SAMPLE PARENT LETTER BEFORE CAASPP TESTING
Dear Parents/Guardians:
Your child(ren), along with public school students throughout California will participate in the
California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress (CAASPP) Program. CAASPP
includes computer-based tests in English–language arts and mathematics as well as paperbased tests for science. Some Spanish-speaking students also take the Standards-based
Tests in Spanish (STS).
 Computer-based tests:
o Smarter Balanced Summative Assessment (SB) – The summative assessments for
English-language arts and mathematics are administered to students in grades 3-8
and 11.
o The California Alternate Assessment (CAA) – The CAA for English-language arts and
mathematics for students in grades 3-8 and 11. Alternate assessments are based on
alternate achievement standards for students with significant cognitive disabilities.
 Paper-based tests:
o California Standards Test (CST) – The CST for Science is a multiple-choice test for
students in grades 5, 8 and 10.
o California Modified Assessment (CMA) – The CMA for science is a multiple-choice
test for students in grades 5, 8, and 10. The CMA is for students who have an IEP
requiring CMA.
o California Alternative Performance Assessment (CAPA) – The CAPA for science for
students in grades 5, 8, and 10. Is administered to students with severe cognitive
learning disabilities being instructed in an alternate curriculum and who cannot
participate in the CST or CMA.
o Standards-based Tests in Spanish (STS) – The STS for reading language arts is
administered in grades 2-11 to Spanish-speaking English learners who have been
enrolled in a United States school less than 12 months and Spanish-speaking English
learners receiving instruction in Spanish. The STS is administered in addition to the CST
or CMA.
The school will administer the SB Summative Assessments and CAA from _________________ to
________________. Paper-based tests will be administered from ____________________ to
____________________.
Following the spring 2015 testing, students will receive individual score reports. Student
score reports will be sent home to parents and will include an overall score and a
description of the student’s achievement level for each test taken. It is important to note
that scores for the computer-based tests cannot be compared to scores that your child
previously received on CST, CMA and CAPA because the computer-based tests are based
on the new CCSS, involves different types of test questions, and will be reported using
different reporting categories.
We encourage you to have your child(ren) tested because we believe that test results provide
valuable information about your child(ren) for both you and the school. However,
parents/guardians may request that their child(ren) not be tested with any CAASPP tests or any
specific content area. If you do not want your child(ren) tested, submit a written request to the
school prior to testing. Include the child’s/children’s name(s), birth date, grade and the
specific test(s) or content area from which they are to be exempted. You do not need to
provide a reason for your request. Be sure to sign and date the request. Please note that, per
state guidelines, if your request is received after testing has begun, any test(s) completed
before the request is received will be scored and the results reported to you and included
in the student’s records.

 If you would like more information, please visit the Parent/Student tab of the CDE CAASPP
Web page at http://www.cde.ca.gov/ta/tg/ca/. If you have any questions regarding your
child’s participation, please contact [insert name of school contact] at [insert phone
number and/or e-mail address].
Sincerely,