What is the CAPA?
The California Alternate Performance Assessment (CAPA) is an alternate assessment for students with significant cognitive disabilities who are unable to take the California Standards Tests (CSTs) or the California Modified Assessment (CMA) even with accommodations (or modifications for the CSTs only). The CAPA was added to the STAR Program in 2003 to ensure that all California students could participate in statewide assessments.
Who are students with “significant cognitive disabilities”?
Generally, students with “significant cognitive disabilities” refer to a small number of students whose intellectual and adaptive capabilities are far below those of typical students at the same grade or age. Students with significant cognitive disabilities require intensive support and services that may be provided in a regular or special classroom.
Must all students take the CSTs, the CAPA, or the CMA?
Yes. All students enrolled in grades two through eleven are required to participate in the STAR Program by taking the CSTs, the CAPA, or the CMA. Students with significant cognitive disabilities who are in ungraded programs also take the CAPA.
What is an “ungraded” program?
Generally, “ungraded” programs for students with disabilities involve placing students of different ages in the same classroom without designated grades.
How do schools determine if a student takes the CAPA and what level of the CAPA he or she takes?
Each student’s individualized education program (IEP) team determines if a student will take the CAPA and what level of the CAPA he or she takes. That determination must be specified in the student’s IEP. The CAPA has five levels. Most students eligible for the CAPA take the level that corresponds to their grade placement.
To determine the grade for students in ungraded programs, subtract five from their chronological age on December 2, 2007. For example, a student who was eleven years old on December 2 would be given the grade six tests (11 years – 5 = grade 6 tests).
What are the five CAPA levels offered?
The five CAPA levels are as follows:
- Level I — grades two through eleven (the most significantly cognitively disabled students)
- Level II — grades two and three
- Level III — grades four and five
- Level IV — grades six through eight
- Level V — grades nine through eleven
What subjects are being assessed by the CAPA in 2008?
For the 2008 administration, students are being assessed in English-language arts and mathematics. Students taking the CAPA in grades five, eight, and ten also are assessed in science. The CAPA is linked to California content standards that are appropriate for students taking the CAPA.
Who administers the CAPA?
A certificated or licensed member of the school staff who has been trained in CAPA testing procedures administers the CAPA.
How are CAPA questions asked?
The CAPA is administered individually. The examiner asks the student to perform a task, observes the performance, and scores and records the performance according to a specific scoring rubric (guide).
How are the CAPA results reported?
The reporting process for the CAPA is much like the process used for other tests within the STAR Program. School districts receive STAR student reports (CAPA version) for distribution to parents and guardians and school and school district reports for use by school district and school staffs. In addition to the individual reports, group CAPA results for schools, school districts, counties, and the state are posted annually on the STAR Results Web site.
Note: Parents and guardians should be reminded that students’ results are confidential and are maintained only by the school district.
What results will be reported for the 2008 CAPA?
CAPA reports for the 2008 administration will show how well students performed according to California content standards in English-language arts, mathematics, and science. Results will show the student’s CAPA scale score and performance levels for English-language arts and mathematics. Because science results are being reported for the first time, only the percent correct score will be reported until standard setting is conducted in spring 2009. Performance levels will be established at that time. The State Board of Education (SBE) established five performance levels for reporting CAPA results: advanced, proficient, basic, below basic, and far below basic.
Are there changes in the CAPA for 2008?
Yes. The CAPA has been revised with questions that are linked more closely to content standards for the grade being tested. Blueprints for the revised CAPA are on the STAR Web page.
Using CAPA Results
How are CAPA results used?
CAPA results are used in many important ways. The IEP team—including teachers, administrators, parents and guardians, and support staff—uses CAPA results to help monitor each student’s academic progress. These results also are used to determine if students should take the CAPA, the CMA, or the CSTs in subsequent years. Individual student results are combined to prepare reports by grade and subject for each school, school district, county, and the state. These results are used with other information about student achievement to help make decisions about ways to improve student learning and school programs. The CAPA scores are also used, with results of other state tests, to meet state and federal accountability requirements.
Additional Information
Additional information about the STAR Program and the CAPA is available from the STAR Web page.
