Assessment Resources
WHAT IS THE SMARTER BALANCED SYSTEM OF ASSESSMENTS?
Watch the video to learn more about summative assessments, interim assessments, and the Digital Library.
Frequently asked questions regarding the Smarter Balanced Assessment System
http://www.cde.ca.gov/ta/tg/sa/sbcommonqa.asp
California is part of the Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium (SBAC). Smarter Balanced assessments will include:
- Comprehensive assessments in grades 3rd through 8th, and 11th grade.
- Assessments will be computer adaptive for only two content areas: English Language Arts(ELA) and Mathematics.
- Items will include multiple choice, short constructed response, and performance tasks.
- Smarter Balanced Assessments will cover ELA and Math in grades 3rd– 8th and 11th grade. California may continue to use California State Test (CST) for Science.
Additional information regarding the Smarter Balanced Assessments is available at the Smarter Balanced website.
The Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium has published both a practice and a training tests that provides students, parents, and educational staff a preview of the assessment questions aligned to the Common Core for grades 3-8 and 11 in both ELA and Math. The Smarter Balanced Practice Test allows interested parties to experience a full grade-level assessment and gain insight into how Smarter Balanced will assess students' mastery of the Common Core. Each grade level assessment includes a variety of question types and difficulty. The tests include universal tools, designated supports, and accommodations.
The Smarter Balanced Training Tests are designed to provide students and teachers with opportunities to quickly familiarize themselves with the software and navigational tools that they will experience on the Smarter Balanced Assessments given each spring. The Training Test is organized by grade bands (grades 3-5, 6-8, and high school), not by specific grade levels. The questions on the Training Test were selected to provide students with an opportunity to practice a range of question types. Similar to the Practice Test, the the Training Test includes all embedded universal tools, designated supports, and accommodations.
CAASPP: Keeping California’s Students on Track for College and Career
Welcome to your gateway to understanding student scores on the California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress (CAASPP). Click here to access this resource.
PARENT GUIDE TO THE SMARTER BALANCED SUMMATIVE ASSESSMENTS


Parent CCSS Tool Box
CCSS Resources for Parents and Guardians in Multiple Languages
Californians Dedicated to Education - CCSS Campaign Communications Resources
Common Core Channel
Math Resources for Parents
Myths vs Facts About the Common Core State Standards
Parent Roadmaps to the Common Core
California Department of Education Resources
UNDERSTANDING YOUR CAASPP STUDENT SCORE REPORT

UNDERSTANDING YOUR CAA STUDENT SCORE REPORT
The California Alternate Assessments (CAAs) are online tests for students with Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) that designate the use of an alternate assessment to measure student progress on alternate achievement standards.
SMARTER BALANCED SAMPLE TEST QUESTIONS
This site provides examples of test questions used on Smarter Balanced assessments in English language arts/literacy and math. Click here.