Smarter Updates

Learn more about Smarter Balanced’s latest assessment resources and releases, and updates around supports available to schools, districts, and member states.

Cover of "An Introduction to Considerations for Through-Year Assessment Programs: Purposes, Design, Development, Evaluation"

New Findings from Smarter Balanced on Through-Year Assessment Programs

Smarter Balanced is pleased to announce the publication of two papers that explore the viability and use of through-year assessment models.

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New From Smarter Balanced: Findings from Two Through-Year Assessments Papers

Smarter Balanced is pleased to announce the publication of two papers that explore the viability and use of through-year assessment models.

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New From Smarter Balanced: Findings from Two Practice Briefs

Smarter Balanced is pleased to share the findings from two practice briefs from Stanford University researcher Paulina Biernacki, “Assessing the Options: Considerations for provision of choice in assessment” and “Leveraging Student Perspective: Considerations for connecting assessment systems and multiple ways of knowing.”

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Ensuring Equity in Supporting Students on Their Path to Progress

Ensuring greater equity and opportunity for all students is the driving goal of educators, districts, and states. Reaching this goal is tied to educators’ ability to accurately pinpoint where each child is doing well and where they may need additional support.

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2021 Year in Review

As we move forward into 2022 and think back to 2021, we recognize the incredible strides made by teachers, students, and parents as the world continues to navigate change and challenges. Although 2021 came with more obstacles, we were better prepared to face them. Smarter Balanced focused its efforts on its member states and their…

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Jhone Ebert is the superintendent of public instruction for the Nevada Department of Education.

Nevada Superintendent: Smarter Balanced System ‘Helps Us Identify Opportunity Gaps’

Jhone Ebert, State Superintendent of Public Instruction in Nevada, shared in a new K12 Dive commentary how her state uses the Smarter Balanced system of tools and resources to inform their pursuit of equitable, quality education for all students.

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Dive Deeper to Support Students! Check out Sample Items and SmArt websites!

New Sample Test Questions and Resources for Scoring Student Writing

Newly released sample English Language Arts (ELA) and math test questions and annotated writing responses provide a more robust look at Smarter Balanced test content.

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Smarter Balanced Releases Two New Instructional Supports Videos

New Smarter Balanced video releases provide closer look at Tools for Teachers and Smarter Content Explorer websites, adding to the full Instructional Supports series.

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Screenshot of the Tools for Teachers website homepage.

Now Available for Preview: Tools for Teachers

Resources and strategies to help teachers do what they do best…teach! Available for educators in member states beginning June 16, 2020, Tools for Teachers is an easy-to-use website that features lessons and activities created by educators to enhance instruction, save time, and prepare students for college or a career. A Commitment to Supporting StudentsSmarter Balanced…

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Education Week article Testing Consortium Responds: 'We Couldn't Agree More'.

Letter to The Editor: Response to Commentary in Education Week

Testing Consortium Responds: ‘We Couldn’t Agree More’ Recently, Education Week published a commentary by Gregory Cizek, a professor of educational measurement and evaluation at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. The commentary, “The Widening Gulf Between Large-Scale and Summative Assessment,” focused on how Common Core State Standards have made it more difficult for…

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