New Web Resource Offers Background on Smarter Balanced Assessment for Iowa

The Iowa Department of Education has developed a new webpage to help teachers, school administrators and parents prepare for a transition to new statewide assessments in English language arts and mathematics. The site will be an important source of information during this transition and will be updated regularly with information and resources. Currently, you’ll find overview information about why Iowa is switching to a new state assessment, answers to common questions, links to practice tests and a timeline for professional learning. The Department is also offering talking points that you may find helpful if questions arise within your communities.

New Web Resource Offers Background on Smarter Balanced Assessments for Iowa

The Iowa Department of Education has developed a new webpage to help teachers, school administrators and parents prepare for a transition to new statewide assessments in English language arts and mathematics. The site will be an important source of information during this transition and will be updated regularly with information and resources. Currently, you’ll find overview information about why Iowa is switching to a new state assessment, answers to common questions, links to practice tests and a timeline for professional learning. The Department is also offering talking points that you may find helpful if questions arise within your communities.

Smarter Balanced Assessments Implementation Put On Hold

In an email to superintendents this week, Ryan Wise, Director of the Iowa Department of Education, said that the administrative rules proposed by the State Board of Education (IAC 281.12) to implement the Smarter Balanced Assessments beginning in 2017 were put on hold this past Friday, when the proposed rules came up for a second review before the Legislature’s Administrative Rules Review Committee. These reviews are a required part of administrative rules adoption.

After raising questions about the State Board’s legal authority to adopt a state accountability assessment, the committee voted unanimously in favor of a session delay on the proposed rules. A session delay means that the effective date of the rules implementing the Smarter Balanced Assessments will be delayed until the end of the 2016 legislative session, unless legislators take action on assessment during the session.

Wise noted that putting in place a state assessment that accurately measures how students are progressing toward state standards is a critical part of the work to prepare Iowa students for success in college and in the workforce. And according to Iowa Code, a new assessment must be in place in schools by the 2016-17 school year.

State Board of Education Acts on SBAC Rules

The State Board of Education voted unanimously to adopt administrative rules (IAC 281.12) that implement the Smarter Balanced Assessments as Iowa’s state accountability assessments beginning in May 2017. It’s important to note that the rules are subject to review by the Legislature’s Administrative Rules Review Committee before they can take effect.

The Board filed notice of intended action to amend the administrative rule in September. The proposed rules were then published in the Administrative Rules Bulletin in October and a process of public input concluded in early November. The next step is a second review by the Administrative Rules Review Committee on a date that has not yet been determined.

To help navigate the process and the rules, please read the FAQ and Talking Points provided by the Department.

For more information, contact David Tilly, Deputy Director, Iowa Department of Education, at (515) 281-3333.