Capistrano Valley High School
EARLY ASSESSMENT PROGRAM (EAP)
March 2012
Dear Parents of CVHS High School Juniors:
RE: EARLY ASSESSMENT OF READINESS FOR COLLEGE ENGLISH AND COLLEGE MATHEMTICS
As you may know, all Grade 11 students enrolled in a California public high school will take a California Standards Test (CST) in English, mathematics, history/social science and science this May. One of the assessments that all juniors will take this year is called the Early Assessment Program exam. This is designed to determine whether or not your child will need to take remedial course work prior to entering or during the first year of study in college. The EAP score is based on a combination of a written essay exam in March, as well as some multiple choice questions on the CSTs in May. All students who complete the exam will receive results on the English-Language Arts section. Only students taking either the CST in Algebra II or High School Summative Math CSTs will receive a math score.
Capistrano Unified School District (CUSD) will be using the results from the English Language Arts portion of the CST, including the EAP and other relevant performance measures, to place students in an appropriate 12thgrade English course.
Additionally, if your child does well on the EAP exam in English and mathematics, he/she may earn exemption from the English and Mathematics placement tests required of all entering CSU freshman and many community colleges. The CSTs are not easier than the placement tests, but they are taken in context of a larger exam when it is much more likely that your child will produce his/her best score, hopefully avoiding the need for collegiate remedial course work. The EAP portion of the tests in English and mathematics are also used by California State University (CSU) campuses and select California Community Colleges (CCC) to determine initial course placement at a CSU campus and many community colleges. The EAP program results are not used by the University of California or private university systems.
It is anticipated that CST results will be mailed to your home before the opening day of school next fall. School staff will use the results from the CST (including the EAP) to adjust course placement in August.
The essay portion of the Early Assessment of Readiness for English will be administered in your student’s Grade 11 English class on Tuesday, March 20, or Wednesday, March 21. An additional 15 multiple choice questions will be administered over a 30-minute timed period during CST testing in May. The essay is based on a short non-fiction passage (under 100 words) wherein the student is asked to explain the author’s argument, and then evaluate that argument in terms of the student’s own readings, experiences, and observations.
Similarly, the Early Assessment Program for College Mathematics (EAPCM) will be administered to students taking either the CST in Algebra II or Summative High School Mathematics. Selected multiple choice questions from the CST and 15 additional or augmented questions will be administered during an extra 30-minute testing period in May.
The CSU system will provide communication to you and your child regarding the results of the Early Assessment Program portions. In English, students will receive a score that indicates either they are exempt or not exempt (must take the English Placement Test (EPT) prior to entry). In mathematics, students will be identified as exempt, conditionally exempt (must enroll in an approved class during Grade 12), or not exempt (must take the Entry Level Mathematics [ELM] prior to entry). Those students classified as exempt in either or both English and mathematics would be permitted to enroll in freshman-level course work immediately without remediation.
Should you desire additional information, we invite you to visit the EAP Web site at http://www.calstate.edu/eap. In addition, there are two Web sites that provide valuable information to students on how to further prepare to be successful in English and mathematics. These Web sites can be found at http://www.csuenglishsuccess.organd http://www.csumathsuccess.org.
As you know, the CST and EAP tests are critical relative to your child’s future. Therefore, as always, please encourage your student to put forth his/her best effort, and ensure that he/she practices good eating and sleeping habits prior to and during the testing period.
Thank you for permitting me the opportunity to provide you with the most up-to-date information about this educational opportunity for your child.
Sincerely yours,
Kevin Astor Ed.D., Principal
Capistrano Valley High School
