Assessment System Overview

SMARTER Balanced Assessment Consortium -- Background

• US Department of Education awarded grants to two multi-state consortia for the Race-to-the-Top Assessment Program– SMARTER Balanced (WA is one of 31 states involved)– PARCC

• $160 million 4-year development grant, starting October 1, 2010• $15.8 million supplemental award for implementation

Future work…• Support for special education students (1% assessment consortium) –

assessments to be based on current Common Core State Standards

The Purpose of the ConsortiumTo develop a set of comprehensive and innovative assessments for grades 3-8 and high school in English language arts and mathematics aligned to the Common Core State Standards

So that all students leave high school prepared for postsecondary success in college or a career through increased student learning and improved teaching.

The assessments shall be operational across Consortium states in the 2014-15 school year.

31 Member States

Organization Chart

Work Groups• Transition to Common Core State Standards **• Technology Approach **• Assessment Design: Item Development• Assessment Design: Performance Tasks **• Assessment Design: Test Design• Assessment Design: Test Administration• Reporting• Formative Processes and Tools/Professional Development **• Accessibility and Accommodations• Research and Evaluation

**Washington is represented in these work groups.

Common Core State Standards

specify K-12 expectations for

college and career readiness

Common Core State Standards

specify K-12 expectations for

college and career readiness

All students leave high school college and career ready

All students leave high school college and career ready

Assessment System Components

Teachers can accessformative processes and

tools to improve instruction

Teachers can accessformative processes and

tools to improve instruction

Interim assessments that are flexible, open, and

provide actionable feedback

Interim assessments that are flexible, open, and

provide actionable feedback

Summative assessments benchmarked to college

and career readiness

Summative assessments benchmarked to college

and career readiness

Optional interim assessments using online adaptive technology

• Tests are non-secure and fully accessible• Test content and schedule is customizable• On the same scale as the summative

assessments• Provides clear examples of the expected

performance • Helps identify specific needs • Teachers design items, tasks, and rubrics

Interim Assessments that areopen and flexible

Web-based formative assessment resources• Online resources for assessment literacy,

alignment to CCSS, and formative assessment guides

• Training in item and task development, creating scoring guides/rubrics

• Best practice support through online learning modules

• Comprehensive information portal:access to information about student progressstudent performance history

Formative Tools and Practices supported thru Web and PD

Comparing SMARTER Balanced Assessment to ESSB 5414 (Leg. WASL Work Group)

(1) General SBAC?(1)(a) Include multiple assessment formats, including both formative and summative

YES

(1)(b) Enable collection of data that allows both statewide and nationwide comparisons

YES

(1)(c) Balanced so that the information used...[for] accountability includes many data points YES

(2) Formative (SBAC = "Interim") SBAC?(2)(a) Be aligned to state standards YES(2)(b) Measure student growth and competency at multiple points throughout the year

YES

(2)(c) Provide rapid feedback YES(2)(d) Link student growth with instructional elements

YES

(2)(e) Provide tests that are appropriate to the skill level of the student

YES

(2)(f) Support instruction for students of all abilities YES(2)(g) Be culturally, linguistically, and cognitively relevant, appropriate, and understandable

YES

(2)(h) Inform parents and draw parents into greater participation

YES

(2)(i) Provide...results relative to student [demographic] characteristics

YES

(2)(j) Strive to be computer-based and adaptive YES(2)(k) Engage students in their learning YES

(3) Summative SBAC?(3)(a) Be aligned to state standards in areas that are being assessed

YES

(3)(b) Maintain and increase academic rigor YES(3)(c) Measure student learning growth over years YES(3)(d) Strengthen curriculum YES

(4) Classroom-based (SBAC = "Formative") SBAC?[S]hould have the same design elements and characteristics...[as] formative and summative YES

(5) Pre- and In-service SBAC?[P]reservice and ongoing training...for teachers and administrators on the effective use of different types of assessments

YES

(6) Data Systems SBAC?[D]ata should be collected...to be used for accountability and to monitor overall student achievement

YES

To find out more...…Common Core State Standards: corestandards@k12.wa.usOr visit http://www.k12.wa.us/Corestandards/default.aspx

...the SMARTER Balanced Assessment Consortium can be found online at www.k12.wa.us/SMARTER