On April 16, 17, 23, and 24, juniors will be taking the CAASPP, California’s state testing. It will begin at 8:30 A.M. at your homeroom or a different location if specified by your homeroom teacher. Testing is 2 hours long and students are allowed to have snacks and water out for break periods and for when you complete the test. For the latter half of the day, students will have a block schedule.
Admittedly, testing is seen as a hassle by juniors. With it taking place during the second semester, less than three weeks away from any AP exams juniors may be taking, students are tired and doing everything they can to finish the year strong. Additionally, the following block schedule can cause more fatigue on top of testing.
Even so, it’s still crucial to recognize the importance of these tests.
The CAASPP includes the Smart Balanced Summative Assessments for ELA and mathematics, the SBAC, as well as the California Science Test, the CAST. Both ultimately test your level of skill in the mentioned areas, and show up on your Aeries under “Test Results.” Counselors can use these results to determine which classes will be the best for you going into senior year, or even what major would be best suited for you. If these scores are too low, you could miss the opportunity to take certain APs, like AP math or science classes. But, if these scores are high, you may be free from taking certain college classes that you would otherwise have to pay for.
But what about the school as a whole? It’s an indicator for how well Segerstrom is thriving academically, a way to show why the school stands out in our district as well as in the state. Additionally, CAASPP testing does, in fact, affect the funding the school receives. It serves as an “academic check-up,” explained by the California Department of Education themselves. If scores show that the school needs any kind of intervention, then such an intervention will occur to aid students. Scores will also give teachers an indication on things they need to improve on or continue with their teaching in order to, again, best help students.
As an initiative to encourage students to do their best on the CAASPP, seniors who scored “Met or Exceeded” on the SBAC and/or CST are being recognized with a certificate and a treat.
The CAASPP is an opportunity that should be used to its fullest potential, so make sure it’s treated as such. Juniors, be sure to arrive at your homeroom classes on the specified dates ready to test and excel. Good testing, Jags!
