Smarter Updates

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

2025-2030 Strategic Plan; A Strategic Plan Shaped by Those We Serve

Smarter Balanced, in Collaboration with IBM Consulting, Unveils Student-Centric Design Principles for Responsible Use of AI 

Santa Clara, CA, August 12, 2025 – Today, Smarter Balanced, in collaboration with IBM Consulting, unveiled its Student-Centric Design Principles for Responsible Use of AI, that provides guidance regarding designing and integrating AI in large-scale educational assessments. Serving as a resource to the educational measurement community and state, district, and school leaders, these principles offer…

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2025-2030 Strategic Plan; A Strategic Plan Shaped by Those We Serve

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…

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Smarter Balanced Extends Deadline for K-2 Literacy and Dyslexia Screener RFQ

Santa Clara, CA, July 3, 2025 — Smarter Balanced has extended the deadline for its Request for Qualifications (RFQ) seeking to identify organizations with high-quality K-2 literacy and dyslexia screeners for the purpose of organizational collaboration. The new deadline for responses is Monday, July 28, 2025 at 2 p.m. Pacific. Originally issued on Monday, June…

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Smarter Balanced Issues Request for Qualifications for K-2 Literacy and Dyslexia Screener

Santa Clara, CA, June 9, 2025 — Today, Smarter Balanced, a member-led assessment consortium serving students in math and English language arts (ELA) in grades 3-12, has released a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) seeking organizations for a grades K-2 literacy and dyslexia screener collaboration. The effort aims to strengthen alignment between early learning and later-grade…

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Smarter Balanced Announces Teaching and Learning Innovation Awards Recipients

Santa Clara, CA, May 14, 2025 – Today, Smarter Balanced announced the recipients of its Teaching and Learning Innovation Awards Program (Innovation Awards). Offering up to $10,000 to public school districts in Smarter Balanced member jurisdictions, the Innovation Awards highlight innovative practices using Smarter Balanced resources to inspire creative ideas for leveraging the Smarter Balanced…

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Smarter Balanced Unveils Initiative with IBM Consulting to Promote Responsible Use of AI in Educational Measurement

Santa Clara, CA, January 17, 2024 – Today, Smarter Balanced announced a new initiative to develop measurement-focused principles and guidelines for the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in educational assessments. With experience creating scalable, trustworthy AI strategies, IBM Consulting will collaborate with Smarter Balanced to build a foundational AI framework that can help accelerate enhancements…

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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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Back-to-School Reading List to Celebrate National Hispanic Heritage Month

Smarter Balanced is celebrating National Hispanic Heritage Month (September 15 – October 15) with a list of books to incorporate into the back-to-school season. The following books celebrate Hispanic characters, stories, authors, and inclusive content- organized by grades 3-12.

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6 Books for Teachers to Celebrate National Women’s Equality Day

Smarter Balanced is celebrating National Women’s Equality Day, which falls annually on August 26, with a reading list—highlighting women’s voices and the challenges they have faced in the field of education.

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Smarter Balanced Hires Executive Administrative Officer and Deputy Executive Program Officer

Santa Clara, CA, August 3, 2022—Smarter Balanced is pleased to announce the hirings of Bryce Carpenter, Ph.D. as its new Executive Administrative Officer and Rochelle Michel, Ph.D. as its new Deputy Executive Program Officer. The addition of these highly qualified individuals marks a commitment to building a robust organization committed to serving all students.

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