California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress
[1] Each spring, California students in grades 2 through 11 must take a series of tests that comprise the state's STAR program.Through the Academic Performance Index (API), the scores drove the allocation of millions of dollars in intervention and award programs, depending on the health of the state’s budget.The Golden State Exams provide an opportunity for graduating students to earn a distinction of merit on their high school diploma.In 1990, CAP was replaced by CLAS (California Learning Assessment System), which was discontinued in 1994 because of controversy over portions of the test.Although not statewide tests, the High School Competency Exams had to conform to state prescribed rules of content and reporting.The CAPA assessed the California ELA, mathematics, and science content standards that were identified as appropriate for students with significant cognitive disabilities.[3] In April 2007, the U.S. Department of Education enacted regulations for an alternate assessment based on modified achievement standards, and in response to the federal regulations the CDE has developed the California Modified Assessment (CMA), an alternate assessment of the California content standards based on modified achievement standards for children with an individualized education program (IEP) who meet the eligibility criteria adopted by the State Board of Education.[4][5] These new exams would follow the new Common Core State Standards and have requirements for in-depth essays and projects that students will complete on computers.