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Tag: Smarter Balanced
July 10, 2018

Pressure builds to change how California measures student progress on state tests

Student advocacy groups and academics are seeking to adopt a model other states use to calculate the impact of students’ test score growth, but state staff urge patience.

John Fensterwald and Mikhail Zinshteyn
May 9, 2018

A closer look at California’s impressive educational performance

Recent reforms are translating into improved performance, says former state schools chief.

Bill Honig
March 15, 2018

Don’t swap state tests like Smarter Balanced for SAT or ACT, report cautions

State Superintendent Torlakson and some superintendents are at odds on the issue. An analysis by the prominent nonprofit Achieve will add fuel to the debate.

John Fensterwald
March 14, 2018

Ed-Data offers new ways to look at Smarter Balanced test scores

Website provides flexibility, trend data in looking at state's standardized test results.

EdSource staff
February 8, 2018

California's ambitious education reforms paying off in higher graduation rates and math scores, study finds

The study showed a significant increase in math performance, especially among low-income high school students.

Louis Freedberg
January 4, 2018

A focus on writing in every class is key to success in this rural California district

Culture shift included schoolwide writing, comprehensive teacher training, teambuilding, new classes, and stressing importance of standardized tests.

Theresa Harrington
November 8, 2017

State board alters criteria for rating school performance on new state dashboard

State assumed more districts' scores would grow, and they didn't. That created a problem; designating fewer districts in the 'red' is part of the fix.

John Fensterwald
November 8, 2017

Latino students in California face large inequities compared to white peers

An Education Trust-West study found wide achievement gaps, even though Latino students make up a majority of students.

Carolyn Jones
November 6, 2017

Stagnant California test scores pose problem; state board may rejigger how to rate districts

State may change color configurations on the school dashboard to reduce the number of districts and student subgroups requiring county assistance.

John Fensterwald
October 8, 2017

Signs of hope amid Smarter Balanced math scores

Third-graders, the first class taught according to Common Core standards since kindergarten, show the biggest gains.

Carolyn Jones
September 27, 2017

Average scores flat in 3rd year of California's Common Core-aligned tests

Search results for the 2016-17 Smarter Balanced assessments of math and English language arts by school or district and see three-year trendlines for the Common Core-aligned tests.

John Fensterwald
September 25, 2017

California's Smarter Balanced test results: Use with caution

School districts and parents already have their students scores, so why do we need statewide results on the Common Core-aligned test results?

Louis Freedberg
September 21, 2017

Expanded rating system helps California parents understand how schools are doing

GreatSchools plans to expand school ratings in all 50 states and the District of Columbia by November.

Theresa Harrington
August 29, 2017

Smarter Balanced scores could be delayed two more weeks

Due to inaccurate data, state now anticipates releasing this year's math and reading test results by Sept. 13.

John Fensterwald and Theresa Harrington
August 25, 2017

Understanding the Common Core State Standards in California: A quick guide

California remains strongly committed to Common Core standards in math and English language arts, which focus on critical thinking and problem-solving. The standards have been adopted by more than 40 states.

Theresa Harrington