- First, what CAASPP is
- What embedded means in CAASPP
- How “universal tools”, “designated supports”, and “accommodations” differ
- What embedded accommodations can look like
- Universal tools vs designated supports vs accommodations with embedded examples
- Embedded and non-embedded resources for CAASPP
- Where these supports apply on CAASPP tests
- What “embedded accommodation” does not mean
- When accommodations must be provided
- How to find the official matrix parents and educators use
- Quick summary diagram
- Short answer to the search question
If you’ve heard the phrase embedded accommodation in CAASPP accessibility, this post explains what it means in plain language. You’ll also learn how tools, supports, and accommodations work—and how they’re different from supports that come from the school.
First, what CAASPP is
CAASPP stands for California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress. It is the statewide testing system that checks what students know and can do, using several different assessments.
The CAASPP system includes assessments such as:
- Smarter Balanced Assessment System
- California Science Test
- California Alternate Assessments (for English Language Arts/Literacy, Mathematics, and Science)
- California Spanish Assessment
- ELPAC (English Language Proficiency Assessment of California)
- CHSPE (California High School Proficiency Examination)
- HSET (High School Equivalency Tests)
- NAEP (National Assessment of Educational Progress)
- PFT (Physical Fitness Testing)
What embedded means in CAASPP
Think of the test like a computer app.
Embedded resources
Embedded means the resource is built into the CAASPP test delivery system (especially for the computer-based tests). When it is allowed for a student, it shows up as part of how the test is delivered.
Non-embedded resources
Non-embedded means the resource is not inside the test computer system. Instead, the student’s school provides it (for example, equipment or help during testing).
How “universal tools”, “designated supports”, and “accommodations” differ
People often mix these terms together. Here is the simplest way to keep them straight.
| Category | Who it is for | Who decides | Where it can be delivered |
|---|---|---|---|
| Universal tools | Available to all students | Student preference and selection | Can be embedded or non-embedded |
| Designated supports | Students who need them | An educator/team decides, and for students with disabilities they are also documented in an IEP or 504 plan | Can be embedded or non-embedded |
| Accommodations | Students with disabilities who need them | Must be listed in the student’s IEP or 504 plan | Can be embedded or non-embedded |
This is why “embedded accommodation” matters. It is an accommodation (allowed only when documented) that is delivered through the testing platform.
What embedded accommodations can look like
Below are examples of accessibility accommodations that can be embedded (part of the testing system) for some students with an IEP or Section 504 plan.
| Accommodation type | Example | Embedded or non-embedded |
|---|---|---|
| Alternative access to text/audio | Read aloud for ELA passages | Can be part of testing support depending on program setup |
| Access through devices or computer input | Speech-to-text for reading/writing/listening | Often embedded as a test tool for eligible students |
| Access through large formats | Braille for paper-pencil tests; large print | Often tied to how the test is administered |
| Alternative writing options | Scribes or speech-to-text | Can be non-embedded (human support) or embedded (software support) |
| Word help for writing | Word prediction | Typically embedded for students who qualify |
A key idea: the student’s IEP/504 plan is what makes these accommodations available.
Universal tools vs designated supports vs accommodations with embedded examples
Here’s a practical way to visualize it.
Universal tools
- Available to everyone
- Examples include breaks, using a dictionary or glossary, and a calculator for certain math parts (grades 6, 8, and 11).
Designated supports
- Used when an educator determines a need
- Examples include color contrast or color overlay, magnification, and amplification/noise buffers for listening.
Accommodations
- For students with disabilities, documented in an IEP or 504 plan
- Examples include alternative response options, Braille, large-print versions, print on demand, read aloud, scribes, speech-to-text, and word prediction.
Embedded and non-embedded resources for CAASPP
Many families worry that if something isn’t shown on the screen, the student “can’t get it.” The reality is different.
Embedded resources
- Appear in the computer-based test delivery
- Usually work through accessibility settings inside the platform
Non-embedded resources
- Provided by the school or district
- Examples can include items like equipment, a human support, or test setting changes
Where these supports apply on CAASPP tests
According to guidance about CAASPP accessibility resources:
- These embedded and non-embedded universal tools, designated supports, and accommodations are available in the main CAASPP content areas, including:
- English Language Arts
- Math
- Science
- They are also available for the Spanish version of CAASPP achievement tests.
What “embedded accommodation” does not mean
Imagine this situation:
A student uses an aid that is not listed in the student’s plan, or it is only allowed as a “tool” but treated like an accommodation.
That can create problems, because CAASPP accessibility options are restricted to what the official accessibility resources allow. In other words, embedded does not mean “any support can be switched on.” It means the support is in the system, but it still has rules about who can use it.
When accommodations must be provided
Accommodations must be permitted for eligible students when they are specified in the student’s IEP or Section 504 plan. This is the part that usually drives the decision about what counts as an “accommodation” (not just a general tool).
How to find the official matrix parents and educators use
The official place to check CAASPP accessibility resources is the CA Assessment Accessibility Resources Matrix and related “Matrix One” guidance.
| Need | Official place to look |
|---|---|
| CAASPP accessibility resources matrix | California Department of Education accessibility resources matrix page |
| “Matrix One” document detailing tools/supports/accommodations | CAASPP Matrix One guidance page |
For parents, the most useful strategy is simple:
1. Ask the school which CAASPP test the child will take (CAASPP, CAASPP Spanish, ELPAC, or alternate assessments).
2. Check that the IEP/504 plan includes the needed supports.
3. Confirm what will be embedded in the test system versus what the school will provide.
Quick summary diagram
CAASPP accessibility resources
[Universal tools]
?? available to all students
?? can be embedded or non-embedded
[Designated supports]
?? decided for a student by educators
?? can be embedded or non-embedded
[Accommodations]
?? documented in IEP or 504 plan
?? can be embedded or non-embedded
?
?? Embedded accommodation = an accommodation that appears in the test system
Short answer to the search question
Embedded accommodation for CAASPP means an accommodation that is allowed for the student (usually because it is written in the IEP or 504 plan) and that is delivered inside the CAASPP testing platform as part of how the test is administered.