about the project

WestEd is the Project Management Partner for the multi-state Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium (Smarter Balanced) — the first collaboration of its kind to develop a common assessment system among a majority of states.

WestEd's four-year, $16.3 million contract includes project planning, documentation, governance support, budget monitoring, and communications.

Smarter Balanced was awarded a four-year, $175.8 million Race to the Top assessment grant by the U.S. Department of Education to develop a multi-state student assessment system that is aligned to the Common Core State Standards. Smarter Balanced was only one of two consortia awarded a comprehensive assessment system grant.

Smarter Balanced is developing computer-adaptive summative assessments with extended performance tasks along with interim assessments and a suite of formative tools and resources.

To achieve the goal that all students leave high school ready for college and career, Smarter Balanced will ensure that assessment and instruction embody the Common Core State Standards and that all students, regardless of disability, language, or subgroup status, have the opportunity to learn this valued content and show what they know and can do.

Together with technologically advanced reporting systems, the summative assessments, interim assessments, and formative tools and resources will provide student data throughout the academic year. These data will inform instruction, guide interventions, help target professional development, and ensure an accurate measure of each student's progress toward career and college readiness.

Learn more at the Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium website.