Smarter Balanced Assessment System
The final component of the CCSS is the development of new assessment systems to measure student performance and growth. The systems under design will also provide formative assessment information to schools and teachers to further support student understanding and skill development. It has been said that the goal of the new assessments is to develop "assessments worthy of instructional imitation." Two systems are under development and Connecticut has selected the Smarter Balanced Assessment System as their assessment tool.
As shown in the illustration, the system includes interim formative assessments (which can be customized by school districts), performance tasks and Computer Adaptive Assessments. The Computer Adaptive Assessments are taken by an individual student at a computer. The questions given to the student are “adapted” based on the students’ response to the previous question. When a student answers correctly, the next “harder” question is given. If a student answers incorrectly, than an “easier” question is given. This assessment and the performance tasks may be given any time wit