Spanish Reading/Language Arts California Spanish Assessment (CSA)

Understanding California Spanish Assessment (CSA) Summary Reports

California Spanish Assessment Noteworthy Information

All High School Grade—The grade All High School includes results for all tested high school grade levels (that is, grades nine, ten, eleven, and twelve) from one administration year.
Composite areas are only available beginning with the 2024–25 administration year, and only available for high school grades (that is, grades 9, 10, 11 and 12). Oral Literacy includes Listening and Speaking. Written Literacy includes Reading and Writing. The 2024–25 scale scores should not be compared to any previous administrations as the test blueprint has changed for 2024–25.

Test Results Definitions

Number Enrolled—This is a count of students in the selected entity (that is, state, county, district, school, or student group) who were registered to take the CSA in grades three through eight, and high school (grades nine, ten, eleven, and twelve).

Number Tested—This is a count of students in the selected entity (that is, state, county, district, school, or student group) who were administered the CSA. This number excludes students not tested by parent/guardian request, students not tested because of a significant medical emergency, and students who were assigned to take the assessment, but did not test.

Number of Tests with Valid Scores—This is a count of students tested in the selected entity (that is, state, county, district, school, or student group) who responded to enough questions on the assessment to generate a valid score. Scores that are invalidated are not included in this aggregation.

Mean Scale Score—This is the sum of scale scores for students with valid scores in the selected entity (that is, state, county, district, school, or student group) divided by the Number of Tests with Valid Scores. For more information, please visit the Scale Score Ranges web page.

Note: Unlike the other assessments in the CAASPP System, the CSA is an optional assessment based on content standards that may not be widely taught. In addition, Spanish reading language arts programs will differ from school to school and from district to district. Therefore, comparing results between organizations is not recommended. Please contact your local school or district for additional information about their Spanish reading language arts program.

Overall Achievement Level Descriptors

Overall Achievement Level Descriptors
Grade	Level 3	Level 2	Level 1
Grades 3–8	Students at Level 3 demonstrate a high degree of grade-appropriate Spanish literacy in reading, writing, and listening, and are on track for being literate in Spanish by high school graduation.	Students at Level 2 demonstrate a moderate degree of grade-appropriate Spanish literacy in reading, writing, and listening, but require further development to be on track for being literate in Spanish by high school graduation.	Students at Level 1 demonstrate a limited degree of grade-appropriate Spanish literacy in reading, writing, and listening, and require substantial development before being considered on track for being literate in Spanish by high school graduation.
High School (Grades 9–12)	Students at Level 3 demonstrate a high degree of grade-appropriate Spanish literacy in reading, writing, listening, and speaking, and are on track for being literate in Spanish by high school graduation.	Students at Level 2 demonstrate a moderate degree of grade-appropriate Spanish literacy in reading, writing, listening, and speaking, but require further development to be on track for being literate in Spanish by high school graduation.	Students at Level 1 demonstrate a limited degree of grade-appropriate Spanish literacy in reading, writing, listening, and speaking, and require substantial development before being considered on track for being literate in Spanish by high school graduation.

Composite Achievement Level Descriptors

Composite Achievement Level Descriptors
Composite	Level 3	Level 2	Level 1
Written Literacy Demonstrating understanding of written information	A student at this level is well developed in their reading and writing skills.	A student at this level is progressing in their reading and writing skills.	A student at this level is beginning to demonstrate their reading and writing skills.
Oral Literacy Demonstrating understanding of oral information	A student at this level is well developed in their listening and speaking skills.	A student at this level is progressing in their listening and speaking skills.	A student at this level is beginning to demonstrate their listening and speaking skills.

Domain Performance Level Descriptors

Domain Performance Level Descriptors
Area	Well Developed	Progressing	Beginning
Reading Demonstrating understanding of a variety of genres	The student is well developed in their ability to read closely and analytically to understand a variety of genres.	The student is progressing in their ability to read closely and analytically to understand a variety of genres.	The student is beginning to demonstrate their ability to read closely and analytically to understand a variety of genres.
Writing Producing clear and purposeful writing	The student is well developed in their ability to produce well-organized, developed, and supported writing for different purposes and audiences.	The student is progressing in their ability to produce organized, developed, and supported writing for different purposes and audiences.	The student is beginning to demonstrate their ability to produce organized, developed, and supported writing for different purposes and audiences.
Listening Demonstrating effective listening skills	The student is well developed in their ability to use effective listening skills for a range of purposes and audiences.	The student is progressing in their ability to use effective listening skills for a range of purposes and audiences.	The student is beginning to demonstrate their ability to use effective listening skills for a range of purposes and audiences.
Speaking Producing effective speaking skills	The student is well developed in their ability to use effective speaking skills to accurately describe and explain ideas for a range of purposes.	The student is progressing in their ability to use effective speaking skills to accurately describe and explain ideas for a range of purposes.	The student is beginning to demonstrate their ability to use effective speaking skills to accurately describe and explain ideas for a range of purposes.

For information on the CSA Range Achievement Level Descriptors, which are descriptors of what students at each achievement level know and can do, by grade and performance area (domain), please visit the Information for CSA Results web page.

Grade Three

In the 360–399 scale score range, students can consistently:
Domain	Description
Reading	Identify complex main ideas and details in stories. Demonstrate how sentences contribute to implied meanings.
Listening	Determine complex ideas and details. Understand complex information about characters and events.
Writing Mechanics	Use precise language to communicate unfamiliar ideas or events. Identify the beginning, middle, and end of a story. Revise writing to express a variety of ideas.

In the 349–359 scale score range, students can usually:
Domain	Description
Reading	Identify clear main ideas and details in stories. Demonstrate how sentences contribute to main meanings.
Listening	Determine main ideas and details. Understand specific information about characters and events.
Writing Mechanics	Use appropriate language to communicate familiar ideas or events. Identify the beginning, middle, and end of a story. Revise writing to express important ideas.

In the 300–348 scale score range, students may be able to:
Domain	Description
Reading	Identify simple ideas and basic details in stories. Demonstrate how sentences contribute to basic meanings.
Listening	Determine basic ideas and details. Understand basic information about characters and events.
Writing Mechanics	Use simple language to communicate basic ideas or events. Identify the beginning, middle, and end of a story. Revise writing to express simple ideas.

Grade Four

In the 460–499 scale score range, students can consistently:
Domain	Description
Reading	Understand and identify complex main ideas and details in stories. Explain differences between elements of texts using advanced vocabulary.
Listening	Paraphrase complex ideas and details. Describe complex information about characters and events.
Writing Mechanics	Use complex language to communicate information, experiences, and events. Identify the beginning, middle, and end of a story. Revise writing to express a variety of ideas.

In the 449–459 scale score range, students can usually:
Domain	Description
Reading	Understand and identify main ideas and details in stories. Explain differences between elements of text using common vocabulary.
Listening	Paraphrase main ideas and details. Describe specific information about characters and events.
Writing Mechanics	Use specific language to communicate information, experiences, and events. Identify the beginning, middle, and end of a story. Revise writing to express important ideas.

In the 400–448 scale score range, students may be able to:
Domain	Description
Reading	Understand and identify simple main ideas in stories. Explain differences between elements of text using simple vocabulary.
Listening	Paraphrase basic ideas and details. Describe basic information about characters and events.
Writing Mechanics	Use simple language to communicate information, experiences, and events. Identify the beginning, middle, and end of a story. Revise writing to express simple ideas.

Grade Five

In the 560–599 scale score range, students can consistently:
Domain	Description
Reading	Understand and identify complex main ideas and details in stories. Explain and compare complex parts of text using strong evidence.
Listening	Summarize and describe complex ideas and details. Understand complex information about characters and events.
Writing Mechanics	Use complex language to express information, experiences, and events. Identify the beginning, middle, and end of a story. Revise writing to express a variety of ideas.

In the 546–559 scale score range, students can usually:
Domain	Description
Reading	Understand and identify main ideas and details in stories. Explain and compare significant parts of text using some evidence.
Listening	Summarize and describe main ideas and details. Describe specific information about characters and events.
Writing Mechanics	Use specific language to communicate a variety of ideas or events. Identify the beginning, middle, and end of a story. Revise writing to express important ideas.

In the 500–545 scale score range, students may be able to:
Domain	Description
Reading	Understand and identify simple main ideas and details in stories. Explain and compare basic events in text.
Listening	Summarize and describe basic ideas and details. Describe basic information about characters and events.
Writing Mechanics	Use simple language to communicate basic ideas or events. Identify the beginning, middle, and end of a story. Revise writing to express simple ideas.

Grade Six

In the 660–699 scale score range, students can consistently:
Domain	Description
Reading	Determine complex central ideas and details in various types of texts. Explain important aspects of text and make insightful observations.
Listening	Summarize and describe complex ideas and details. Comprehend the subtleties of arguments and claims.
Writing Mechanics	Use complex language to express unfamiliar information, experiences, and events. Demonstrate a command of Spanish conventions. Revise writing to express a variety of ideas.

In the 648–659 scale score range, students can usually:
Domain	Description
Reading	Determine clear central ideas and details in various types of texts. Explain important aspects of text and combine essential information to make sufficient observations.
Listening	Summarize and describe central ideas and details. Comprehend arguments and claims sufficiently.
Writing Mechanics	Use complex language to convey familiar information, experiences, and events. Demonstrate a command of Spanish conventions. Revise writing to express important ideas.

In the 600–647 scale score range, students may be able to:
Domain	Description
Reading	Determine simple central ideas and details in various types of texts. Explain important aspects of text and make simple observations.
Listening	Summarize and describe basic ideas and details. Show basic understanding of arguments and claims.
Writing Mechanics	Use simple language to convey basic information, experiences, and events. Demonstrate a command of Spanish conventions. Revise writing to express simple ideas.

Grade Seven

In the 760–799 scale score range, students can consistently:
Domain	Description
Reading	Determine complex central ideas and details in various types of texts. Compare and contrast two different types of texts.
Listening	Summarize and describe complex ideas and details. Comprehend the subtleties of arguments and claims.
Writing Mechanics	Use complex language to express information, experiences, and events. Demonstrate a command of Spanish conventions. Revise writing to express a variety of ideas.

In the 744–759 scale score range, students can usually:
Domain	Description
Reading	Determine clear central ideas and details in various types of texts. Compare and contrast two different types of texts.
Listening	Summarize and describe central ideas and details. Comprehend arguments and claims sufficiently.
Writing Mechanics	Use complex language to express familiar information, experiences, and events. Demonstrate a command of Spanish conventions. Revise writing to express important ideas.

In the 700–743 scale score range, students may be able to:
Domain	Description
Reading	Determine simple central ideas and details in various types of texts. Compare and contrast two different types of texts.
Listening	Summarize and describe basic ideas and details. Show basic understanding of arguments and claims.
Writing Mechanics	Use simple language to express basic information, experiences, and events. Demonstrate a command of Spanish conventions. Revise writing to express simple ideas.

Grade Eight

In the 860–899 scale score range, students can consistently:
Domain	Description
Reading	Determine complex central ideas and details in various types of texts. Compare and contrast two different types of texts.
Listening	Analyze and describe complex ideas and details. Comprehend the subtleties of arguments and claims.
Writing Mechanics	Use complex language to express information, experiences, and events. Demonstrate a command of Spanish conventions. Revise writing to express a variety of ideas.

In the 848–859 scale score range, students can usually:
Domain	Description
Reading	Determine clear central ideas and details in various texts. Compare and contrast two different types of texts.
Listening	Analyze and describe central ideas and details. Comprehend arguments and claims sufficiently.
Writing Mechanics	Use clear language to convey familiar information, experiences, and events. Demonstrate a command of Spanish conventions. Revise writing to express important ideas.

In the 800–847 scale score range, students may be able to:
Domain	Description
Reading	Determine simple central ideas and details in various texts. Compare and contrast two different types of texts.
Listening	Analyze and describe basic ideas and details. Show basic understanding of arguments and claims.
Writing Mechanics	Use simple language to express basic information, experiences, and events. Demonstrate a command of Spanish conventions. Revise writing to express simple ideas.

High School (Grades 9–12)

In the 960–999 scale score range, students can consistently:
Domain	Description
Reading	Determine complex central ideas and details in various texts. Analyze important aspects of text and combine information to make insightful observations.
Listening	Analyze and describe complex ideas and details. Comprehend the subtleties of point of view, purpose, arguments and claims.
Writing Mechanics	Use complex language to identify important relationships among experiences and events. Demonstrate a command of Spanish conventions. Revise writing to express a variety of ideas.

In the 950–959 scale score range, students can usually:
Domain	Description
Reading	Determine clear central ideas and details in various texts. Analyze important aspects of text and make sufficient observations.
Listening	Analyze and describe central ideas and details. Comprehend point of view, purpose, arguments, and claims.
Writing Mechanics	Use clear language to identify important relationships among experiences and events. Demonstrate a command of Spanish conventions. Revise writing to express important ideas.

In the 900–949 scale score range, students may be able to:
Domain	Description
Reading	Determine simple central ideas and details in various texts. Analyze important aspects of text and combine information to make simple observations.
Listening	Analyze and describe basic ideas and details. Show basic understanding of point of view, purpose, arguments, and claims.
Writing Mechanics	Use simple language to make important distinctions and to convey basic information, experiences, and events. Demonstrate a command of Spanish conventions. Revise writing to express simple ideas.