Balanced assessment systems provide students, families, educators and policymakers with valuable information on what students know and are able to do. CCSSO works with state leaders and national partners to support efforts to build balanced assessment systems, including formative, interim and summative assessments that provide meaningful and actionable data on student achievement. Specifically, CCSSO supports states in navigating technical challenges with administering large-scale assessment systems and building greater coherence among the various elements of an assessment system and other educational systems, including standards, curriculum, professional development and teaching and learning. CCSSO also hosts the annual National Conference on Student Assessment, which serves as a trusted forum for assessment practitioners to learn and reflect upon both current and emerging trends in education and educational assessments.
Explore some of the resources below developed by CCSSO and its Collaboratives.
A Common Language for Balanced Assessment Systems: The goal of this resource is to institute a common language related to the goals, characteristics and components of a balanced assessment system. State education leaders can use this resource as a starting point to establish a shared understanding of assessment systems and associated terminology.
A State Discussion Guide to Understanding, Developing and Sustaining Balanced Assessment Systems That Are Inclusive of All Students: This state discussion guide is designed to facilitate discussions within state education agencies about how to create and sustain a balanced assessment system that is inclusive of all students, including students with disabilities, English learners and English learners with disabilities. This resource was developed by CCSSO’s Assessment Standards and Education for Students with Disabilities (ASES), Balanced Assessment Systems (BAS) and English Learner Collaboratives in partnership with the National Center on Educational Outcomes (NCEO).
