Smarter Updates

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

New SEL resources in Tools for Teachers support students' social-emotional learning.

Parent Institute for Quality Education and Smarter Balanced Partner to Create New Resources to Help Educators and Families Support Social-Emotional Learning

Parent Institute for Quality Education and Smarter Balanced Partner to Create New Resources to Help Educators and Families Support Social-Emotional Learning

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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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Teach: Advocacy. Justice. Inclusion.

Three Steps to Incorporating LGBTQ+ Learning in Your Classroom

Happy Pride Month! Educators play a special role in helping students feel accepted for who they are. By sharing the achievements of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer/Questioning, Plus (LGBTQ+) community and why we celebrate Pride Month, you can help students better understand and accept all individuals while creating a safe and inclusive environment.

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Juneteenth: Liberate. Celebrate. Educate.

Celebrate Juneteenth with Lessons and Resources

As the school year comes to a close, it’s important to take time to recognize Juneteenth — a nationally celebrated holiday that commemorates African American freedom on June 19, 1865. The holiday also serves as a significant reminder that the work surrounding equity and inclusion is a continual effort to lift up diverse voices. We’ve…

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Exploring Test Content is Smarter Than Ever

Smarter Content Explorer now helps educators better understand which tests assess specific learning targets, so they can select interim tests that measure precisely what they are teaching.

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New! Quick guides to resources and strategies in Tools for Teachers

New Tools for Teachers Quick Guides Explain How to Use Resources and Strategies

Website Landing Pages Provide a Deeper Dive into Smarter Tools   Ready to learn how Tools for Teachers‘ lessons and activities engage students in setting learning goals? Want to dive deeper into strategies that make using the formative assessment process a seamless part of instruction? New quick guides explain how different resources and strategies in Tools for Teachers support educators—all in one convenient location.  A Quick Guide to the Quick…

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Smarter Balanced Request For Qualifications (RFQ)

Smarter Balanced Seeking Potential Technology Partners Through Request for Qualifications (RFQ)

The Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium is soliciting information via a request for qualifications (RFQ) from organizations that are interested in collaborating to improve teaching and learning. Submissions are due February 8, 2021.

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Illustrations of women reading, instructing, working, presenting, leading.

Tools for Teachers Lessons Help Celebrate Female Voices

Tools for Teachers provides ELA lessons that focus on research/inquiry (claim 4), and analyzing information/sources (target 3). The topics are interesting too–think dangerous ocean animals and exploring why it rains (a question every kid asks at some point!). 

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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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