A SMARTER Assessment System

The Next Generation Assessment Task Force was convened in Fall 2008 to examine balanced assessment systems and to make recommendations on the components of an assessment system essential to increasing student achievement. The concluding recommendations of the Next Generation Assessment Task Force are provided below and available for use by districts, professional development organizations, school boards, and the public.

Recommendations of the Next Generation Assessment Task Force - Crafting a Balanced System of Assessment in Wisconsin

Following the recommendations of the Next Generation Assessment Task Force the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction has begun work toward a new balanced assessment system.

New Focus on Balanced Assessment

Wisconsin’s focus is on creating a balanced assessment system, a group of interrelated components designed to support the teaching/learning cycle. This system of assessment tools will meet multiple needs of students and educators. One test cannot do everything. One test cannot answer all questions. For instance, summative tests are not created to diagnose an individual student’s needs with respect to their classroom instruction. On the other hand, formative assessments and many interim assessments are designed around the “what’s next” question. The assessment system must also be part of a 21st century system of learning by working together with standards, curriculum, instruction, and support structures to ensure students are college and career ready.

Wisconsin Balanced Assessment System Chart

To meet the recommendations of the Next Generation Assessment Task Force and achieve the goal of a new balanced assessment system, Wisconsin joined the SMARTER Balanced Assessment Consortium in Spring 2010 as a governing state.

SMARTER Balanced Assessment Consortium (SBAC)

Overview

Wisconsin is a governing state within the multi-state SMARTER Balanced Assessment Consortium (SBAC), formed in response to the Race to the Top assessment grant competition to develop an innovative assessment system aligned to the Common Core State Standards. The new assessment system mirrors the recommendations of Wisconsin’s Next Generation Assessment Task Force. As There is Smarter Balanced webpage where you can access information on the consortium’s assessment plans. For more information on implementing the Common Core in Wisconsin―and how this system will impact district curriculum, instruction, and assessment―please visit: http://dpi.wi.gov/standards/index.html.

Assessment System

The SBAC summative assessment will be a computer-adaptive test that includes multiple choice questions, computer-enhanced items, and performance tasks. Students will have two opportunities to test. Further, the system will provide benchmark tools and formative strategies that will continuously guide instruction and provide classroom teachers with information. All components of the assessment system will be aligned to the Common Core State Standards.

Teacher Involvement

At the core of the SBAC assessment system is the involvement of educators in the development of formative strategies, test items, scoring rubrics, and the evaluation of performance events. By participating in the design and creation of professional development, the curriculum-instruction-assessment connection will become more explicit and intentional, and educators across consortium states will have the opportunity to enhance their assessment literacy and improve instruction.

Timeline

The SBAC grant proposal was submitted in June 2010, and funding was announced in September 2010. Work officially began October 1, 2010, to develop the system. The consortium has until 2014-15 to administer a fully operational summative assessment. While the new assessment system will take four years to develop, Wisconsin may have the opportunity to pilot the use of a computer adaptive test prior to full implementation in 2014-15. Until then, we are required to administer the federally approved accountability tests (WKCE and WAA-SwD). As such, there are no changes to the assessment for the current school year. The Smarter webpage has a detailed timeline available.

Press Releases

9/2/10 - Wisconsin Wins Funding for New Assessment System
6/2/10 - Wisconsin Adopts Common Core State Stanards
4/21/10 - Wisconsin Takes Leadership Role in Assessment Development

For questions about this information, contact oeamail@dpi.wi.gov

Last updated on 5/15/2012 9:49:40 AM