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Writing tasks challenge students to demonstrate critical thinking skills. In each task, students examine sources on a topic and write a response based on a specific purpose described in state academic standards. Read more about “purpose” under Terms to Know.

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5th Grade Prompt and Student Writing Samples

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5th Grade Prompt and Student Writing Samples

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5th Grade Informational Text Prompt and Student Writing Samples

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SBAC Vocabulary List for ELA (Grades 3-11)

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SBAC Vocabulary List for ELA (Grades 3-11)

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Asynchronous Learning Module: Hand Scoring ELA Performance Tasks

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Resources and Information about the On-Demand Learning Module for Hand Scoring ELA Performance Tasks

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Asynchronous Hand Scoring Learning Module: ELA Scoring

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SBAC Full Write Scoring Guides (Performance Task)

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SBAC Full Write Scoring Guides (Performance Task)

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Create a new document and edit with others at the same time -- from your computer, phone or tablet. Get stuff done with or without an internet connection. Use Docs to edit Word files. Free from Google.

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Create a new document and edit with others at the same time -- from your computer, phone or tablet. Get stuff done with or without an internet connection. Use Docs to edit Word files. Free from Google.

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Create a new document and edit with others at the same time -- from your computer, phone or tablet. Get stuff done with or without an internet connection. Use Docs to edit Word files. Free from Google.

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Create a new document and edit with others at the same time -- from your computer, phone or tablet. Get stuff done with or without an internet connection. Use Docs to edit Word files. Free from Google.

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Copy of Oro Grande Day 7.PDReview& Feedback. pptx.pptx

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Listening and Speaking Standard 1 (1).pdf

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Secondary Writing and Speaking Flip Book

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Secondary Writing and Speaking Flip Book

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Writing and Speaking Flipbook (R.4.7.23).pdf

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Writing and Speaking Flip Book (Elementary)

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Writing and Speaking Flip Book (Elementary)

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Elementary Writing and Speaking Flipbook (Grades 3-5) Editable (R 8.30.23).pdf

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Oro Grande Disciplinary Literacy Google Site 

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Oro Grande Disciplinary Literacy Google Site 

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Oro Grande Disciplinary Literacy - General Collaboration Resources

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Oro Grande Disciplinary Literacy Presentation on Outputs

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Oro Grande Disciplinary Literacy Presentation on Outputs

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Oro Grande School District Disciplinary Literacy

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You can use this graphic organizer to support the analysis of standard 2

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Copy of Copy of Stair-Step Writing Graphic Organizer.docx

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Writing Standard 2 (K-12 and Content Areas)

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Writing Standard 2 (K-12 and Content Areas)

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Copy of Day 1-3 Review Images, Icons and Information

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Deconstructing the Prompt Routine (Kindergarten)

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Deconstructing the Prompt Routine (Kindergarten)

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Oro Grande Writing Focus Brainstorm (7.6.23)

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Oro Grande Writing Focus Brainstorm (7.6.23)

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Deconstructing the Prompt Routine (Grades 1-2)

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Deconstructing the Prompt Routine (Grades 1-2)

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Deconstructing the Prompt Routine Icons for K-2

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Deconstructing the Prompt Routine Icons for K-2

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Deconstruct the prompt kinder and 1st icons.docx

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Deconstructing the Prompt Routine (9-12)

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Deconstructing the Prompt Routine (9-12)

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Get access to files anywhere through secure cloud storage and file backup for your photos, videos, files and more with Google Drive.

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3-5 Informational Performance Task Rubric

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6-11 Explanatory Performance Task Rubric

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6-11 Argumentative Performance Task Rubric

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1st Grade Writing Rubric (Student Version)

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1st Grade Writing Rubric (Student Version)

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2nd Grade Writing Rubric (Student Version)

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2nd Grade Writing Rubric (Student Version)

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3rd Grade Writing Rubric (Student Version)

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3rd Grade Writing Rubric (Student Version)

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4th Grade Writing Rubric (Student Version)

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4th Grade Writing Rubric (Student Version)

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4th  Informative and Explanatory Writing Rubric.docx

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5th Grade Writing Rubric (Student Version)

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5th Grade Writing Rubric (Student Version)

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Updated Cognitive Rigor Matrices (Karen Hess)

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Updated Cognitive Rigor Matrices (Karen Hess)

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DOK & THE HESS COGNITIVE RIGOR MATRICES (CRM)

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Get access to files anywhere through secure cloud storage and file backup for your photos, videos, files and more with Google Drive.

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Get access to files anywhere through secure cloud storage and file backup for your photos, videos, files and more with Google Drive.

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Read recommended questions and answers that will help you better understand and use the Smarter Content Explorer.

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Test Development | Smarter Content Explorer

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Smarter Balanced is committed to an unprecedented level of transparency, so that anyone who is interested can see exactly how tests are developed and designed. On this page we provide materials used in the process of developing the Smarter Balanced assessment system.

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SBAC - Claims, Targets, Standards ALL Grades

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SBAC - Claims, Targets, Standards ALL Grades

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Home Page - Smarter Balanced Sample Items

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Smarter Tools for Teachers. Discover classroom resources you can use today. Educator-created lessons, activities, strategies, and professional development to help tailor instruction and boost learning.

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The Smarter Balanced assessment system has three components: the summative assessments, designed for accountability purposes; interim assessments, designed to support teaching and learning throughout the year; and Tools for Teachers, designed to support classroom-based formative assessment processes. The Smarter Balanced Assessment Graphic (PDF) displays the relationship between these components, the Common Core State Standards (CCSS), and college and career readiness.

Pursuant to California Education Code Section 60642.6, interim assessments are available to all local educational agencies (LEAs). The Smarter Balanced Interim Assessments for English language arts/literacy (ELA) and mathematics are optional tests that provide meaningful information to guide instruction and support student learning.

There are three types of Smarter Balanced Interim Assessments:

Interim Comprehensive Assessment (ICAs) are built on the same blueprints as the summative assessments. The ICAs include the same item types and formats, including performance tasks, as the summative assessments, and yield results on the same vertical scale. The ICAs yield overall scale scores, overall performance level designations, and claim-level information.

2023-24 Interim Comprehensive Assessments Blueprints:

Interim Comprehensive Assessments Blueprint for ELA (PDF)
Interim Comprehensive Assessments Blueprint for Mathematics (PDF)

Interim Assessment Blocks (IABs) focus on smaller sets of targets than ICAs. They are intended to provide educators the ability to check where students are at that moment in time, and use results to determine next steps for instruction.

2023-24 Interim Assessment Blocks Blueprints:

Interim Assessment Blocks Blueprint for ELA (PDF)
Interim Assessment Blocks Blueprint for Mathematics (PDF)

Focused IABs assess no more than three assessment targets to provide educators with an even more detailed understanding of student learning.

2023-24 Focused Interim Assessment Blocks Blueprints:

Focused Interim Assessment Blocks Blueprint for ELA (PDF)
Focused Interim Assessment Blocks Blueprint for Mathematics (PDF)

For further information on the Smarter Balanced Interim Assessments, please refer to the related resources, online tools, and frequently asked questions below:

Related Resources

2023-24 Smarter Balanced Interim Assessments Overview (PDF) - This document describes the Smarter Balanced Interim Assessments, including their purpose, use, and varieties. For ELA and mathematics, this document provides a list of interim assessments available for the 2023-24 school year.

2023-24 Interim Assessments At-a-Glance (PDF) - This document lists, by grade level, all available interim assessments.

2023-24 Interim Assessments by Grade (PDF) - This document provides a list of all interim assessments available by grade, including the claims and targets, total number of items, and the number of items that are hand scored. This information is intended to assist LEAs in planning for the administration and local hand scoring of the interim assessments.

2023-24 Back to School Assessment Playbook (PDF; 15-Aug-2023) - This document describes how educators can use Smarter Balanced resources, such as Tools for Teachers and interim assessments, to support high-quality instruction using the formative assessment process.

Interim Assessment Fact Sheet (PDF)

Smarter Balanced Training Tests, Practice Tests, and Interim Assessments At-a-Glance (PDF)

Interim Assessment Video Series - This series consists of five video modules intended to help educators effectively use the interim assessment systems and tools that are needed to select, administer, hand score, view and use results from the Smarter Balanced Interim Assessments.

Tools for Teachers Interim Connections Playlists Flyer (PDF) - This flyer describes the Tools for Teachers Interim Connections Playlists of instructional resources that can be used to support teaching and learning with the use of Interim Assessment Blocks.

Online Tools

Smarter Content Explorer - This user-friendly web tool combines the information provided in the Smarter Balanced Content and Item Specifications-key resources used in test and item development-into an easy-to-use search interface. This tool can help teachers better understand how test questions are designed to provide evidence of what students know and can do.

Sample Items Website - Explore sample test questions to understand how Smarter Balanced measures college and career ready content.

The California Educator Reporting System (CERS) Sandbox -The California Educator Reporting System Sandbox is a non-secure training and demonstration environment that uses fictitious computer-generated data.

The Smarter Annotated Response Tool (PDF; 20-Nov-2020) -The Smarter Annotated Response Tool helps educators understand how student writing is scored on the Smarter Balanced assessments and supports writing instruction in the classroom. View the Getting Started with SmART video for more information.

Tools for Teachers (Account required for full access) - The formative assessment component of the Smarter Balanced assessment system. This website features educator created lessons, activities, strategies and professional development, with a focus on using the formative assessment process during instruction in the classroom. There are two resources available to anyone on the landing page, but full access to this website requires an account. LEA staff members may get a Tools for Teachers account either through self-registration or through their LEA California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress (CAASPP) coordinator. View theSmarter Balanced Tools for Teachers video for more information.

Frequently Asked Questions

Questions: California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress Office | caaspp@cde.ca.gov | 916-445-8765

Last Reviewed: Friday, September 22, 2023

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The progress monitoring component of the Smarter Balanced Assessment System.

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Get access to files anywhere through secure cloud storage and file backup for your photos, videos, files and more with Google Drive.

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Priority Writing Skills by Grade Level (Vertical Alignment).pdf

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SCRAP Engaging Scenario Model and Resource.pdf