What’s New in 2025–26

CAASPP

Smarter Balanced and California Science Test

• The achievement level descriptors (ALDs) for the Smarter Balanced Summative Assessments for ELA and mathematics and CAST were revised to improve clarity and support better understanding of student test results. Only the categorical labels and descriptions are different; no cut scores or achievement level thresholds were changed, and results remain comparable to prior years. The new reporting ALD labels for ELA, mathematics, and science are presented in table 1.

  Table 1. New Smarter Balanced and CAST Overall Reporting ALD Labels

  Level	Old Reporting Label	New Reporting Label
  4	Standard Exceeded	Advanced
  3	Standard Met	Proficient
  2	Standard Nearly Met	Developing
  1	Standard Not Met	Minimal

• Refer to the following resources for additional information about the revised ALDs:
  • Table 1 Smarter Balanced for ELA Reporting Levels, Table 2 Smarter Balanced for Mathematics Reporting Levels, and Table 4 CAST Reporting Levels in the Student Score Reporting section
  • Reporting Achievement Level Descriptors web page on the CAASPP & ELPAC Website

• The categorical labels for composite area (CAASPP Smarter Balanced) and area (CAST domain) performance levels were updated as presented in table 2.

  Table 2. New Smarter Balanced and CAST Area Reporting ALD Labels

  Old Reporting Label	New Reporting Label
  Above Standard	Above Proficient
  Near Standard	At or Near Proficient
  Below Standard	Below Proficient

• The composite and domain performance level At or Near Proficient is now indicated on SSRs using a blue double-tilde icon (instead of the plus/minus symbol).
• The dashed line between Level 2 and Level 3 on the achievement level measurement gauge has been removed from SSRs.

California Spanish Assessment

• Full ALDs are listed and described in Table 6 CSA Overall Reporting Levels in the Student Score Reporting section.
• SSRs include a score history table with current and prior year’s results (if the student took the CSA in 2024–25).

ELPAC SSRs

All

• The dashed line between Level 3 and Level 4 (Summative ELPAC) and Level 2 and Level 3 (Summative Alternate ELPAC) on the performance level measurement gauge has been removed.

Summative Alternate ELPAC

• The labels next to the performance level measurement gauge on page 1 of the SSR have been changed to show the descriptive labels for the reporting levels.