Santa Ana : Students Get Help in Firing Up for CAP Tests

In an unusual sort of “pregame” warm-up, Santa Ana Unified School District intermediate schools on Tuesday were getting students in the mood for California Assessment Program (CAP) tests today and Thursday.

CAP tests are given annually by the state to assess student achievement in reading, writing and mathematics. The elementary grades are tested in the spring, with the results released the following fall. High school students are tested in December, and results are released in April.

Santa Ana Unified high school students showed gains in all categories of testing this year--the biggest composite gains of any district in Orange County.

Santa Ana Unified officials said Tuesday that they wanted to prepare the elementary grade students so that they would also try to do well on the tests this week.

Signs on school walls and buttons worn by teachers reminded students of the CAP tests. The teachers’ and staff’s buttons said, “We have CAPability.”

Letters sent to parents urged them to make sure children had a good night’s sleep and a good breakfast before coming to the tests.

“The idea is to make sure all the students are at school for the tests, that they’re on time and that they’re mentally prepared,” said Diane Thomas, public information officer for the school district.