In schools across the country, teachers are implementing new academic standards that provide consistent guidelines in English and math at each grade level and help prepare students to graduate high school ready for college and the workplace. These new benchmarks challenge students to develop a deeper understanding of subject matter, learn how to think critically, and apply what they are learning to the real world.
To help parents, teachers, and school leaders know whether students are on the path to success, states joined together to develop improved tests of student achievement. The Smarter Balanced assessments will replace existing tests in English and math for grades 3-8 and high school in the 2014-15 school year. Administered online, these new assessments will adapt to each student's ability, giving teachers and parents better information to help students succeed.
http://www.smarterbalanced.org