2019: ILLUSTRATION GLOSSARIES LATEST ACCESSIBLITY ADVANCEMENT
Illustration Glossaries are a designated support for math to help students understand words or phrases in test questions when they may not benefit from the text-based glossaries or American Sign Language videos.
Read More2019: STARTING SMARTER HELPS FAMILES UNDERSTAND CHILD’S TEST SCORES
Smarter Balanced develops Starting Smarter for its member states to provide families with information to help them better understand student score reports. With this information about their child’s knowledge and skills, parents are starting smarter conversations with teachers about what they can do to support learning at home.
Read More2013: USABILITY, ACCESSIBILITY, AND ACCOMMODATIONS GUIDELINES ADOPTED
The Usability, Accessibility, and Accommodations Guidelines, updated annually, are released and ensure the Smarter Balanced assessment system meets the needs of English learners and students with diverse learning needs.
Read More2012: ACCESSIBILITY, BIAS AND SENSITIVITY GUIDELINES RELEASED
Smarter Balanced developed item and task specifications, accessibility and accommodations guidelines, and bias and sensitivity guidelines for assessment system. Utilizing the principles of universal design, these accessibility resources include braille, Spanish translations, videos in American Sign Language, glossaries provided in 13 languages and several varieties and dialects, as well as translated test directions in 20…
Read More2012: Summative Assessment Preliminary Blueprint Approved
Member states approve preliminary blueprint for summative assessment. The Smarter Balanced summative test blueprints describe the content of the English language arts/literacy and math end-of-year tests for grades 3-8 and HS and how that content should be assessed.
Read More2012: Formative Assessment Annual Work Plan Approved
Governing states approve the Formative Assessment Annual Work Plan, which outlines the development of a digital library of formative assessment resources.
Read More2011: Annual Work Plan Approved
Member states approve annual work plan for summative assessments.
Read More2010: Race to the Top Grant Applications Submitted
30 states submitted a Race to the Top grant application—awarded in September 2010—to create a system that would redefine assessments to feature the following characteristics: (1) conducted online and customizable for students, (2) composed of test questions that measure essential skills such as critical thinking, writing, and problem-solving, (3) provides the widest array of features…
Read More2020: TOOLS FOR TEACHERS HELPS EDUCATORS IMPROVE LEARNING
Tools for Teachers, a new Website that features teacher-created and easy-to-search lessons and activities designed to save teachers time, debuts in June 2020 and celebrates its grand opening on September 30, 2020. It represents a major milestone in helping teachers help their students.
Read More2019: SMARTER CONTENT EXPLORER HELPS TEACHER LEARN ABOUT THE TEST
Smarter Content Explorer increases transparency about the test and provides teachers with a resource to better understand how the test measures the content standards. It also provides easy access to additional technical details and documents.
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