Smarter Balanced Assessments - Parent Information - Session - Westport Public Schools January 7-8, 2015

Oct 3, 2026

An overview for Westport Public Schools families explaining Smarter Balanced (SBAC) assessments, including what SBAC is and how it compares with prior CMT/CAPT testing. The session outlines testing formats, dates for science and SBAC within the 2014–15 year, and an anticipated district schedule by grade band. It also describes SBAC components for ELA and math, sample elementary timing, impacts on curriculum, preparation steps, and how accommodations are handled for eligible students.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryExam

FormatPDF

Pages16

Reading Time40 min

AccessFree to download

What is Smarter Balanced?

Consortium and standards basis

Testing Comparison

CMT/CAPT vs SBAC

Testing Dates 2014-15

Science CMT/CAPT

SBAC state windows

Anticipated Westport SBAC Schedule

Elementary schools

Middle schools

High school

How has this affected our curriculum?

SBAC Components

ELA and Math components

Elementary Sample School Schedule

Preparing Students for SBAC

Testing Accommodations

Smarter Balanced Assessments Parent Information Session Westport Public Schools January 7 & 8, 2015 What is Smarter Balanced? ● Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium (SBAC) ● Consortium of 25+ states and territories ● Developed assessment system based on Common Core ● In Connecticut, these replace CMT and CAPT Reading, Writing, Mathematics tests ● CMT and CAPT Science remain Testing Comparison CMT/CAPT ❖ Paper and Pencil ❖ Fixed time blocks for each test ❖ Identical test for all students SBAC ❖ Computer based for all students ❖ Self-paced, no time limit ❖ Adaptive test ❖ Based on Common Core State Standards Testing Dates 2014-15 ❖ Science CMT/CAPT ➢ Grades 5, 8, and 10 ➢ Scheduling date chosen by district ➢ March 10, 2015 in all tested grades ➢ Preparation remains the same ❖ SBAC ➢ State testing windows ➢ Grades 3-8 open March 17 ➢ Grade 11 opens April 27 Anticipated Westport SBAC Schedule | Elementary Schools | Middle Schools | High School | | --- | --- | --- | | Grade 4 & 5 March 23-April 2
Grade 4
Morning, ~1.25 hours
Grade 5
Late Morning, ~1.25 hours | Grade 8 March 17-20
Morning, ~2 hours | Grade 11 May 26-29
Morning, ~2 hours | | | Grade 7 March 23-26
Morning, ~2 hours | | | Grade 3 April 21-30
Morning, ~1.25 hours | Grade 6 March 30-April 2
Morning, ~2 hours | | *times are approximate, will be determined by building administrators How has this affected our curriculum? ● The tests have not changed our curriculum ● Common Core standards are embedded ● We still develop our own programs suited to Westport students ● Will help us identify areas for ongoing curricular and instructional improvements SBAC Components ( ELA and Math each contain component) ● Summative Assessment (“non-performance task”)(Online) ● Classroom Activity ○ About 30 minutes long ○ Done in the classroom in whole group or small group setting ○ Script and slides for Smartboard are given to teacher ● Performance Task (Online) ○ Must be done after classroom activity Elementary Sample School Schedule | Date* | Time | Test | | --- | --- | --- | | March 23 | 1hr 15min | ELA Summative Assessment – Section 1
First day with computers and logging in will take more time than other days. Actual testing will be about 45 minutes. | | March 24 | 1hr 15min | ELA Summative Assessment – Section 2 | | March 25 | 30 min | ELA Classroom Activity | | March 26 | 1hr 15min | ELA Performance Task-Section 1 | | March 27 | 1hr 15min | ELA Performance Task-Section 2 | | March 30 | 30 min | MATH Classroom Activity | | March 31 | 1hr 15min | MATH Performance Task (one day only) | | April 1 | 1hr 15min | MATH Summative Assessment-Section 1 | | April 2 | 1hr 15min | MATH Summative Assessment-Section 2 | *Students will use March 25 and March 30th to catch up if needed and any day until June 6 for make-ups Preparing Students for SBAC ❖ Practice Tests & Sample Classroom Activities ➢ Between January 17 and February break ➢ All classes grades 3-5 ➢ ELA, Social Studies, Math grades 6-8, 11 ❖ Keyboarding Practice ➢ Pre-assessed in school (grades 4-8)➢ At-home practice resources ➢ Formal in school instruction and practice for grades 2 and 3 Testing Accommodations ● Students who receive Special Education services may qualify for some accommodations ● Updated with changes in the test ● Discussed at PPT/504 meetings

FAQs

What is Smarter Balanced (SBAC) and what standards does it use?

Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium (SBAC) is developed by a consortium of 25+ states and territories and is based on Common Core. In Connecticut, SBAC replaces CMT and CAPT for Reading, Writing, and Mathematics.

How does SBAC testing differ from CMT/CAPT?

CMT/CAPT uses paper-and-pencil and fixed time blocks with identical tests for all students. SBAC is computer-based for all students, self-paced with no time limit, and uses an adaptive test approach aligned to Common Core State Standards.

What is the anticipated SBAC schedule and how long should students expect to test each day?

The Westport schedule lists grade-specific windows and approximate testing durations, such as elementary Grade 4 & 5 from March 23–April 2 with about 1.25 hours. Times are approximate and will be determined by building administrators, with classroom activity and online performance/summative components across multiple days.

Oct 3, 2026

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