CALIFORNIA LEARNING ASSESSMENT SYSTEM TESTS : About the Tests

The California Learning Assessment System (CLAS) tests were designed to measure students’ knowledge and abilities against objective standards. To do that, CLAS establishes six performance levels in each of the three subject areas covered by the test--reading, writing and math--and every student scores at one of those levels.

For example, students who performed at Level 1 in reading understood only single words or phrases in the assigned reading passage and were unable to take away a “coherent meaning” from what they read.

Students at the highest level, Level 6, were able to “demonstrate insight” as they wrote about the passage and showed an ability to “explore complexities in depth” and “expand on the possible meanings of a text.”

In math, students who scored at Level 1 made major mathematical errors or provided little or no explanation of how they solved problems. Exams scored at Level 6 provided clear and logical explanations of solutions and made effective use of mathematical language, diagrams and graphs.

On the writing exams, Level 1 essays were brief and disorganized and included major errors in grammar, punctuation, capitalization and spelling. Essays graded at Level 6 presented a complex range of ideas, supported with logical reasons and detailed answers, and were written in a distinctive style.

Exams scored at the other four levels rated between those two extremes. Level 6 is considered “advanced” understanding of the subject matter. Students who scored at Level 3 or below, in effect, failed to demonstrate the understanding that would merit a passing grade on a conventional test.

The tests were scored by specially trained evaluators, whose work was periodically reviewed by teachers who had trained them.

The scores given to individual schools reflect the percentage of students performing at each level, in each subject. Theoretically, the best result would be for 100% of the students to achieve at Level 6. The worst would be if 100% of the students were at Level 1.

This year, the state has also released a composite score--the combined percentage of students scoring at Levels 4, 5 or 6 at each school, or, in essence, those who passed the tests. This is the score used on these pages.

The tests were given to students in the 4th, 8th and 10th grades.

A Look at Southland Counties

Among Southern California counties, Orange County students led the ratings in all three subject areas and at all three grade levels. Here are the rankings for the area’s six counties, based on the percentage of their students scoring at the top three performance levels, and their rank among the state’s 58 counties:

GRADE 4

Reading Writing Math Rank Orange 31% 40% 39% 2 Ventura 26% 36% 36% 14 San Diego 27% 36% 33% 15 Los Angeles 21% 31% 22% 34 Riverside 19% 28% 23% 37 San Bernardino 18% 28% 20% 45

GRADE 8

Reading Writing Math Rank Orange 51% 57% 34% 6 San Diego 43% 52% 27% 23 Ventura 41% 50% 27% 29 Riverside 35% 43% 17% 41 San Bernardino 32% 41% 16% 46 Los Angeles 32% 38% 16% 4

GRADE 10

Reading Writing Math Rank Orange 50% 50% 22% 3 San Diego 38% 43% 16% 17 Ventura 35% 37% 17% 22 San Bernardino 33% 39% 10% 32 Los Angeles 32% 34% 11% 38 Riverside 31% 35% 9% 42

Source: California Department of Education

CLAS scores were compiled for The Times by Richard O’Reilly, Times director of computer analysis, and Sandy Poindexter, data analyst. Technical assistance was provided by Victor Pulver, systems architect.

Additional Information on the Scores

California Learning Assessment System scores for individual schools, districts or the entire state may be obtained in several ways:

* On the ‘Net: Use an Internet service to contact the California Department of Education “gopher” server at “goldmine.cde.ca.gov”.

* Using a modem and a computer: Download files from the department’s computer at (916) 657-4881 or (916) 657-5371. CLAS files can be found from the main menu with the following commands: type F, for file menu; type L, for list of available files and type 7 to select the CLAS file area. The files are in a compressed format and may be viewed only when downloaded and decompressed.

* Locally: Scores are available from your local school district or from your county office of education. The contact for the Los Angeles Unified School District is the public information office at (213) 625-6766. The contact at the Los Angeles County office of education is Arie Korporaal, (310) 922-6357.