As I stared at the blank screen, waiting for approval to start my California Assessment of Student Progress and Performance, or CAASPP test, I was instantly transported back to all the prior years when I took this exam.
Soon thereafter, a slog of checkboxes assaulted my vision as my classmates and I were assessed on our ability to learn through pixels on a screen. A seemingly unfair way to test students, especially those of younger ages, on something so broad and multifaceted.
Emotional distress was one checkbox the CAASPP test definitely could mark as complete. And so looking back on it, for earlier grades, the test was not worth the trouble.
While students are only required to take the CAASPP once in their junior year of high school, the scores can be a determining factor in several outcomes. According to the National Education Association, “standardized tests create test anxiety,” leading many students to develop test-related stress as they fear underperforming on a high-stakes exam.
This can lead to two mindsets: constant anxiety about tests or a lack of effort from students who feel they will fail regardless.
The CAASPP is based on the Common Core State Standards and students are required to take two main assessments: math and English language arts. Science tests are administered in fifth grade, eighth grade and once in high school.
What makes the CAASPP different from other tests is that it is a standardized exam where all students are tested in a similar environment without outside interference.
However, because of a lack of incentive and difficulty meeting students where they are, CAASPP results may not fully reflect student ability. The test measures how students perform under pressure; albeit, it seemingly prioritizes a score rather than how students learn.
As far back as third grade I can remember feeling anxious when testing season came around in May. The prospect of sitting still for several hours each day reading through long passages of old books that were irrelevant to my current curriculum was not something that felt particularly exciting or fun.
Additionally, CAASPP may not reflect real learning, especially in earlier grades. Growing up in a hands-on, parent-participation school, this difference was clear. Students learning using physical tools and direct teacher support are conditions not present during standardized testing.
I found this no more glaringly evident than on the math portion of the exam. As the questions increased in difficulty progressing through the test and the clock ticked down, a pencil and scratch paper may have helped me work out a few problems, but did nothing to work through the knot of worry growing in my stomach.
As an elementary school student, it was difficult for me to see any sort of merit to the CAASPP test. And as I have grown I have begun to see its benefits, but can still recognize the hardships that this test has brought me, and so my opinion on the CAASPP test is quite conflicting.
But if we cast its implementation aside, is the CAASPP standardized testing truly an outdated timesink, or are the goals and ideas of this Smarter Balanced Assessment System just simply not communicated to students?
A main tool that is used in tandem with the CAASPP test scores is the The California School Dashboard. The website is an online tool that shows how local schools are performing on state and local indicators that are included in California’s school accountability system.
Throughout my schooling, I had no knowledge that this Dashboard existed, let alone knew of its role in evaluating students’ CAASPP scores.
And it was only when I did research for this article that I found the Dashboard, a tool that one should think would be promoted far more than it has been.
The California School Dashboard’s purpose is to measure a school’s progress in teaching several standards across math and ELA, through the CAASPP test, and rank them.
When ranked, schools can receive one of five ranks. The ranks are blue, green, yellow, orange, and red: ranked from highest to lowest.
This tool can be of great use to educators, students and parents alike when wanting to assess school performance and potentially enact change.
But because the system of testing is flawed, and one test score doesn’t accurately measure a student’s ability to learn across an entire year, the dashboard is founded on error.
And so far, the cons seemingly outweigh the pros of this yearly test.
Students should not feel overwhelmed by the test, but they should simultaneously also understand its role in their education. The CAASPP is not just a test—it is also a tool that can influence their academic future.
According to the California Department of Education, scores earned in math, English language arts and science are used by the California State University (CSU) system as one measure of whether students are prepared for college-level coursework.
These scores may also influence placement in general education courses.
I realize students’ CAASPP scores have consequences, yet strongly feel that there are many other ways to evaluate what classes students are placed in when they go to college.
Additionally, this argument that CAASPP scores are vital for evaluating college readiness, does not hold its merit, looking into elementary or even middle schools where college is upwards of 4 years away.
Still, growing up, CAASPP was a test that I was told was key to my education. But it came and went, and faded from my memory all the same until next year. Consequently, both taking and opting out of the CAASPP test numerous times, have led me to realize two key ideas.
First, the CAASPP has a meaningful purpose. It is designed to help measure learning and guide educational resources.
Second, the test has clear limitations. Because it is standardized, it cannot account for the many factors that influence how students learn. It focuses on what students can recall in a single moment rather than their overall growth.
So while the CAASPP may feel like a waste of time to some students, it still serves a role in the educational system. It is imperfect, but it is currently used to help schools receive support and recognition.
At the same time, its use by CSU for college readiness increases its importance, even if the system is not fully accurate.
I believe two things can be true: CAASPP is both a necessity and a nuisance. But whether its wearisome emotional impact is worth its potential help for the future is for you to decide.
