Testing & Assessment
Welcome to the TUSD Testing Information page. Here, parents will find helpful information and links related to upcoming and previously administered academic/instructional assessments within the District.
Additional information about Local, State and Federal Assessments are also available here.
Please click on the links pertinent to the test(s).
Local Assessments
Torrance Unified students take several assessments across different levels at varying times of the year. These assessments help provide information about how well students are learning and how ready they are for new curriculum. The results may be used for local, state, and federal accountability purposes.
Middle School Accelerated Mathematics Test (Grade 5/6/7)
Math Acceleration Testing will be conducted the week of April 18-22. The details will be communicated by the middle school where your student either attends or will attend next year. The information will also be posted on their websites when available. For more information about the test or mathematics pathways and courses, please check out our TUSD Mathematics website.
GATE Testing (Gifted and Talented Education)
The Torrance Unified School District recognizes the needs of students with exceptional abilities. The purpose of the GATE Program is to identify students with abilities well beyond grade or age expectations, and to support their instructional program by establishing how students can receive differentiated learning experiences within the classroom, opportunities for enrichment, and social-emotional support.
GATE testing for Fall 2020-2021 was suspended during distance learning. Testing for the 2021-22 school year took place this fall and results began arriving to homes around the first of February 2022. For additional inquiries, please visit the gate webpage linked below.
MAP Growth Assessment (NWEA - Northwest Evaluation Association)
MAP Growth is the most trusted and innovative assessment for measuring achievement and growth in K–12 math, reading, language usage, and science. It provides teachers with accurate, and actionable evidence to help target instruction for each student or groups of students regardless of how far above or below they are from their grade level. It also connects to the largest set of instructional content providers, giving educators flexibility in curriculum choices.
MAP assessments were administered during distance learning to students based upon school/class schedules during September and October 2020. Students once again took a MAP® Growth™ test from NWEA®, via a computer, either in-person or remotely, in May/June 2021. Students in grades 3-5 took the MAP test for Mathematics and the running record reading assessment for ELA and this served as our required yearly spring summative assessment. Students in grades 6-8 & 11 took the MAP test for English Language Arts (ELA)/literacy and Mathematics.
- Spring 2021 Summative Results
- Spring 2021 Administration Materials
- Fall 2021 Administration Materials:
MAP Growth Assessment Results Tools and Information
What is Map Growth? Children learn better—and faster—when teachers have a clear picture of what each student knows and is ready to learn next. More than 11 million students in the US and in 140 countries worldwide use MAP® Growth™. Take a closer look by visiting: https://rb.gy/hbr6p7
How does it work? MAP Growth is a computer-adaptive test. If your child answers a question correctly, the next question is more challenging. If they answer incorrectly, the next one is easier. This type of assessment challenges top performers without overwhelming students who are still working towards grade level. Check it out by visiting: https://rb.gy/yacd2j
Why did my child take the MAP Growth? MAP Growth scores help teachers check student performance by measuring Achievement and Growth. Teachers have been provided your student’s score information and will use the results to tailor classroom lessons and set goals for students.
What is a RIT score? The overall score for a subject based on a Rasch Unit (RIT) scale that indicates how your child performed in a subject. https://rb.gy/u0jykv
My student has a Lexile measurement, what is it? A Lexile measure is the representation of a text's readability or individuals reading ability in numeric format. This scale is intended to help demonstrate the differences between texts and/or their readers. For example, Clifford the Big Red Dog is rated at 330L while Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone is 880L and The Declaration of Independence is 1480L. This helps parents and teachers match students to where they are comfortable reading. Additionally, this provides a tool for offering a progressive increase in difficulty to push students when and where it is appropriate to do so. The standard K-12 Lexile scale spans from BR300 (Beginning Reader) for Kindergarten to 1200+(L) for grade 11 and up. Check out the Reading Resource below for additional information.
SPRING 2021 Averages by Grade Level (CAASPP tested grade levels 3-8 & 11)
Fall 2021 Averages by Grade Level
While your student’s teacher works on incorporating this information into your student’s lessons you also have the opportunity to help your student at home. Click the links below to be redirected to the free resources where you can enter or search by your student’s scores to see personalized recommendations for your child’s learning!
Mathematics Resource:
Khan Academy is a free tool that leads students through questions based upon their MAP scores.
Khan MAP Recommended Practice is available at www.khanacademy.org/math/mappers
Need help using the tool? https://rb.gy/pdrm49
Reading Resource:
Reading is fun! Use the tools below to locate materials to learn more and challenge your student.
Find a book for your student's reading level at https://hub.lexile.com/find-a-book/search then visit Torrance Public Library to find available Audio & eBooks at https://rb.gy/iaeprp.
NWEA Parent’s Guide to MAP Growth is available at https://rb.gy/3qszs5
State & Federal Assessments
California students take several mandated statewide tests. These tests provide parents/guardians, teachers, and educators with information about how well students are learning and becoming college and career ready. The test results may be used for local, state, and federal accountability purposes.
CAASPP - California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress
The Smarter Balanced computer adaptive assessments are aligned with the Common Core State Standards (CCSS). English language arts/literacy (ELA) and mathematics tests are administered in grades three through eight and grade eleven to measure whether students are on track to college and career readiness. In grade eleven, results from the ELA and mathematics assessments can be used as an indicator of college readiness. Check out this overview video for more information.
Interim Assessments - IABs
The interim assessments are one of the three components of the Smarter Balanced assessment system, which includes summative assessments, interim assessments, and formative assessment resources available in Tools for Teachers. The interim assessments are available for English language arts/literacy (ELA) and mathematics in grades 3–8 and high school and are available to all California local educational agencies (LEAs) to support teaching and learning throughout the school year. Interim assessments are optional resources that provide teachers with actionable information about student progress, and are designed to be given at locally-determined points during the school year. The interim assessments can help teachers, students, and parents gauge student progress toward college and career readiness, and identify strengths and areas for remediation in relation to the Common Core State Standards.
IABs@Home
This year while most students are working remotely, we still want them to have every opportunity to succeed when it comes time for spring testing. To prepare them, some schools/classess will be participating in IABs. To answer questions for students and parents as well as provide a little technical support we have created a page dedicated to helping get started. Visit https://rb.gy/j8esuo to find out more about the interim assessments as well as find a useful checklist with videos and other assorted documentation to assist students & parents with accessing the assessment when the teacher is ready.
Summative (Spring Testing)
- 2021-22 Summative CAASPP Notification
- Understanding the CAASPP Student Score Reports
- http://www.cde.ca.gov/ta/tg/ca/caasppssreports.asp
- (Video – English) https://youtu.be/pTEHryn4mPI
- (Video – Spanish) https://youtu.be/AWsMIYZrZlU
- Resources and guides for parents or guardians to help interpret the California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress (CAASPP) student score report.
ELPAC - English Language Proficiency Assessments for California
The ELPAC is aligned with the 2012 California English Language Development Standards. It consists of two separate English Language Proficiency (ELP) assessments: one for the initial identification of students as English learners and the other for the annual summative assessment to identify students’ English language proficiency level and to measure their progress in learning English.
- California Department of Education/ELPAC: https://www.
cde.ca.gov/ta/tg/ep/ - ELPAC Website: https://www.elpac.org/
- Overview Videos: https://www.elpac.org/resources/videos/
2022 Alternate ELPAC
- 2021 Alternate ELPAC (Æ) Summative Notification
2021 ELPAC
NAEP - National Assessment of Educational Progress
The National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) is the only assessment that measures what U.S. students know and can do in various subjects across the nation, states, and in some urban districts. Also known as The Nation’s Report Card, NAEP has provided important information about how students are performing academically since 1969.
NAEP is a congressionally mandated project administered by the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) within the U.S. Department of Education and the Institute of Education Sciences (IES).
NAEP is given to a representative sample of students across the country. Results are reported for groups of students with similar characteristics (e.g., gender, race and ethnicity, school location), not individual students. National results are available for all subjects assessed by NAEP. State and selected urban district results are available for mathematics, reading, and (in some assessment years) science and writing.
PIRLS - Progress in International Reading Literacy Study
The Progress in International Reading Literacy Study (PIRLS) is an international assessment and research project designed to measure trends in reading achievement at the fourth-grade level as well as school practices related to instruction. Since 2001, PIRLS has been administered every 5 years. PIRLS 2021, the fifth study in the series, will involve students from more than 50 countries, including the United States. For the first time, PIRLS will be completely electronic and administered on a tablet with a keyboard. This new format for the assessment is called digitalPIRLS. Also for 2021, we will be administering the assessment only to fifth-grade students.
- Arlington Elementary; Tuesday, October 12, 2021
- Lincoln Elementary; Wednesday, October 13, 2021
- 2021-2022 Administration Parent Notification Letter (with translations)
- PIRLS 2021 Main Study Brochure
- PIRLS 2021 Main Study Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
- PIRLS 2021 Main Study COVID-19 Protocols
- https://nces.ed.gov/surveys/pirls/
PFT - Physical Fitness Testing
The physical fitness test for students in California schools is the FitnessGram®. The main goal of the test is to help students in starting lifelong habits of regular physical activity. Students in grades five, seven, and nine take the fitness test. This assessment was paused during the 2019-2020 school year due to Covid-19 and remains on moratorium until further notice.
- 2021-22 PFT Administration Parent Notification Letter
(with translations) - Overview
http://www.cde.ca.gov/ta/tg/pf/ - Frequently asked Questions
http://www.cde.ca.gov/ta/tg/pf/pft11fasqa.asp
Special Needs
The Torrance Unified Special Education Department offers a continuum of placements and services to eligible students from ages three to 22. For information on these please contact your student's school, or for non-TUSD students, the school closest to where your student resides. You may also contact Special Education directly using the link below.
Testing Coordinator
Eric Lockhart
lockhart.eric@tusd.org
- After School Program
- Career Technical Education
- Curriculum and Instruction
- Early College
- Elementary Programs
- English Language Development and Language Assessment Center (opens in new window)
- Gifted & Talented Education (opens in new window)
- Local Control Accountability Plan
- Secondary Programs
- Special Education
- Testing Information
- TUSD Information for Research Approval
- Teacher Induction Program
- Transcript Request
Parent Guides to CAASPP:
This site provides information using PDF, visit this link to download the Adobe Acrobat Reader DC software.