WELCOME Parents and Community
The Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium (Smarter Balanced) is a state-led consortium working to develop next-generation assessments that accurately measure student progress toward college- and career-readiness. Smarter Balanced is one of two multistate consortia awarded funding from the U.S. Department of Education in 2010 to develop an assessment system aligned to the Common Core State Standards (CCSS) by the 2014-15 school year.
The Smarter Balanced Assessment System will give parents and students more accurate and actionable information about what students are learning. Because these assessments are computer adaptive, they will also provide better information about the needs and successes of individual students.
These next-generation assessments are aligned to the Common Core State Standards (CCSS) in English language arts/literacy and mathematics for grades 3-8 and 11. That means students in all states will be taught to the same high standards.
(Source smarterbalanced.org)
During the transition to new science assessments, the 2014–15 CAASPP System encompasses federally required science assessments in grades 5, 8, and 10 (i.e., California Standards Tests [CSTs], California Modified Assessment [CMA], and California Alternate Performance Assessment [CAPA]). Information is provided about the content, types of questions, participation criteria, and other key targeted resources to assist with understanding the scope and requirements of these science assessments.
(Source cde.ca.gov)
Alternate Assessments
Alternate assessments are based on alternate achievement standards (AA-AAS) aligned with the Common Core State Standards (CCSS) for students with significant cognitive disabilities. The goal of the alternate assessment is to ensure that students with significant cognitive disabilities achieve increasingly higher academic outcomes and leave high school ready for post-secondary options. The alternate assessments are part of the California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress (CAASPP) System.
(Source cde.ca.gov)
California Alternate Performance Assessment (CAPA)
California Modified Assessment (CMA)
-
In order to meet the requirements of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA), California must show evidence that all students are included in our statewide assessment and accountability system. The California Department of Education (CDE) is continuing to develop and implement an alternate assessment for children with disabilities who cannot take part in general statewide assessment programs. The California Alternate Performance Assessment (CAPA) is the alternate assessment for those students. (Source cde.ca.gov)
-
In April 2007, the United States Department of Education enacted regulations for an alternate assessment based on modified achievement standards. The California Department of Education, in response to the federal regulations, developed and implemented the California Modified Assessment (CMA) as an alternate assessment of the California content standards based on modified achievement standards for children with disabilities who have an individualized education program (IEP).
-
The use of Smarter Balanced Assessments for English-language arts and mathematics with the appropriate universal tools, designated supports, and/or accommodations replaces the CMA tests for those subjects.
-
CMA for Science will continue (as part of the implementation of AB 484) to be administered to students with disabilities in grades five, eight, and ten who have an IEP that identifies the use of the CMA for Science until a successor science test is developed. (Source cde.ca.gov)
California Alternate Assessment (CAA)
-
A spring 2015 field test in English language arts/literacy (ELA) and mathematics will be administered to all students who have a significant cognitive disability in grades three through eight and grade eleven. For the 2014–15 school year, the field test window will occur April 15, 2015 through June 10, 2015. The field test will examine the performance of test items and will not yield individual student scores.
-
The field test will utilize computer-based technology for registration and test administration. Test items are aligned with the Common Core State Standards (CCSS) and are based on the Core Content Connectors (CCCs) that were developed with three tiers of complexity. The field test will consist of approximately 15 items in each content area and is anticipated to take 45 to 60 minutes per content area. District Coordinator and Test Administrator training will be offered in March 2015. (Source cde.ca.gov)