Assessment Resources
Since their initial release in 2013, there has been a great deal of effort put forward to develop assessments of all types aligned to the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS). Here are a few resources relating to assessing NGSS that may prove useful. Their inclusion in this list is does not constitute an endorsement or a recommendation from CSTA. Please evaluate each resource carefully. Scroll down for information about California's statewide summative assessment.
- Science Assessment Task Screening Tools (Achieve)
- Transforming Science Assessment: Challenges and Recommendations for States (Achieve, June 2018)
- STEM Teaching Tools - Assessment
- Conducting Assessments (NGSS @ NSTA)
- Seeing Students Learn Science, Integrating Assessment and Instruction in the Classroom (National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine)
- Developing Assessments for the NGSS (WestEd)
- Advancing Coherent and Equitable Systems of Science Education (ACESSE) (Council of State Science Supervisors)
- Using Crosscutting Concepts to Prompt Student Responses (Council of Chief State School Officers)
- Stanford NGSS Assessment Project (SNAP) (Stanford University)
- Next Generation Science Assessment (University of Illinois at Chicago, SRI International, Michigan State University, and the Concord Consortium)
- Instruction and Assessment Resources (Achieve)
- STEM Teaching Tools PD Module (Institute for Science + Math Education)
- Performance Assessment Resource Bank (Council of State Science Supervisors and Stanford University)
- Wisconsin Classroom Science Assessment Examples (Wisconsin Dept. of Education)
CAASPP - California Assessment of Performance and Progress
California's Science Assessments
The new science assessment is known the California Science Test or CAST. The alternate science assessment is known as California Alternate Assessment for Science or CAA-Science. Both CAST and CAA-Science are part of the larger statewide system of assessments know as CAASPP - the California Assessment of Performance and Progress.
2018 CAST and CAA Science Test Results
For the 2017–18 school year, California is reporting results for the CAST field test and for the CAA for Science, year 2 pilot. Student results will include preliminary indicators consisting of a percent correct score and a category description that will be provided to parents/guardians. LEAs are responsible for providing this information to parents/guardians. To facilitate this communication, CDE has developed a suite of communications tools, information, and FAQs. Access the Toolkit A timeline for the release of the test results is also available.
| CAST | CAA-Science | |
| 2018/19 Administration | Window Opens January 9, 2019 | Field Test: Window Opens January 2019 |
| Operational Administration | 2018/2019 | 2019/2020 |
| Grades Administered | 5, 8, and once in 10-12* | 5, 8, and once in 10-12* |
| Format | Computer-Based with Variety of Item Types | Computer-Based, Performance Tasks |
| Additional Information | CAST Information Page | CAA-Science Information Page |
*LEA's will have discretion as to when to administer the operational assessments in grades 10, 11, or 12. See respective information pages for more information.
You Can Be Involved!
CDE is recruiting classroom science teachers to participate in item writing, item review, and other science assessment development activities. If you would like to be involved in developing California's new science assessment, register yourself today at: http://caaspp.org/reviewers.html.
Assessment Timeline:
| Year | California Science Test (CAST) | California Alternate Assessment - Science |
| 2017 | Pilot Test | Pilot Test |
| 2018 | Field Test | Pilot Test |
| 2019 | Operational Test | Field Test |
| 2020 | Operational Test | Operational Test |
Source: http://www.cde.ca.gov/be/ag/ag/yr16/documents/may16item08.doc
Updates from CDE
On September 28, 2017, the California Department of Education hosted its annual "North/South" Assessment Meeting in Sacramento. Videos from that meeting are available on CDE's website. Two presentations relating specifically to science assessment were presented and the Power Point presentations from that meeting are linked below.
CAST Presentation at CDE's 2017 Assessment and Accountability Info Meeting
CA NGSS Quick Nav
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