Curriculum and Instruction / Common Curriculum and Assessments Updates. SMARTER Balanced Assessment Consortium. Overview Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium is a bipartisan, state-led group developing assessments aligned to the Common Core State Standards in English language arts and math. The consortium’s executive director, Joe Wilhoft, wrote an article for the Thomas B. Fordham Institute in February 2014 entitled, “Smarter Balanced assessments: A big moment for our schools.” In the article, he summarizes the history of, and transition to, these new tests. Have questions about the Smarter Balanced assessments?
The Common Core standards require a practical, real-life application of knowledge that prepares Washington students for success in college, work and life. More than just a once-a-year test, Smarter Balanced is a system: There are three components in the Smarter Balanced system: Digital Library, Interim Assessments and Summative Assessments. “Summative” assessments are required. “Interim” assessments are optional. Here’s what we know: Assessment Weblinks. MasteryConnect - Home.