School districts may, but are not required to, give a “primary language” CAASPP test as long as it is aligned with the English Language Arts content standards. [Cal. Educ. Code Sec. 60640(b)(5)&(j); 5 C.C.R. Sec. 850(t)(w)&(ab) and 851(a).]
A Spanish language achievement test called the Standards-based Tests in Spanish (STS) is the primary language assessment in California and is available to school districts for purposes of the CAASPP system if they choose to offer a primary language assessment test as part of the CAASPP system. [5 C.C.R. Sec. 850(t)&(ab).] In those school districts offering the STS, eligible students are those in grades 2 through 11 whose primary language is Spanish and who are receiving instruction in Spanish, or who are enrolled in dual language immersion programs that include Spanish, or who are recently-arrived English Learners (ELs) whose primary language is Spanish. [5 C.C.R. Sec. 851.5(g).] A recently-arrived EL is someone who is designated as an EL and who is in his/her first 12 months of attending a public school in the United States as of April 15 of the previous school year or later. [5 C.C.R. Sec. 851.5(w).]
California law also provides for the use of the embedded and non-embedded universal tools, designated supports, and accommodations for use by students when taking the STS. [5 C.C.R. Sec. 854.4.] See Q&A 3 above for a more thorough discussion of what the embedded and non-embedded universal tools, designated supports, and accommodations are, who is entitled to them, and what the requirements are for their use.