Dear Parent/Guardian,
There are many ways to measure your child’s learning. Your child’s facilitator uses report card grades, classroom work, facilitator observations, and end-of-year statewide test results to get a complete picture of your child’s learning. Each year, learners participate in the California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress (CAASPP). Your child will take the following tests, depending on their grade level or instructional program:
- Smarter Balanced Summative Assessments for English language arts and math, required tests in grades 3–8 and 11.
- California Science Test (CAST), a required test in grades 5 and 8 and once in high school. This year, iLEAD Lancaster school-based campus will give the summative assessments in person.
The testing window is April 29 – May 16, 2025.
You are an important part of your child’s education. To make sure your child feels comfortable taking the tests, you can do the following:
- Explain to your child that these tests are used as tools to help them learn, and that they should not be anxious or scared.
- Remind your child that you and their facilitator want them to try their very best and are there to help every step of the way.
- Explore the practice tests with your child on the CAASPP Online Practice and Training Tests web page at www.caaspp.org/practice-and-training/index.html so they can become familiar with the platform and setup of the tests.
You will receive your child’s results at or before the beginning of the next school year. The results will identify where your child is doing well or needs more help, so you can better support their learning at home and facilitators can better support their learning in the classroom.
To learn more about these tests, go to the CAASPP Starting Smarter website at ca.startingsmarter.org, or review the CDE Parent Guides to Understanding web page at www.cde.ca.gov/ta/tg/ca/parentguidetounderstand.asp.
If you have questions, please contact Leadership Resident Shaana Scott at shaana.scott@ileadlancater.org.
Sincerely,
Deborah Autrey
School Director
iLEAD Lancaster Charter School