The Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium is a multistate consortium working collaboratively to develop a student assessment system aligned with a common core of academic content standards for English language arts/literacy and mathematics. As a Smarter Balanced governing state, California is a decision-making member. Smarter Balanced assessments are designed to measure student progress toward college and career readiness.
Double-Testing Flexibility for the 2013–14 School Year New (19-Jul-2013)
July 19, 2013 letter from Superintendent Torlakson to county and district superintendents and charter school administrators regarding the U.S. Department of Education's announcement of double-testing waiver consideration for states field testing new state assessments during the 2013–14 school year.
Program Updates
Bimonthly program updates issued by the California Department of Education (CDE).
Smarter Balanced Updates
Current update and archived updates sent to the CDE Smarter Balanced e-mail list. To receive bimonthly updates on Smarter
Balanced activities, join the California Department of Education's Smarter Balanced e-mail list by sending a blank e-mail to subscribe-sbac@mlist.cde.ca.gov. If you are on the e-mail list and wish to unsubscribe, send a blank e-mail to unsubscribe-sbac@mlist.cde.ca.gov.
Practice Tests and Sample Items
Practice Tests
The Smarter Balanced Practice Tests are now available for grades three through eight and
grade eleven in English-language arts and mathematics. The Practice Tests
provide a preview of the Smarter Balanced assessments, but do not reflect the
full range of content that students may encounter on the actual assessments.
Sample Items and Performance Tasks
(Posted 11-Oct-2012)
The samples on the Smarter Balanced Web site illustrate the rigor and complexity of the English-language arts/literacy and mathematics items and performance tasks students will encounter on the Smarter Balanced assessments.
Digital Library Development
Scheduled to be available in 2014, the Digital Library is a critical component of the Smarter Balanced system of assessments and will include a variety of resources to improve teaching and learning.
State Network of Educators
The State Network of Educators will review resources for the inclusion of the Smarter Balanced Digital Library.
Technology Components
Technology Readiness Tool
Information on the Web-based tool used by districts to report on the current technology at each school in the district.
Includes links to video training modules, frequently asked questions, and file import layout specifications.
Minimum System Requirements
- Press Release - Smarter Balanced Releases Technology Strategy Framework and System Requirements Specifications
(04-Dec-2012)
The framework, developed by Navigation North on behalf of the Consortium, provides minimum hardware specifications and basic bandwidth calculations that will allow schools and districts to evaluate which of their existing devices will support the administration of next-generation assessments. - The Smarter Balanced Technology
page has the latest updates to the Smarter Balanced technology requirements.
Resources
Smarter Balanced Resources
Preliminary test blueprints, initial achievement level descriptors and college content readiness policy, accessibility and accommodation information, Common Core State Standards, presentations, frequently asked questions, and fact sheets.