Dear Parents and Guardians:
Over the next few weeks, students in Valley Center will participate in the statewide testing program called the California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress (CAASPP) based on California’s academic standards—the content and skills we want students to know and be able to do. These assessments are designed to provide information to teachers, parents/guardians, and students about students’ progress academically and readiness for college and career. In grades three through eight and eleven, students will take assessments created specifically to gauge their performance in English language arts and literacy, mathematics, and science. These tests measure the skills called for by the academic standards, including the ability to write clearly, think critically, and solve problems.
Our teachers provide a supportive learning environment that encourages students to try their best while taking the tests. As the testing window approaches, we work with students on test-taking strategies that give students more confidence. As students progress through their years of schooling, they will eventually have to take high-stakes, online tests. We want them to be ready when that time comes.
State assessments provide us the opportunity to measure the skills of all students based on grade-level standards. It also allows us to provide intervention and enrichment opportunities based on the collected data and the results help us plan curriculum supports, instruction, and resources to support student learning both for school sites and individual students.
These tests given at the high school level are important for our school community and the results of this test will be used as the student’s Early Assessment Program (EAP) status. The Early Assessment Program (EAP) is designed to provide students, their families, and high schools with early signals about students’ readiness for college-level English and mathematics.
Results from this spring’s 11th grade online state tests are used by the University of California (UC) system, California State University (CSU) system, and participating California Community Colleges (CCC) to measure whether students are ready for college-level math and English language arts. Scores will also be used to guide 12th grade course selections to ensure UC/CSU eligibility. If a student scores well on the CAASPP and is planning on going to a UC, CSU, or CA Community College not only can that student opt out of the remedial English and math courses, but the student can also opt out of the English and math assessments for incoming Freshmen To find out more about EAP, please visit http://www.cde.ca.gov/ci/gs/hs/eapindex.asp
Our state requires our schools to have at least 95% of student participation in the annual state testing. If participation falls below 95%, then our schools will be penalized on their scores. Full participation is an important goal for our schools and school district as it informs the instruction we provide in the classroom, indicates the areas that our students and staff need to provide support for growth, and communicates the importance of academic expectations throughout our school community. We know that a single test is just one measure of a student’s learning, but combined with classroom grades, coursework, and other information, these results provide you and us with a clearer picture of your child’s progress towards college and career readiness.
Together, we will continue working to fulfill Valley Center-Pauma Unified’s vision that all students graduate as “college and career ready, productive, responsible and engaged global citizens.” You will continue to get information from your students school site about these important assessments and if you have additional questions, please reach out to your student’s teacher or principal .
Sincerely,
Ron McCowan
VCPUSD Superintendent