EAP for Students/Parents

What is the Early Assessment Program (EAP)? 

The Early Assessment Program (EAP) was established in collaboration between the State Board of Education (SBE), the California Department of Education (CDE), and California State University (CSU). It was designed to provide opportunities for high school students to measure their readiness for college-level English and mathematics.

The CSU wants to ensure incoming, first-year freshmen are academically prepared to succeed. Students who complete the required general education math and written communication courses during their first year of college save time and money and are twice as likely to graduate as those who don't. Giving students an indicator of their preparation level during their junior year of high school allows them to focus on critical skills before they arrive on the CSU campus for their first semester. 

There are many factors known as “multiple measures”' to determine a students’ first-year GE English and math/quantitative reasoning (QR) courses that are right for each student and these are used to evaluate a student’s academic preparation in these subjects. 

***Please Note: The Early Assessment Program and CAASPP exam results have no impact on the admissions process. These results are used to place students in appropriate writing and math courses during their first year of college AFTER they are admitted.

Academic Preparation - Are You Ready for College?

It is extremely important for high school students to become academically prepared before they begin their first year of college! There are multiple ways to become ready for college-level English and mathematics while in high school, which can include:

1. Taking a 4th year of math while a senior in high school (must earn a C- grade or better) in order to be ready for college-level mathematics (GE Math/Quantitative Reasoning courses) the following year. Other advantages include potential reduction in college costs and accelerated graduation. *See Math Placement Checklists for more information.

2. The CSU also highly recommends that students should enroll in the CSU Expository Reading and Writing Consortium (ERWC) English course their senior year, if offered at their high school. Students must earn a C- grade or better in their 4th year ERWC English Course in order to be considered for placement in GE English courses. *See English Placement Checklists for more information.

Junior Year - CAASPP Results:

How to Participate in EAP?

The Early Assessment Program (EAP) starts in students' spring semester of their junior year of high school when they take the California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress (CAASPP) exam at school. Essentially all students who take the CAASPP test automatically participate in the EAP.

• Students should select the option to release” their EAP results to the CSU and participating California Community Colleges (CCC). This option will appear as the last question on their assessment. The results are not required or used for admissions. However, if students mark the “do not release” option, they will still be required to submit the results at a later date.

• Students' CAASPP/EAP scores indicate their current level of academic preparation in mathematics and writing, which is why we advise students to take this assessment seriously. *The CAASPP/EAP scores are included in the “CAASPP Student Score Report” the school district provides to students in early fall of their senior year.

Why is the CAASPP/EAP Important?

Within this exam there are components of the Early Assessment Program that help determine a student's college readiness for CSU-level coursework. These assessments help seniors (12th grade) prioritize and use their senior year proactively, specifically taking the appropriate math and English courses in preparation for college. The goal is for California high school graduates to enter the CSU fully prepared to begin college-level study and not have to take remedial English and math level courses once in college. 

Students' CAASPP scores are the first opportunity to learn whether they are working above (Level 4), at (Level 3), or below grade level (Level 1 or 2). 

The CSU system automatically assigns each student one of the following academic preparation statuses in mathematics and written communication:

*To learn about the use of multiple measures visit the CSU Student Success website.

Senior Year - Take Recommended Coursework

https://www.csustudentsuccess.org/multiple-measures 

High School Students: Your CAASPP results should give you direction towards which rigorous courses to take during your senior year to help maintain a high level of academic preparation for college-level coursework.

EAP recommends that you work with your high school counselor to identify approved courses for college preparation and utilize the A-G Course Lists available on UC Doorways as a means to find approved A-G coursework at your high school.

Students also have the opportunity to demonstrate academic preparation by receiving a qualifying score on the SAT, ACT, or certain AP exams (see reference chart below). Students who earned Level 3 on the CAASPP exam (were assessed at grade level) can demonstrate academic preparation for General Education math and writing courses “without support” by completing qualifying courses during their senior year. See the chart below for more information.

Preparation in Math

• Math Courses Qualifying senior math course options must have Algebra II or Integrated Math III as a prerequisite - some examples include Trigonometry, College Algebra, Precalculus, Calculus, Discrete Mathematics, Finite Mathematics, Data Science, etc. and must be approved by UC Doorways. 

Preparation in English

• Approved senior year English course options include AP or IB English, honors English classes (only if approved as honors courses in the UC Course Management Portal), as well as the CSU Expository Reading and Writing (ERWC) course.

• Please see the CSU's Multiple Measures for Placement for English and Math (Non-STEM Majors) and/or Math (for STEM Majors) for more information.

Resources For Students/Parents:

• CSU’s Academic Preparation - Overview: Linked HERE
• CSU’s Academic Preparation Student Brochure: Linked HERE
• CSU’s Multiple Measures for Placement: Linked HERE
• CSU’s First Year General Education Placement Estimator: Linked HERE
  • CSU’s English Placement Estimator (GE English (A2): Advanced Coursework): Linked HERE
  • CSU’s Math Placement Estimator (GE Math (B4): Advanced Coursework) : Linked HERE
• CSU’s After Admission - Placement & Other Tests: Linked HERE
• Math & English GE Placement for First-Time-Freshmen

For Cal State East Bay’s Incoming FTF Students and Parents:

• Future Students: Linked HERE
• FTF Orientation: Linked HERE
• Weeks of Welcome (WOW): Linked HERE
• Inspire Program: Linked HERE
• Parent and Family Programs: Linked HERE
• Pioneer Family Experience Portal: Linked HERE
• Pioneer Supporter Orientation: Linked HERE
  • Freshman Support Orientation: Linked HERE
• New Pioneer Families Resources: Linked HERE
• Family Educational Rights & Privacy Act (FERPA): Linked HERE
• CSUEB’s Counseling Services - Info for Parents & Family Members: Linked HERE

Contact Parent and Family Programs:

25800 Carlos Bee Boulevard, New University Union Suite 2011, Hayward, CA 94542Phone: 510-885-4361
Email: parents@csueastbay.edu
Nancy Jimenez, Parent and Family Programs Coordinator

Other CSUEB Specific Resources:

• Understanding the General Education (GE) Breadth Area Courses at CSUEB: Linked HERE
• Guide to the GE/Breadth: Linked HERE
• GE Advising at CSUEB: Linked HERE
• CSUEB’s English Placement Test (EPT)/Math Proficiency Assessment (MPS) Registration: Linked HERE and HERE
• Cal State East Bay’s Freshman Academic Pathways: Linked HERE
• English Pathways - Placement for Freshman at CSUEB: Linked HERE
• Math/STATS (B4) Pathways: Linked HERE