The California Department of Education today released the results of new statewide student tests known as the California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress (CAASPP). This is the first time results are available for the assessments which are aligned to California’s new Common Core State Standards (CCSS). The new computer-based tests, which are also known as “Smarter Balanced,” were administered in grades three through eight and eleven last spring. They featured more short answer and extended response questions that required a deeper understanding of key concepts. “With this new testing system, we are raising the bar for our kids,” said Ventura County Superintendent of Schools Stan Mantooth. “We can now evaluate their ability to think critically and solve problems, which are skills they’ll need to ensure a successful future.”
Ventura County Highlights
(including Las Virgenes Unified School District)
- Forty-six percent of Ventura County students met or exceeded the standard for English language arts, exceeding the statewide figure of 44 percent.
- Thirty-six percent of Ventura County students met or exceeded the standard for mathematics, exceeding the statewide figure of 33 percent.
- When looking at the Ventura County results for English language arts by grade level, high school students performed the best with 55 percent meeting or exceeding the standard. They were followed by middle school students at 47 percent and elementary school students at 43 percent.
- When looking at the Ventura County results for math by grade level, elementary school students performed the best with 38 percent meeting or exceeding the standard. They were followed by middle school students at 35 percent and elementary school students at 31 percent.
- In specific English language arts skill areas known as “claims,” Ventura County students performed the best in listening, followed by research/inquiry, writing and reading.
- In specific math skill areas known as “claims,” Ventura County students performed the best in communicating reasoning, followed by problem solving & modeling/data analysis and concepts & procedures.
Additional details are available in these charts.
Understanding the Results
This year’s results will serve as a baseline that will help gauge student progress in future years. “Since this was the first year of the new testing system, it’s neither possible nor appropriate to compare the results to prior years,” said Superintendent Mantooth. “We fully expect to see performance improve over time as students and teachers become more accustomed to the more rigorous standards of the new testing system. Parents should not be discouraged by this year’s results, but should use them as yardsticks to watch their children improve.”
Local schools are now in the process of mailing customized Individual Student Reports to parents. The reports provide a clear picture of how individual students performed in math and English language arts. The four categories of performance on the assessment are Standard Not Met, Standard Nearly Met, Standard Met and Standard Exceeded. The reports also detail performance in seven key skill areas knows as “claims” which include reading, writing and math concepts and procedures. This information allows parents and teachers to identify the areas where students can use some extra help.
These new assessments are one of many tools that help us prepare all of our kids for college, career, and beyond. “It’s important to remember that test results are only one measure of student performance,” said Superintendent Mantooth. “When combined with other metrics like student work, grades and teacher feedback, they will give parents an accurate picture of how their children are doing in school.”
Additional Resources