1. Smarter Balanced assessment

2. What is the Smarter Balanced assessment?  The new state assessment, based on state standards in English language arts and math  Administered to students in grades 3-8 and 11  Replaces the Dakota STEP test in English and math

3. What is the Smarter Balanced assessment?  Developed by the Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium A group of 22 states, including South Dakota More than 100 South Dakota educators served on Smarter Balanced work groups

4. Didn’t students take the Smarter Balanced assessment last year?  Field test took place during spring 2014 Practice run gave our district’s teachers and schools a chance to practice test administration procedures Allowed students to experience what will be expected of them on the new assessment  After the field test, a number of South Dakota educators served on panels to help set achievement levels for the new test

5. How is this test different from the Dakota STEP?  Measures mastery of new, more rigorous standards  Delivered online  Consists of more than multiple choice questions  Requires writing at every grade level  Performance tasks ask students to demonstrate an array of research, writing and problem solving skills  Provides a more meaningful picture of what students know and can do  Offers expanded accessibility features to better meet the needs of all students

6. What will Smarter Balanced test scores look like?  Students are being measured against new standards, and comparisons to previous test should not be made  Period of adjustment as students become familiar with new concepts being assessed Occurs any time a new test is introduced  If comparisons are made, expect to see a drop in number of students demonstrating proficiency (Levels 3 and 4) Should not be cause for alarm Does not mean students are performing poorly Means we are challenging students and preparing them for rigors of postsecondary and the workforce

7. Are practice tests available?  Practice tests are available at http://commoncore.sd.gov/assessment.a spx http://commoncore.sd.gov/assessment.a spx