Join WestEd’s assessment experts at the 2026 California Assessment Conference (CAC), October 27–29, 2026, in Riverside, California.
The CAC conference hosts more than 1,000 teachers, site and district leaders, and assessment coordinators from across the state of California. Conference sessions feature teachers, assessment experts, and school and district leaders from California who have developed and implemented assessment systems and practices that support teaching and learning.
This year’s conference theme is Elevating Best Practices, Inspiring Teachers and Students.
Add our preconference sessions and our California Department of Education (CDE) partner sessions to your conference calendar, and visit our exhibit booth, where you can meet our team and learn about our assessment and professional learning services.
WestEd Sessions
Tuesday, October 27
Pre-Session – CAASPP Interim Assessment Hand Scoring Workshop
Time: 10–11:30 a.m.
Location: Room 7, 8
Presenters: Jess Arnold (WestEd), Meghan Bell (WestEd), Stephanie Fortunato (Educational Consultant), Sarah Nitsos (LACOE), and Julie Webb (WestEd)
Explore the hand scoring process for the California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress (CAASPP) Interim Assessments in English language arts/literacy (ELA) and mathematics and the California Science Test (CAST). In this interactive, hands-on session, participants will experience interim assessment tasks, apply scoring rubrics, review prep or anchor sets, and practice hand scoring student responses. Educators will collaborate with colleagues to discuss scoring decisions, reflect on student work, and consider how hand scoring can strengthen instruction and support student learning in the classroom. Participants are encouraged to bring a laptop and verify their TOMS credentials before the workshop to ensure access to secure hand scoring materials during the workshop.
Pre-Session – ELPAC Interim Assessment Hand Scoring Workshop
Time: 10–11:30 a.m.
Location: Room 9, 10
Presenters: Lisa Clark (FCSS), Christine Snyder (WestEd), and Markie Zainal (WestEd)
Explore the hand scoring process for the English Language Proficiency Assessments for California (ELPAC) Interim Assessments in the speaking and writing domains. In this interactive, hands-on session, participants will experience interim assessment task types, review scoring rubrics and anchor sets, and practice scoring student responses. Educators will collaborate with colleagues to discuss scoring decisions, reflect on student work, and consider how hand scoring can support instruction and deepen their understanding of English language development. Participants are encouraged to bring a laptop and verify their TOMS credentials before the workshop to ensure access to secure hand scoring materials during the workshop.
Wednesday, October 28
CDE Partner Session – Assessing the Assessments: Evaluating Local Assessment Systems for Coherence and Effectiveness
Time: 1:30–2:45 p.m.
Location: Room 3
Presenters: Tiffany Katanyoutanant (WestEd) and Markie Zainal (WestEd)
A coherent and effective local assessment system can support decision-making and guide instruction. But how do you know if your system is coherent and effective? Join this practical, interactive session to learn the importance of assessment system evaluation. Participants will reflect on how assessments work together and whether they deliver timely, trustworthy information about learning. Using WestEd-developed tools, participants will begin mapping their local assessment systems, identifying gaps and redundancies, and considering the right partners to include along the way. Participants will leave with clear next steps for designing an evaluation aligned with their local vision of teaching and learning.
CDE Partner Session – Reimagining CAASPP & ELPAC Interim Assessments as Tools for Learning
Time: 3:15–4:30 p.m.
Location: Raincross A/D
Presenters: Meghan Bell (WestEd) and Julie Webb (WestEd)
Did you know that interim assessments can do more than just measure learning? You’re likely familiar with standardized uses of CAASPP and ELPAC Interim Assessments, but they can also be used as powerful and effective tools in the classroom to boost instruction. This session explores how to turn assessment into action through real-life examples from California schools. Participants will discover new ways to use CAASPP and ELPAC resources with students and colleagues and leave with ready-to-use ideas that shift assessment from compliance to a catalyst for student learning.