California CAASPP & ELPAC 시스템 출시 일정 2025–2026: Smarter Balanced, CAST, CAA, CSA, ELPAC 종합 캘린더

If your child is enrolled in a California public school for 2025–2026, here's the complete picture of when each state assessment system becomes available — the Smarter Balanced summative assessment, the California Science Test (CAST), the California Alternate Assessment (CAA) suite, the California Spanish Assessment (CSA), the Initial and Summative ELPAC for English learners, and the alternate ELPAC.

We've pulled this directly from the official California Outreach Team / CAASPP & ELPAC Website June 26, 2025 system-release email to LEA CAASPP and ELPAC coordinators. Every date below is what the state told districts.

How California testing is different (read this first)

California's state testing structure is not a fixed-date system like the New York Regents Examinations or the Virginia SOL EOC windows. CAASPP and ELPAC work differently:

• Window-based, not date-specific. The state announces when each assessment system opens (becomes available in the secure Test Delivery System). Each Local Educational Agency (LEA — school district or charter school) then chooses its own local testing window within that broader availability.
• The 66-percent rule. For the summative CAASPP, students cannot test until 66 percent of the LEA's instructional year has passed. For a typical traditional-calendar district, that lands the earliest summative testing somewhere around March or April. The CAA for Science is the exception — it can be administered starting September 16, 2025.
• No high-school graduation math exam. Unlike Virginia (SOL), Louisiana (LEAP 2025 HS), Ohio (OST HS EOC), Florida (FAST), New Jersey (NJGPA), and Texas (STAAR EOC), California does not require students to pass a specific subject EOC to graduate. The Smarter Balanced mathematics test is taken at Grades 3–8 and 11 for state accountability, not for individual graduation eligibility.
• Smarter Balanced is not an EOC. It tests grade-level math proficiency at Grades 3–8 and 11 — not Algebra I or Geometry as standalone subjects.

Quick reference — the key 2025–2026 system release dates

Date	What opens
July 7, 2025	LEA coordinators can upload site users in TOMS · 2025–2026 Initial ELPAC and Initial Alternate ELPAC administration year begins · LEA CAASPP & ELPAC checklists updated · CAA for Science PFA released
August 5, 2025	2025–2026 Smarter Balanced, CAST, and ELPAC interim assessments administration year begins
September 16, 2025	CAA for Science (and embedded performance tasks) available in the secure TDS · CAA for Science DFAs in TOMS
January 20, 2026	Summative CAASPP opens: Smarter Balanced for ELA & mathematics, CAST, CAA for ELA & mathematics, CSA · Summative ELPAC DFAs available · Students can access summative CAASPP within the LEA's selected window after 66% of the LEA's instructional year has passed
February 2, 2026	Summative ELPAC and Summative Alternate ELPAC available in TDS — window runs February 2 through May 31, 2026

What each acronym means

• CAASPP — California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress. The umbrella name for California's state assessment system. Covers Smarter Balanced, CAST, CAA, and CSA.
• ELPAC — English Language Proficiency Assessments for California. Identifies English learners (Initial ELPAC) and measures their progress annually (Summative ELPAC).
• Smarter Balanced — The Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium (SBAC) summative tests for English language arts/literacy (ELA) and mathematics. Given at Grades 3–8 and 11.
• CAST — California Science Test. Taken once in elementary, once in middle school, and once in high school.
• CAA — California Alternate Assessment for students with the most significant cognitive disabilities. Covers ELA, mathematics, and science.
• CSA — California Spanish Assessment. Optional reading/language usage assessment for Spanish proficiency at Grades 3–8 and high school.
• Initial ELPAC vs Summative ELPAC — Initial identifies new students as English learners; Summative measures all current English learners annually.
• Alternate ELPAC — The ELPAC for English learners with the most significant cognitive disabilities.
• LEA — Local Educational Agency (a school district, charter school, or county office of education).
• TOMS — Test Operations Management System. The administrative back-end where LEAs configure users and download materials.
• TDS — Test Delivery System. The secure system students use to take the test.
• DFA — Directions for Administration. The secure proctor script.
• PFA — Preparing for Administration. The non-secure preparation document.
• Moodle — The CAASPP & ELPAC training site for test examiners.

1. Initial ELPAC and Initial Alternate ELPAC — opens July 7, 2025

The 2025–2026 administration year for the Initial ELPAC and Initial Alternate ELPAC begins on July 7, 2025. On the same date:

• LEA ELPAC coordinators can upload site coordinators and other site-level users in TOMS.
• The 2025–2026 LEA ELPAC Coordinator Checklist is updated and available.
• Secure Directions for Administration (DFAs) are available in TOMS.
• Picture cards for the Initial Alternate ELPAC are available in TOMS.
• Non-secure Preparing for Administration (PFA) documents are available on the Administer a Test Session web page and on the Moodle training site.

Note about site-level user roles: Site-level users who continue to administer the 2024–2025 interim assessments require a new 2025–2026 role in TOMS. Roles do not roll over from year to year.

2. Smarter Balanced, CAST, and ELPAC interim assessments — opens August 5, 2025

The 2025–2026 interim assessments administration year begins on August 5, 2025. Secure interim assessment materials become available in TOMS under the Resources tab.

Interim assessments are formative tools LEAs use throughout the year — they are not the high-stakes summative tests. Summative CAASPP testing has its own opening date (see below).

3. California Alternate Assessment (CAA) for Science — opens September 16, 2025

The CAA for Science is the exception to California's 66-percent rule — it can be administered starting September 16, 2025, regardless of how much of the instructional year has passed.

• The CAA for Science and its embedded performance tasks become available in the secure TDS.
• Test examiners intending to administer the CAA for Science must complete the tutorial in Moodle prior to administration.
• CAA for Science DFAs become available in TOMS.
• Students' test assignments should be updated to reflect the CAA prior to administration.

4. Summative CAASPP opens — January 20, 2026

On January 20, 2026, the following summative assessments become available in the secure Test Delivery System (TDS):

• Smarter Balanced for ELA and mathematics (Grades 3–8 and 11)
• California Science Test (CAST) — once in elementary, middle, and high school
• California Alternate Assessment (CAA) for ELA and mathematics
• California Spanish Assessment (CSA)

On the same date, secure DFAs for the CAAs for ELA and mathematics become available in TOMS, and PFAs become available on the Administer a Test Session web page and in Moodle.

For ELPAC: The secure DFAs for the Summative ELPAC and Summative Alternate ELPAC also become available in TOMS on January 20, 2026. The PFAs are released on the Administer a Test Session web page and Moodle.

5. Summative ELPAC and Summative Alternate ELPAC window — February 2 through May 31, 2026

The Summative ELPAC and the Summative Alternate ELPAC are available in the secure TDS from February 2, 2026 through May 31, 2026. Each LEA selects its own local administration window within this state-wide availability.

By assessment — availability window summary

Assessment	Window opens	Window closes / 66% rule
Initial ELPAC & Initial Alternate ELPAC	July 7, 2025	Through end of 2025–2026 administration year
Smarter Balanced / CAST / ELPAC interim assessments	August 5, 2025	Through end of 2025–2026 administration year
CAA for Science (summative)	September 16, 2025	66% rule does not apply
Smarter Balanced for ELA & mathematics (summative)	January 20, 2026	Within LEA window after 66% of LEA instructional year passed
CAST (summative)	January 20, 2026	Within LEA window after 66% of LEA instructional year passed
CAA for ELA & mathematics (summative)	January 20, 2026	Within LEA window after 66% of LEA instructional year passed
CSA	January 20, 2026	Within LEA window after 66% of LEA instructional year passed
Summative ELPAC & Summative Alternate ELPAC	February 2, 2026	May 31, 2026

Important notes

• System downtimes happen. The state publishes a System Downtime Schedule that LEA coordinators monitor — if your child's testing day falls on a scheduled downtime, the school will reschedule. Coordinators should notify all site coordinators within the LEA of upcoming assessment component releases and system downtimes.
• Site-level user roles do not roll over year to year. If you are a site-level user who continues to administer the prior-year interim assessments, you need a new 2025–2026 role in TOMS.
• Test examiner tutorials are required. Before administering any alternate assessment (CAA for ELA, math, or science), test examiners must complete the CAA Test Examiner Tutorial in Moodle.
• Your child's specific testing dates come from your LEA, not the state. The dates above are when the systems open. Your school district or charter school will tell you the specific 1–3 week window your child will actually test.

What this means for California families thinking about acceleration or test-out

California does not run a Texas-style Credit by Exam (CBE) system that lets a student skip a subject by passing an exam. The Smarter Balanced math test is a state-accountability assessment, not a graduation test or a credit-granting test. If your California student is on an acceleration track (the most common goal: skip 9th-grade Algebra 1 to start in Geometry, then reach AP Calculus by 11th grade), the relevant path runs through:

• District-specific advanced math placement policies — each LEA sets its own rules for letting an 8th-grader take a 9th-grade-level math course (or letting a high schooler skip Algebra II into Pre-Calculus). Ask your district's counselor.
• Summer math programs and challenge exams — some California districts allow a student to demonstrate mastery via a district-administered challenge exam to skip a level.
• UC/CSU admission requirements — the University of California and California State University systems have their own A-G subject requirements; some districts use those as the framework for acceleration.

If you want to evaluate whether your child is ready for accelerated math, our Algebra I, Geometry, and Algebra II practice questions cover the Common Core–derived skill base that the Smarter Balanced math tests are built on. Strong performance there is a useful signal.

If your child is preparing for Smarter Balanced math

The mathematics Smarter Balanced summative draws on California Common Core State Standards for Mathematics. Our Texas CBE Algebra I, Geometry, and Algebra II practice questions are TEKS-tagged but share substantial content overlap with the Common Core math standards — both anchor on linear and quadratic functions, systems, polynomial operations, congruence and similarity, proofs (in Geometry), exponential and logarithmic functions, and statistical reasoning.

• Algebra 1 free practice questions — 20 sample questions, no signup. Useful for a Grade 8 student preparing for Smarter Balanced Math or for an accelerated high schooler.
• Geometry free practice questions
• Algebra 2 free practice questions
• Cross-state Algebra I test-out guide
• Other state schedules: NY Regents, Virginia SOL, Louisiana LEAP 2025, Ohio State Tests.

Sources

• California Outreach Team / CAASPP & ELPAC Website — Email Update, June 26, 2025: 2025–26 System Release Dates.
• Official source: caaspp-elpac.org / training-and-communication / communication / email / 06-26-25-caaspp-elpac
• California Department of Education: cde.ca.gov

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This article is for general information only and is not legal, educational, or testing-administration advice. California state assessment dates, windows, accommodations, the 66-percent rule, and graduation/diploma requirements are set by the California Department of Education (CDE), the State Board of Education (SBE), and the operational systems (CAASPP & ELPAC), and are subject to change — always confirm with your Local Educational Agency (LEA) and the official CAASPP & ELPAC Website before relying on any window or release date. State-system release dates shown here are when the systems become available; your child's actual testing day will fall within the LEA's chosen local administration window, after 66% of the LEA's instructional year has passed for summative CAASPP (CAA for Science excepted). Texas CBE is an independent practice platform; it is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or operated by the California Department of Education, the State Board of Education, the Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium, ETS, the College Board, WIDA, or any California LEA, and it does not administer CAASPP, ELPAC, or any California state assessment, nor does it grant California academic credit.