California Alternate Assessments (CAA)
The California Alternate Assessments (CAAs) for ELA, mathematics, and science are part of the California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress (CAASPP) System. The purpose of the CAAs is to measure what students know and can do. These measures help identify and address gaps in knowledge or skills early so students can receive the support they need. In the content areas of ELA and mathematics, the CAAs are aligned with alternate achievement standards—called the Core Content Connectors—and linked to the Common Core State Standards (CCSS) for ELA and mathematics. In the content area of science, the CAA is aligned with alternate achievement standards—called the Science Core Content Connectors—which are linked to the performance expectations from the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS).
Only eligible students may participate in the administration of the CAAs. Individualized education program (IEP) teams “shall determine when a child with the most significant cognitive disability shall participate in an alternate assessment aligned with the alternate academic achievement standards.” (Title 1, Part A, Subpart 1, Sec. 1111(b)(2)(D)(ii)(I)—Every Student Succeeds Act, 2015). Any student identified for alternate testing takes the alternate version of all assessments, as well as the Alternate English Language Proficiency Assessments for California (ELPAC) if the student is also a current English Learner.