAA for Science during the 2024–25 school year. Use this information to determine the best time to administer each of the four embedded PTs of the CAA for Science over the course of the school year.

The planning guides are linked on the CAASPP CAA for Science Administration Planning Guides web page. They are sorted by grade level or grade band and form number. Form assignments are found on the CAA for Science Form Assignments web page.

Student Accessibility Resources

The complete list of embedded and non-embedded universal tools, designated supports, and accommodations available for the CAA for Science can be found in the CDE California Assessment Accessibility Resources Matrix. This document provides information for classroom teachers, English language development educators, special education teachers, and instructional assistants to use in assigning the appropriate accessibility resources to students.

Tests will include embedded and non-embedded universal tools, designated supports, and accommodations.