1. SMARTER BALANCED ASSESSMENTS PARENT RESOURCES

2. CAN YOU SOLVE IT? CAASPP PARENT INFO, ELLIS 2016

3. CAN YOU SOLVE IT? Grade: 3 CAASPP PARENT INFO, ELLIS 2016

4. WE ARE EXPECTING KIDS TO THINK DIFFERENTLY Aligned with our new state standards, which were designed to encourage critical thinking, analytical writing, and real-world problem solving. Questions that require abstract thinking, synthesis, and analysis will make up 50 to 60 percent of the new state assessments. CAASPP PARENT INFO, ELLIS 2016

5. PROFICIENCY LEVELS ARE SET HIGH California has set high proficiency levels on the new state assessments, raising the bar for all students. Based on projections from field tests in California, it’s likely that fewer students will score at the higher achievement levels on the new assessments, especially in the first few years. This doesn’t 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. CAASPP PARENT INFO, ELLIS 2016

6. MOVING BEYOND MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTIONS fewer multiple-choice questions and more short answers and extended responses that will require a deeper understanding of key concepts. Along with reading to follow a story, students are learning to read to cite evidence and draw logical conclusions. They are learning to use math to solve real-world problems rather than merely pick out the right multiple-choice answer. CAASPP PARENT INFO, ELLIS 2016

7. COMPUTER BASED Students will use computers or tablets to take the state assessments. The computer-based testing will include embedded supports that will give students the opportunity to fully demonstrate their knowledge and mastery of the state standards in English language arts and mathematics. CAASPP PARENT INFO, ELLIS 2016

8. UNIVERSAL SUPPORTS Embedded supports available and built in to all assessments Can be accessed and used by all students without any extra steps Breaks Digital Notepad Calculator (for specific items) English glossary Expandable passages Highlighter Keyboard navigations Strikethrough Zoom in/out Writing tools (bold, italic, undo/redo) CAASPP PARENT INFO, ELLIS 2016

9. STATE ASSESSMENTS: ONE OF MANY MEASURES These results should be looked at in context with other measures—including district assessments, report card grades, and portfolios of student work— to determine how well students are learning. CAASPP PARENT INFO, ELLIS 2016

10. PRACTICE TESTS Step 1 CAASPP PARENT INFO, ELLIS 2016

11. PRACTICE TESTS Step 2 CAASPP PARENT INFO, ELLIS 2016

12. PRACTICE TESTS Step 3 CAASPP PARENT INFO, ELLIS 2016

13. PRACTICE TESTS Step 4 CAASPP PARENT INFO, ELLIS 2016

14. PRACTICE TESTS Step 5 CAASPP PARENT INFO, ELLIS 2016

15. PRACTICE TESTS Step 6 CAASPP PARENT INFO, ELLIS 2016

16. ADDITIONAL RESOURCES CAASPP Parent Guide: http://www.cde.ca.gov/ta/tg/ca/documents/sbparentgde35.pdf Smarter Balanced Consortium: http://www.smarterbalanced.org California Department of Education Smarter Balanced Testing Site: http://www.cde.ca.gov/ta/tg/sa/index.asp CAASPP PARENT INFO, ELLIS 2016