Achievement Levels#
Each test reports achievement on its own scale, with its own number of levels and its own wording. This application stores every distribution in four generic level slots and keeps the vocabulary in a level scheme attached to the test and year, so the level names always travel with the numbers.
Levels are always stored lowest first: level 1 is the weakest performance on every test, whichever order the research file prints them in.
Where the state publishes a combined “met or above” figure — Smarter Balanced and CAST do — it is stored as published. Where it does not, the application sums the levels at or above the state’s proficiency cut and marks the value as derived, so a report can be explicit about which it is showing.
SB_ACHIEVEMENT_4 — Smarter Balanced achievement levels#
Four achievement levels reported for Smarter Balanced ELA/mathematics and the California Science Test.
Counted as meeting the standard: Level 3 and above.
Level |
Name |
Short |
Description |
|---|---|---|---|
1 |
Standard Not Met |
Not Met |
Level 1 |
2 |
Standard Nearly Met |
Nearly Met |
Level 2 |
3 |
Standard Met |
Met |
Level 3 |
4 |
Standard Exceeded |
Exceeded |
Level 4 |
AREA_3 — Reporting category bands#
Three bands used for Smarter Balanced areas and CAST domains. The research files list these above-to-below; they are stored lowest first.
Counted as meeting the standard: not published by the state.
Level |
Name |
Short |
Description |
|---|---|---|---|
1 |
Below Standard |
Below |
Below the standard for this reporting category |
2 |
Near Standard |
Near |
Near the standard for this reporting category |
3 |
Above Standard |
Above |
Above the standard for this reporting category |
CAA_3 — California Alternate Assessment levels#
Three levels describing the depth of a student’s understanding of adapted grade-level content.
Counted as meeting the standard: Level 3 and above.
Level |
Name |
Short |
Description |
|---|---|---|---|
1 |
Limited Understanding |
Level 1 |
Level 1 |
2 |
Foundational Understanding |
Level 2 |
Level 2 |
3 |
Understanding |
Level 3 |
Level 3 |
CSA_RANGE_3 — California Spanish Assessment score ranges#
Score ranges reported for the CSA through the 2023-24 administration. The state publishes no proficiency cut for these ranges.
Counted as meeting the standard: not published by the state.
Level |
Name |
Short |
Description |
|---|---|---|---|
1 |
Range 1 |
Range 1 |
Lowest reported score range |
2 |
Range 2 |
Range 2 |
Middle reported score range |
3 |
Range 3 |
Range 3 |
Highest reported score range |
CSA_LEVEL_3 — California Spanish Assessment levels#
Achievement levels reported for the CSA from the 2024-25 administration, when the test blueprint changed.
Counted as meeting the standard: Level 3 and above.
Level |
Name |
Short |
Description |
|---|---|---|---|
1 |
Level 1 |
Level 1 |
A limited degree of grade-appropriate Spanish literacy |
2 |
Level 2 |
Level 2 |
A moderate degree of grade-appropriate Spanish literacy |
3 |
Level 3 |
Level 3 |
A high degree of grade-appropriate Spanish literacy |
CSA_BAND_3 — California Spanish Assessment domain bands#
Domain and composite bands reported for the CSA from 2024-25.
Counted as meeting the standard: not published by the state.
Level |
Name |
Short |
Description |
|---|---|---|---|
1 |
Beginning |
Beginning |
Beginning to demonstrate these skills |
2 |
Progressing |
Progressing |
Progressing in these skills |
3 |
Well Developed |
Well Developed |
Well developed in these skills |
ELPAC_OVERALL_4 — Summative ELPAC performance levels#
Four overall performance levels; level 4 is one of the criteria the state uses for reclassification.
Counted as meeting the standard: Level 4 and above.
Level |
Name |
Short |
Description |
|---|---|---|---|
1 |
Level 1 |
Level 1 |
Beginning to develop English skills |
2 |
Level 2 |
Level 2 |
Somewhat developed English skills |
3 |
Level 3 |
Level 3 |
Moderately developed English skills |
4 |
Level 4 |
Level 4 |
Well developed English skills |
ELPAC_DOMAIN_3 — Summative ELPAC domain levels#
Three domain bands reported for listening, speaking, reading and writing on the Summative ELPAC.
Counted as meeting the standard: not published by the state.
Level |
Name |
Short |
Description |
|---|---|---|---|
1 |
Beginning |
Beginning |
Beginning to develop skills in this domain |
2 |
Somewhat/Moderately Developed |
Somewhat/Moderately |
Somewhat to moderately developed skills |
3 |
Well Developed |
Well Developed |
Well developed skills in this domain |
ELPAC_INITIAL_3 — Initial ELPAC performance levels#
The Initial ELPAC classifies a student rather than scoring proficiency; Initial Fluent English Proficient is the top level.
Counted as meeting the standard: Level 3 and above.
Level |
Name |
Short |
Description |
|---|---|---|---|
1 |
Novice English Learner |
Novice |
Novice English skills |
2 |
Intermediate English Learner |
Intermediate |
Intermediate English skills |
3 |
Initial Fluent English Proficient (IFEP) |
IFEP |
Well developed English skills |
ELPAC_INITIAL_COMPOSITE_3 — Initial ELPAC composite levels#
Oral and written language composite levels on the Initial ELPAC.
Counted as meeting the standard: not published by the state.
Level |
Name |
Short |
Description |
|---|---|---|---|
1 |
Minimally Developed |
Minimally |
Minimally developed |
2 |
Somewhat to Moderately Developed |
Somewhat/Moderately |
Somewhat to moderately developed |
3 |
Well Developed |
Well Developed |
Well developed |
ALT_ELPAC_3 — Alternate ELPAC performance levels#
Three levels reported for the Summative Alternate ELPAC.
Counted as meeting the standard: Level 3 and above.
Level |
Name |
Short |
Description |
|---|---|---|---|
1 |
Level 1 |
Level 1 |
Level 1 |
2 |
Level 2 |
Level 2 |
Level 2 |
3 |
Level 3 |
Level 3 |
Level 3 |