Assessments
ASSESSMENTS
Assessments help us understand scholar progress and support growth.
Compass uses benchmark, diagnostic, and state assessments to better understand what scholars know, what they are ready to learn, and where additional support may be needed.
BENCHMARK ASSESSMENTS
STAR Renaissance diagnostic assessments.
One of the first assignments a Compass scholar takes is the STAR Renaissance diagnostic assessments in early literacy or mathematics and reading. STAR diagnostic assessments pinpoint a scholar’s academic needs and provide ongoing progress monitoring, showing whether scholars are on track to achieve end-of-year targets.
Benchmark assessments are taken as a diagnostic assessment at the beginning and middle of the school year, and as a benchmark at the end of the school year.
THE BENEFITS OF ASSESSMENTS
STAR and Freckle help support academic growth.
STAR Renaissance assessments and Freckle instructional activities help our teachers and staff support academic growth. Supporting instruction is available to scholars throughout each semester, as assigned by Supervising Teachers or as needed through the Multi-Tiered Systems of Support process.
Pinpoint Scholar Needs
STAR is a computer-adaptive diagnostic for early literacy, mathematics, and reading that pinpoints scholar needs.
Monitor Progress
STAR contains ongoing progress monitoring, showing whether scholars are on track to achieve end-of-year targets.
Guide Instruction
Teachers use assessment information to better understand what scholars know, what they can do, and what skills they are ready to learn.
STAR ASSESSMENT DETAILS
What scholars can expect.
Star Early Literacy
Used for scholars in grades pre-K through 3, including beginning readers who do not yet read independently or need early literacy skills assessed. There are 27 items and it generally takes fewer than 15 minutes.
Star Reading
Used for scholars in grades 1 through 12. Star Reading has 34 items and it generally takes fewer than 20 minutes.
Star Math
Used for scholars in grades 1 through 12. Star Math has 34 items and generally takes fewer than 25 minutes.
STATE ASSESSMENTS
California state-mandated assessments.
There are several state-mandated assessments that all California scholars enrolled in a public school take each year. The results from these tests provide parents/guardians, teachers, and educators with information about how well schools are doing in ensuring that scholars are college and career ready.
The California Dashboard Communications Toolkit
Informational materials help explain the data reported on the California School Dashboard.
California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress
The California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress (CAASPP) is an adaptive computer assessment aligned with the Common Core State Standards. It is critical that eligible Compass scholars participate in these state tests.
Non-participation results in the lowest possible score being assigned to that particular scholar, which lowers the standing and perception of Compass being a school in very high standing, and puts the school in jeopardy of having its charter renewed. Compass counts on the participation of all eligible scholars and families so that we may continue to serve your children.
English language arts/literacy and mathematics tests are administered to scholars in grades three through eight and grade eleven. The California Science Test measures scholar acquisition of the California Next Generation Science Standards. The California Spanish Assessment is optional, and the California Alternate Assessments are administered to scholars with the most significant cognitive disabilities.
English Language Proficiency Assessments for California
The computer-based English Language Proficiency Assessments for California (ELPAC) is aligned with the 2012 California English Language Development Standards. It includes an initial identification assessment and an annual summative assessment to measure progress in learning English.
Physical Fitness Test
The Physical Fitness Test for scholars in California schools is the FitnessGram®. The main goal is to help scholars start lifelong habits of regular physical activity. Scholars in grades five, seven, and nine take the fitness test in the spring of each school year.
STATEWIDE TESTING INFORMATION
Who takes each test, format, and tested standards.
Every year, California students take several statewide tests. When combined with other measures such as grades, class work, and teacher observations, these tests give families and teachers a more complete picture of their child’s learning.
CAASPP: Smarter Balanced Assessments for English Language Arts/Literacy and Math
- Who takes these tests? Scholars in grades 3–8 and grade 11.
- What is the test format? The Smarter Balanced assessments are computer-based.
- Which standards are tested? The California Common Core State Standards.
CAASPP: California Alternate Assessments for ELA and Math
- Who takes these tests? Scholars in grades 3–8 and grade 11 whose IEP identifies the use of alternate assessments.
- What is the test format? The CAAs for ELA and math are computer-based tests that are administered one-on-one by a test examiner who is familiar with the scholar.
- Which standards are tested? The California Common Core State Standards through the Core Content Connectors.
CAASPP: California Science Test
- Who takes the test? Scholars take the CAST in grades 5 and 8 and once in high school, either in grade 10, 11, or 12.
- What is the test format? The CAST is computer-based.
- Which standards are tested? The California Next Generation Science Standards.
CAASPP: California Alternate Assessment for Science
- Who takes the test? Scholars whose IEP identifies the use of an alternate assessment take the CAA for Science in grades 5 and 8 and once in high school, either in grade 10, 11, or 12.
- What is the test format? The CAA for Science is a series of four performance tasks that can be administered throughout the year as the content is taught.
- Which standards are tested? Alternate achievement standards derived from the California Next Generation Science Standards.
CAASPP: California Spanish Assessment
- Who takes the test? The CSA is an optional test for scholars in grades 3–12 that tests their Spanish reading, listening, and writing mechanics.
- What is the test format? The CSA is computer-based.
- Which standards are tested? The California Common Core State Standards en Español.
ELPAC
- Who takes the test? Scholars who have a home language survey that lists a language other than English will take the Initial test. Scholars classified as an Emerging Multilingual Scholar will take the Summative ELPAC every year until they are reclassified as proficient in English.
- What is the test format? Both the Initial and Summative ELPAC are computer-based.
- Which standards are tested? The 2012 California English Language Development Standards.
Alternate ELPAC
- Who takes the test? Scholars whose IEP identifies the use of an alternate assessment and who have a home language survey that lists a language other than English will take the Alternate Initial ELPAC. Scholars classified as an EMS will take the Alternate Summative ELPAC every year until they are reclassified as proficient in English.
- What is the test format? Both the Alternate Initial and Alternate Summative ELPAC are computer-based.
- Which standards are tested? Alternate achievement standards derived from the 2012 California English Language Development Standards.
Physical Fitness Test
- Who takes the test? Scholars in grades 5, 7, and 9 will take the FITNESSGRAM®, which is the test used in California.
- What is the test format? The test consists of five performance components: aerobic capacity, abdominal strength, trunk strength, upper body strength, and flexibility.
- Which standards are tested? The Healthy Fitness Zones, which are established through the FITNESSGRAM®.
Explore related academic support services.
Families can also review Scholar Success, Scholar Support, Emergent Multilingual Scholars, and Academic Support & Services.