Preparing for the Smarter Balanced Field Tests
Author: Rick Phelan
Published: 11.18.13
Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium (SBAC) Field Tests will be administered this Spring in all California public schools. Preparation is key to successful district implementation. Districts should review areas of readiness and begin preparations as soon as possible. This blog post reviews information as of November 18, and sets out areas for district planning. Updates to the information were made on November 20, when new details were released by CDE.
Background on SBAC Field Tests
Signed into law on October 2, Assembly Bill 484 initiates a Field Test in Spring 2014 for students in grades 3-11. The tests will be administered between March 18 and June 6, 2014. Shorter windows within this timeframe will be assigned to schools by California’s testing contractor, Education Testing Service (ETS).
Grade 3-11 students will participate in the Field Tests. According to a recent letter from State Superintendent Tom Torlakson (pdf), “...ninety five percent of students will take a sampling of both ELA and mathematics items plus one performance task for subject. The remaining five percent of students will take either ELA or mathematics items plus one performance task for either subject.” In late November/early December, the specific content area and testing window for each school will be assigned by ETS. No student, school, or district scores will be produced from the tests. Results will not be factored into any state or federal accountability calculations.
Field Test Outcomes
The Spring 2014 Field Test is a trial run of the system in preparation for 2014-15 assessments. The Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium will be evaluating test items and the Test Information Distribution Engine (TIDE). Three important outcomes are anticipated from the Field Tests:
- Students will have hands-on experience with a computer-based assessment
- Teachers and administrators will be exposed to the test administration logistics
- Districts will learn where technology gaps exist and what needs to be accomplished prior to 2014-15 testing
Preliminary Logistics
Time Allocation
The assessment will take students approximately 3.5 hours to complete. Schools that participated in the 2013 SBAC scientific pilot found that students had a hard time concentrating on items for extended periods. For this reason, testing periods are frequently segmented into 30-45 minute blocks.
Test Proctors
The test proctors from last year’s SBAC scientific pilot were designated school staff who had been trained to use the TIDE (Test Information Distribution Engine) system. Proctors were present in each testing room. The tests could only be administered by individuals who were certified as test administrators. Eligible individuals included:
- State-certified educators – teachers, administrators, and guidance counselors
- Paraprofessionals – must be closely supervised by an on-site, state-certified educator
- Substitute teachers – if not credentialed in California, substitutes must be closely supervised by an on-site, state-certified educator
Regardless of their role, all test administrators were required to complete test administration training and review policy documents prior to any testing. Webinars and PDF documents were available to complete these requirements. Information about training for the 2014 Field Tests is provided below.
Secure Test Web Browsers
On November 19, the secure browser becomes available at the SBAC Field Test Portal, along with the Technical Specifications Manual and Secure Browser for Tablets User Guide.
Installing the Field Test secure browser – The Field Test secure browser must be downloaded on each computer being used for testing. The browser can be installed individually or deployed to all computers through a network. The secure browser prevents access to other online applications during testing and ensures that test items cannot be copied.
Schools that have accessed other versions of a secure browser must download the current Field Test secure browser. Other secure browsers will not work for the Field Test. (Note that other secure browsers do not need to be uninstalled; more than one secure browser can be on a computer.)
Testing on tablets – Schools that plan to test students using iPad or Android tablets will need to download an application (app) rather than the secure browser. The link to installation stores (Apple App Store and Google Play Store) will be available from the SBAC Field Test Portal. Schools that have downloaded previous app versions will need to update their existing application.
Training Modules
A variety of training modules, listed below, are being developed to support Field Test administration. Most modules will be released by January 28, 2014 at the Smarter Balanced website. Sonoma County schools are encouraged to promote awareness of these modules with the appropriate audience(s) when they become available.
- What is a Field Test? | For students | Overview of Smarter Balanced and why students are participating in the Field Test
- What is a CAT? | For districts and teachers | Explains how Computer Adaptive Testing (CAT) differs from paper-and-pencil tests and shows how tests are customized for each student
- Let’s Talk Tools | For students and teachers | Describes the types of tools that have been designed to help students during the test administration
- Technology Requirements for Online Testing | For technology coordinators | Outlines the hardware requirements, software installation processes, and system configurations necessary
- Performance Tasks | For teachers and administrators | Overview of what can be expected during the administration of the Performance Tasks
- TIDE User Roles | For district coordinators and administrators | Detailed information on how to upload student information and manage users
- Test Administrator Interface | For test coordinators and teachers | Information on the look, feel, and navigation of the administrator interface
- Student Interface | For students and district/school administrators | Navigating and interacting with the screens that the students will see
- Test Administrator Training | For test administrators | Information related to preparing for the test, general test administration, and test security
- Accessibility and Accommodations | For teachers and parents | Overview of various tools that are provided to accommodate student testing needs
Calendar of Key Dates
November 19, 2013
Technical specifications manuals released to Field Test portal
Secure browser documentation released to Field Test portal
Launch of secure browser
January 14, 2014
TIDE User Guide released to Field Test portal
TIDE registration window launches
January 28, 2014
Training modules begin to be released to Field Test portal
January 29, 2014
Test Coordinator Manual released to Field Test portal
Test Administration Manual released to Field Test portal
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