smarter

The EdSource Symposium 2016 is a major ed event in California next week, and I will be on a panel titled “Smarter Balanced Assessment and Beyond: What’s Next?”

I’ve posted a lot about Smarter Balanced and PARCC (see The Best Resources For Learning About The “Next Generation” Of State Testing) and have lots of thoughts, but I would love to hear from other educators – from everywhere, but especially from California.

Here are some questions I’d love to hear you answer – pick as many or as few as you want.  You can leave a comment (I won’t make any of the comments on this post public so you can remain anonymous).  Or you can email me at mrferlazzo at aol dot com:

1. How accurately do think the Smarter Balanced tests measure what you think students should know?

2. Can you easily gain access to the results, and do they inform your instruction?

3. What have your students said about the Smarter Balanced tests?

4. How much of a role, if any, should the test results have in school or teacher accountability?

5. What would be better alternatives to a test like Smarter Balanced?

6. How does Smarter Balanced compare to previous state tests like STAR?

7. Is there anything else you’d like to share that I haven’t asked?

 

Thanks!