California's student assessment system is known as the California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress (CAASPP). The primary purpose of this assessment system is to assist teachers, administrators, pupils and their parents by promoting high-quality teaching and learning through the use of a variety of assessment approaches and item types. For the 2016-17 school year, the state is conducting the Smarter Balanced Testing in English Language Arts (ELA) and mathematics in grades 6-8. Additionally, 8th grade students will take the CAST (California Science Test)
The California Alternate Performance Assessment (CAPA) for ELA and mathematics has been replaced with a field test of an alternate assessment, California Alternate Assessment (CAA) for grades 6-8.
Additional details about state testing can be found on the California Department of Education's website at http://www.cde.ca.gov/ta. In general, all students will attend their regular classes during the week with a modified testing block on testing days.