In alternative learning environments, the challenge of state testing looms large. Distance, flexible schedules, and unconventional settings often leave students and staff feeling unprepared for summative assessments like the California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress (CAASPP). But these schools are also uniquely positioned to innovate.
Christine Feher, Superintendent of California Pacific Charter Schools (CalPac), knows this better than most. In a recent webinar hosted by Parsec Education, Christine shared how her school prepares for CAASPP season. Keep reading to hear how they’ve turned testing into an opportunity for reflection, motivation, and growth. The conversation revealed not only a strategic playbook for alternative schools, but also a deeply human one.
How CalPac Reinvented CAASPP Prep
CalPac serves students across California in a virtual charter setting. For many, this environment is a choice that reflects personal needs or learning preferences. But it also requires thoughtful planning to ensure that assessments like CAASPP are meaningful, not just mandatory.
Christine shared how her team reframed the role of state tests in student learning. “We frame it as, ‘We want you to show what you know,’” she said. “We know you’re learning a lot this year. This is your chance to show it.”
That mindset shift is foundational. Instead of treating the test as an obstacle, CalPac treats it as an opportunity to build buy-in, starting with students.
“CAASPP prep is a marketing campaign,” Christine explained. “You have to communicate the purpose at every level: students, parents, and teachers.”
Five Core Strategies That Worked
Christine outlined five key practices that transformed CAASPP administration from a logistical hurdle into a coordinated effort across the school community:
1. Change the Narrative
Students often do not know why they are taking the test. CalPac starts with clarity.
- Staff build awareness through regular communication.
- Parents receive messaging that connects test performance to school accountability.
- Teachers help frame testing in terms of student growth.
2. Challenge the Status Quo
CalPac reimagined not just the messaging but the logistics.
Rather than choosing between in-person or virtual testing days, they restructured testing sessions to meet students where they are. Staff considered what would make students feel supported and confident, not overwhelmed or rushed.
“Many times, both staff and students feel like time is against them,” Christine shared. “But we can shift that. Time can be on their side.”
Christine encouraged schools to rethink what is “normal” when it comes to testing windows and structures. Even creating space for testing breaks and reflection time can help students feel that testing is something done with them, not to them.
3. Know Who is Taking the Test
- School leaders need to get ahead of accountability calculations. Just 15 students can trigger a student group on the California School Dashboard. That means schools must monitor participation and understand subgroup thresholds far in advance.
- In California, schools receive public ratings based on how different student groups perform on the CAASPP. These groups include English Learners, foster youth, low-income students, and more. If a group has enough students—historically 30, but now as few as 15 for some like Long-Term English Learners—their results will appear on the Dashboard and impact the school’s overall performance rating.
- That means one student can make the difference between whether a group is visible or not. And once a group is publicly reported, their outcomes carry weight. If schools are not prepared for that visibility, it can lead to surprises—and missed opportunities to provide targeted support.
To plan ahead:
- Identify how English Learners, foster youth, and other groups will appear in public reporting.
- Provide additional support throughout the year to ensure those students are ready when testing begins.
- Track student readiness and participation early, especially for groups nearing the reporting threshold.
“Make sure you have a dashboard list. Know the thresholds. And communicate it with your leadership team so no one is surprised.”
4. Demystify the State Test
CAASPP success requires more than content knowledge, it takes confidence. CalPac builds that through practice and transparency.
They incorporate Interim Assessments (IABs and FIABs) into instruction to familiarize students with the test format. Teachers use the results not as predictors, but as tools for coaching.
Christine noted that the goal is not perfection, it is familiarity.
“We want to take the fear out of it,” she said. “The test should not be a surprise.”
Christine added that they also take time to explain what will happen on testing day. “We even go over where the bathrooms are and what time breaks are scheduled. It matters.”
5. Plan Ahead
Perhaps the most valuable strategy? Start now. At CalPac, planning for CAASPP extends beyond the results window. They use prior data to inform next year’s approach.
How to get started:
- Assess shifts in enrollment and subgroup composition to understand how accountability data may shift.
- Prepare messaging in advance so families and staff are not surprised when data is released
- Use current results to refine your approach for the following year, not just to react.
“CAASPP is not the only measure of student success, but it is useful,” Christine said. “Own the story before someone else tells it for you.”
Christine emphasized that CAASPP should not be a standalone initiative. Instead, it should align with year-round learning goals and school improvement plans.
The Hidden Impact: Culture and Confidence
While the strategies shared were practical, the tone of Christine’s remarks revealed something deeper, a shift in school culture. At CalPac, testing is not about compliance, it is about care.
Christine reflected on how families often feel unsure or disconnected from testing conversations. “We want parents to feel like they’re part of this,” she shared. “They should know what the CAASPP is, what it means, and how their child fits in.”
Christine also noted that success looks different for every school. But every school can benefit from clarity, communication, and compassion.
“When you bring them in, even just a little, it creates trust,” she said. “And that trust spreads to students.”
Key Takeaways
- CAASPP preparation begins with purpose. Schools must make the test meaningful to students, staff, and families.
- Alternative environments benefit from flexibility. Challenge assumptions about when and how testing happens.
- Planning ahead leads to better data and stronger narratives. Use prior-year insights to guide future strategy.
- Building trust among students and families turns testing into a moment of connection, not stress.
Make Your CAASPP Season Count
Christine outlined a path that shows how alternative schools can make CAASPP work within their unique models. Her strategies reflect a thoughtful approach to preparation, communication, and long-term planning.
Explore more insights like these in Parsec Education’s weekly webinars, or learn how tools like our Analytics platform can help you plan your next move.
