All students in the Capistrano Unified School District are required to take the SBAC from grade three through five, eight and also 11. The test consists of two assessments, a computer-adaptive section and a Performance Task, for both the math and ELA subjects.
The CAT section of the test is a multiple choice exam that adapts to the student as they take it. As more questions are answered correctly, the following questions will continue to become more challenging. On the other hand, the Performance Task aspect of the exam will include a few free-response questions. On the English version of the performance task, students are required to write an essay, while the math section involves typing out formulas.
The first week that students return to school from spring break, juniors will take the CAASPP test in both their English and Math classes, the week of April 14. Juniors will need to complete the California State Science Test, that they previously took in grades five and eight, in their social science class. The exams are given to the state of California to determine the effectiveness of education at Aliso. They are taken throughout different stages of a student’s educational journey to track their improvement and their progress compared to their peers, both at the same school and around the state.
These assessments will be completed using school-issued devices through CAASPP. Students will not be permitted to use personal devices, but they can bring their own headphones instead of the school ones provided.
The examinations will not be counted as direct assessments for classes, yet scoring well can raise a student’s overall grade in the class. For example, if a student has a B+ in their math class and they exceed the standard on the test, their grade in that math class will be increased to an A- on the transcript. This change aims to improve student scores by incentivizing them to try hard on the CAASPP testing.
According to Ms. Anderson, junior English teacher, the scores fell in the math and English classes last year from previous years. Aliso plans to move up the leaderboard for high-scoring schools in Capistrano Unified School District with a higher percentage of students meeting or exceeding their grade standard.
Last year, ANHS had a raffle for students who scored extremely high on the SBAC tests, which encouraged some to work hard for a good result, but the reward was not enticing enough. However, Dana Hills High School tested the new policy of raising grades last year and they experienced a 12 percent increase in overall performance, demonstrating the effectiveness of the suggestion.
Students will learn how they performed in the summer after their junior year, and their teachers will be notified at the beginning of the following school year. The changes to transcripts cannot occur until the fall semester has started but they will be sent out to students as well.
