The Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium (SBAC) is a standardized test consortium. It creates
Common Core State Standards
The Common Core State Standards Initiative, also known as simply Common Core, is an educational initiative from 2010 that details what K–12 students throughout the United States should know in English language arts and mathematics at the conc ...
-aligned tests ("adaptive online exams") to be used in several states. It uses
automated essay scoring
Automated essay scoring (AES) is the use of specialized computer programs to assign grades to essays written in an educational setting. It is a form of educational assessment and an application of natural language processing. Its objective is to c ...
. Its counterpart in the effort to become a leading multi-state test provider is the
Partnership for the Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers (PARCC).
In 2010, the consortium was created. The
Amplify technology company provides the digital technology for the tests. SBAC signed a contract with Amplify to create a digital library of formative assessment professional learning tools designed for Common Core State Standards teachers. Amplify also signed a contract with Smarter Balanced before its purchase by News Corp to develop reporting tools for teacher assessment.
Member states
Member states in the consortium include:
* California
* Connecticut
* Delaware
* Hawaii
* Idaho
* Maine
* Michigan
* Montana
* Nevada
* New Hampshire
* North Dakota
* Oregon
* South Dakota
* Vermont
* Washington
* West Virginia
* Wisconsin
Iowa, North Carolina, and Wyoming are affiliate members. Previously, it had 30 members. Member states can associate with one or both consortia, without committing to using either test.
[Robert Rothman, "The Promise of New State Tests, Two consortia plan better tests, but will they lead to better instruction?" Harvard Education Letter Nov//Dec. 2010 http://hepg.org/hel-home/issues/26_6/helarticle/the-promise-of-new-state-tests_485]
Assessment
Beginning in the Spring of 2015, SBAC began assessing students with their new assessment format. The assessments are given in grades 3 - 8 and 11, in the content areas of Math and English Language Arts. Each test called a Summative Assessment, consists of a Performance Task (PT) and a Computer-Adaptive Test (CAT).
See also
*
Common Core State Standards Initiative
The Common Core State Standards Initiative, also known as simply Common Core, is an educational initiative from 2010 that details what K–12 students throughout the United States should know in English language arts and mathematics at the conc ...
*
High-stakes testing
A high-stakes test is a test with important consequences for the test taker. Passing has important benefits, such as a high school diploma, a scholarship, or a license to practice a profession. Failing has important disadvantages, such as being ...
External links
SBAC Practice Tests and Sample Questions
References
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Educational organizations based in the United States