Feb. 26, 2016

by: Ariana Segura, Astrid Onesto, Carina Carrera Flores

 

Phoenix High School introduced the Smarter Balanced Assessment just last year, and this will be the second year that PHS does Smarter Balance testing. The Smarter Balanced Assessment is a test aimed to measure student progress toward college and career readiness. It will test in the subject areas of English Language Arts and Mathematics. It is designed for grades 3-8 and grade 11. It will include: Summative Assessments [for accountability purposes] & Interim Assessments [for instructional use]. It is more than just a multiple choice test. It will also include opportunities for students to submit extended answers to evaluate and assess their critical-thinking and problem-solving skills. It will include performance tasks – this will allow students to demonstrate their research, writing, and analytical skills. Smarter Balanced is very important because it is a requirement for juniors to pass in order to graduate.

 

The Smarter Balanced Assessment is used in: Washington, South Dakota, New Jersey, Oregon, Kansas, Hawaii, Idaho, North Dakota, Iowa, Montana, Missouri, Colorado, Nevada, Alabama,  Wisconsin, Utah, Michigan, Oklahoma, New Mexico, West Virginia, Kentucky, North Carolina,  Vermont, Ohio, Connecticut, Maine, Pennsylvania, Delaware, South Carolina, and New Hampshire. The Smarter Balanced Assessment goal is to provide a more valid, reliable, and fair state assessment.They will assess in a more well-rounded manner. They will have quicker turnaround results due to the Computer Adaptive Testing (CAT) which will allow teachers to use the information presented in the test results to better the classroom. The assessments are being generated in correspondence with the Common Core State Standards being adopted by many US states.

 

There are many components to this test, and here is how it works: The Computer Adaptive Testing (CAT) is online testing that personally adapts to each child’s abilities. As a student answers questions correctly, harder questions will be asked. If one is answered wrong it may take a step back.

There will be 2 parts consisting of the CAT and the performance task (PT). Schools usually begin testing during the months of February or March. The results of the Smarter Balanced Assessment will be available to parents, students, teachers, and administrators through a secure, online reporting system. It will map both student achievement and student growth in regards to achievement of the Common Core State Standards.

 

There are many positive aspects of the Smarter Balanced test, such as with online testing it becomes a more affordable standardized state test. The Smarter Balanced Assessment will not just be a pencil and paper multiple choice test, which means quicker turnaround time for results of testing. It is aligned with the Common Core State Standards (CCSS). Testing of critical-thinking abilities and problem solving skills are more thorough and demonstrate research and inquiry abilities. Test helps determine college and career readiness. Using Computer Adaptive Testing, the assessment will be able to adapt to the individual student and his or her abilities. Also, accommodations will be available for English Language Learners and students with disabilities.

 

Unfortunately the SBAC Test Designers have yet to create a concrete policy for ELL test takers. Testing accommodations seem very limited for those who need services outside of the 4 available accommodations. Only mathematics and English Language Arts are included in the testing. Many schools still do not have the technology needed to use the Smarter Balanced Assessment testing. Many also cannot afford the upgrade of their technology. Questions are complex and timely. Many students may score poorly due to lack of attention or lack of details in answer. The test is very time-consuming and will rotate students through multiple shifts of computer testing. Differing from most standardized tests, the Smarter Balanced Assessment will enforce more ‘teaching to the test’ as teachers try and prepare their students for a new generation of standardized testing.

 

Students can earn one of two things, a Silver or Gold Card. A Silver Card that a student can win by passing one portion of the test will have the opportunity to get a free Dutch Bros coffee, Puck’s donuts, an extra English amnesty ticket, and a “get out of lunch detention” pass. The Gold Card is another prize a student can obtain by passing two portions of the test, students can get: reserved parking area, discounts on prom tickets and yearbooks, a half day “party” pass where students can skip half of the school day, and everything that comes with the Silver card.