WestEd News
Implementing and Understanding the Smarter Balanced and PARCC Assessments
Andrew Latham, Director of the federal Center on Standards &Assessment Implementation, offers timely guidance on implementing and understanding the PARCC and Smarter Balanced assessments.
In this recently published R&D Alert Online article, Latham discusses the benefits and challenges of the new assessments, how educators can interpret and communicate the results, and how WestEd is supporting states with implementation.
Briefly:
- The Smarter Balanced and PARCC assessments aim to measure a deeper level of knowledge and thinking
- Scores are likely to be different than previous assessments because the new tests measure proficiency in new ways
- Districts should proactively communicate information about the new tests to the full range of stakeholders — including teachers, parents, students, school boards, and policymakers
Learn more from Latham, who also serves as Director of the Standards, Assessment, and Accountability Services (SAAS) program at WestEd.
Posted on November 20, 2015