Smarter Balanced Launches New Five-Year Strategic Plan to Empower Teaching and Learning Success
Member-Driven Plan Reflects Voices of Educators; Policymakers; and, for the First Time, Students
Santa Clara, CA, July 31, 2025 — The Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium today announced the release of its new five-year Strategic Plan for 2025-2030 — a roadmap for making the Smarter Balanced system even more useful, adaptable, and student-learning focused to support teaching and learning across the nation.
The Strategic Plan was shaped through a collaborative process that engaged more than 100 contributors, including teachers; state and territory education Chiefs, Deputies and staff; national policy experts; and, for the first time, students.
“This plan centers on what Smarter Balanced can do to support teachers and students every day,” said Tony Alpert, Executive Director of Smarter Balanced. “We are particularly proud that this plan directly incorporates students’ voices and that Smarter Balanced continues its tradition of building systems that work well because they are designed by the people who use them.”
The plan focuses on four key priorities:
- Design Assessments Focused on Students and Their Learning
- Build Easy-to-Use Systems and Tools
- Collaborate with States and Territories to Meet Their Unique Needs and Expand Membership
- Sustain a Strong Organization to Support Smarter Balanced Work
With a continued emphasis on fairness, accessibility, and instructional value, the Strategic Plan ensures that Smarter Balanced assessments and tools remain adaptable to the evolving needs of educators and the students they serve.
The full Strategic Plan and Executive Summary are available at: smarterbalanced.org/our-vision/#strategic-plan
About Smarter Balanced
Smarter Balanced is a member-led consortium providing the most comprehensive and innovative standards-aligned system that supports teaching and learning and improves local and statewide systems. Our dynamic system of educational tools — developed in collaboration with our members and educators — gives teachers integrated lessons, activities, and methods of gauging progress, along with interim and summative assessments that provide actionable data as students progress toward college- and career-readiness. www.smarterbalanced.org
Media Contact: Kimberly Blanchard, Director of External Affairs Programs | kimberly.blanchard@smarterbalanced.org | (831) 316-2549
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