Superintendent urges full participation in upcoming CAST/CASP assessments

Superintendent Dr. Gigi Patrick told trustees on April 13 that upcoming CAST/CASP testing is important to measure student learning, inform instruction and preserve accurate school performance data. The assessments are administered in specific grades — third grade at elementary, eighth grade at junior high and 11th grade at high school — and the district aims for high participation to avoid skewed results.

Dr. Patrick explained that low participation can make a school appear to underperform because untested students do not register in assessment data, which can affect the California School Dashboard and may change how the state allocates services. She urged families to ensure students arrive rested and fed on testing days and asked parents with questions to contact individual school sites.

Trustees echoed the importance of participation, with one trustee noting that assessment data has helped teachers plan instruction and target support.

Sources: Superintendent report, Martinez Unified School District board meeting, April 13, 2026.