SBAC Management & Preliminary Results Reporting Systems
Author: Rick Phelan
Published: 05.11.15
The electronic element of the 2015 SBAC offers a number of benefits when compared to past paper-and-pencil assessments. One key benefit is more timely reporting capabilities. This blog post describes the reporting benefits of Smarter Balanced Assessments that are found in the test administration management and preliminary results reporting interfaces.
Test Administration Management
Test administrators, site coordinators, and district assessment directors have access to a password-protected Completion Status information system via the California Assessment of Student Progress and Performance (CAASPP) portal (pictured at left). Credentials for accessing this system are the same as what’s used for entry to the Test Operations Management System (TOMS) and Test Administrator (TA) system.
The Completion Status report allows users to see status and completion data for students participating in the 2015 test administration. It indicates which students have completed the assessments, as well as which students have yet to begin or complete a test opportunity. The report provides valuable information for district and site assessment coordinators.
The Online Test Administration Manual (pdf) is available to help answer user questions.
Preliminary Results Reporting
Another benefit of the SBAC is the preliminary test results reports. These reports, available within four weeks of student completion of both the computer-adaptive and performance task test components, provide educator access to “preliminary results.” The preliminary reports share individual student information, as well as aggregated results for a district, school, and grade. Preliminary results include scaled scores and overall score descriptors. The reporting interface also allows for data downloads and customized grouping variables.
Factors that may change the preliminary report results include question appeals and test re-scores. Because of this, preliminary test results should not be shared with the public.
Access to the secure preliminary reporting system is available via the CAASPP portal to all district and school site test coordinators using their existing Test Operations Management System (TOMS) login credentials.
Overall scores are reported on a four-point scale
4 – Exceeded the standard
3 – Met the standard
2 – Nearly met the standard
1 – Has not met the standard
English-language arts and mathematics claims are scored on a three-point scale
3 – Above standard
2 – At or near standard
1 – Below standard
Preliminary assessment results can be used by educators to reflect on work for the current year and to begin planning for the new school year.
- District and school teams can combine the data with other academic performance information to identify learning needs and opportunities.
- District and school teams may take advantage of time late in the school year and early in the summer to map grade-level English-language arts and mathematics activities for the 2015-16 school year, with specific attention to curriculum, assessment, and vertical articulation. Resources from a recent SCOE training, Reimaging Grading and Assessment with CCSS and SBAC, are available for this purpose.
Because results are preliminary, the following uses are not recommended: adding results to your local student information system, presenting the results as final scores, and using the results as the sole basis for determining a student’s learning opportunities.
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