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Smarter Balanced Interim Assessments
Interim assessments allow teachers to check student progress throughout the year, giving them actionable information to inform instruction and help students meet college- and career-ready standards.
Interim Assessment Overview
Interim Assessments at Smarter Balanced
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Interim Comprehensive Assessments (ICAs) mimic the administration of the end-of-year summative Smarter assessments in ELA/Literacy and Math. They include the same item types and test format, including performance tasks. Their use allows schools to predict how far along students are in achieving the level needed for the summative.
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Interim Assessment Blocks (IABs) are shorter in length than the Interim Comprehensive Assessments. They include the same item types and test format, including performance tasks, as the Interim Comprehensive Assessments and end-of-year summative Smarter assessments in ELA/Literacy and Math. They focus on smaller sets of targets and are more flexible to support instruction.
Both the ICAs and the IABs are administered online. Districts and schools have the flexibility to re-administer interim assessments any number of times. These decisions should be made in part of larger assessment context that includes the purpose of the interim assessment, how the interim assessment will be scored and how the data from the interim assessment will be used to improve teaching and learning. Interim assessment reports can be generated from the Smarter Balanced reporting system.
Interim Assessments Overview
Tools for Teachers Website
Requires a valid district email address to get full access to Tools for Teachers resources. Families can access limited resources on Tools for Teachers. Classlink or ELA/Math DE Portal
Interim Assessment Training
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Connecting Smarter Assessments to Instruction
Available in Schoology- Math: Course #25014
- ELA/Literacy: Course #25013
Courses focus on: 1) Understanding the Smarter Balanced Content Specifications, 2) Deep Dive into Smarter Data using PerformancePLUS (Smarter Analytics), 3) Planning Curriculum for My Students: Using Smarter Balanced Score Reports and Resources, and 4) Resources to Support Educator Knowledge and Use of Smarter Assessments.
- Self-Paced Modules
Guides educators as they implement interim assessments in the classroom.
Using Data to Plan for Targeted Instruction (Part I) How Assessments Provide Instructional Information Determining Appropriate Use of Assessment Resutls Reliability and Validity Using Data Skills to Create Targeted Professional Learning Plans Using Data to Plan for Targeted Instruction (Part II) Interpreting Evidence to Create Student Groups
- Hand-Scoring for Interims
Training for educators on SBAC Interims.
- Office of Assessment Training and Materials
(Available in Schoology)Includes an overview of Delaware's Assessment System, interim assessment manuals, a hand scoring user guide, an AVA user guide, training materials, and more.
Additional Resources
- Building an Interim Assessment System: A Workbook for School
Guides educators and district personnel through a structured consideration of building or revisiting the district’s interim assessment system. Questions are intended to be answered collaboratively, not by a district administrator in isolation.
- Keys to Successful Interim Assessment Implementation
Focuses on using data to drive a successful interim assessment plan.
- The Role of Interim Assessments in a Comprehensive Assessment System
Clarifies how interim assessments fit into the landscape of formative assessment and offers recommendations to districts on the appropriate use of interim assessments as part of a broader assessment system.
- Interim Assessments Overview
Includes more unique items across the IABs, more IABs to measure a greater breadth of content, and revised IABs to measure the content with more specificity. Based on feedback from educators across the country on how to improve the assessments.
For more information on connecting assessments to instruction, contact Curriculum, Instruction and Professional Development at 302-735-4180.
For technical inquiries regarding the Smarter assessment system, contact the Office of Assessment at 302-857-3391.
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