Smarter Balanced resources available
Published: September 16, 2015
California Department of Education resources are available to help parents, students, local educational agencies and teachers understand and draft communications about the 2015 Smarter Balanced test results released last Wednesday. The Smarter Balanced exams, part of the California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress system, were administered to approximately 3.2 million students last spring and are aligned to the state’s new rigorous standards for English language/arts and mathematics. Resources for parents/guardians include the Parent Guide to Smarter Balanced Summative Assessments, which is available in three versions – for grades 3-5, 6-8 and 11. The website also provides links to additional resources, such as the Smarter Balanced Parents & Students Web page. Resources for LEAs include a customizable PowerPoint template for communicating with parents and stakeholders about the test results, as well as a parent and guardian score report letter template, available in both English and Spanish. While the initial test results highlight the achievement gaps and the significant work that is needed in the coming year, state education leaders are urging stakeholders to remember that the results represent a starting point and should not be compared with scores from the state’s previous STAR assessments. "I ask parents and educators … to use this information wisely to help their students, and understand this is a baseline that we will build upon," State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson said.