Wednesday, March 14, 2012

Pearson (NYSE: PSO) SBAC IT Readiness Tool Rollout - Spring 2012 - Assessment Information (CA Dept of Education)

SBAC IT Readiness Tool Rollout - Spring 2012 - Assessment Information (CA Dept of Education):


SBAC IT Readiness Tool Rollout - Spring 2012

Rollout schedule for SMARTER Balanced Assessment Consortium's (SBAC) Information Technology (IT) Readiness Tool for the Spring 2012 data collection.
The IT Readiness Tool assesses each school's current capacity and compares them to the technology that is expected to be required for new SMARTER Balanced Assessment Consortium assessments.
Technology Readiness Data Collection Schedule - Spring 2012
To ensure that district and school staff time is used effectively, SBAC and California have implemented a phased rollout of the Technology Readiness Tool. To make the first data collection window effort as easy as possible, CDE will be working with pilot districts in each of the eleven California service regions to test the system in order to provide CDE feedback and suggestions for improving the local educational agencies (LEAs) experience with the tool. The pilot districts will test the system from March 20, 2012 through April 9, 2012. The statewide data collection window will open April 16, 2012 and end June 14, 2012. Prior to April 16, CDE will host a statewide Technology Readiness Webinar that will be archived and available on the CDE Web site SBAC page. Please note that this Webinar and additional training modules will replace the March 12 Technology Readiness Tool training Module noted in previous updates.
The following revised timeline will allow CDE to provide better support to our districts and schools as they begin the data collection and submission process:
  • March 20 – April 9, Pilot Districts Test Data Collection: To facilitate the success of the data collection window, CDE will work with the pilot districts to test the system in order to provide feedback and suggestions for improving the experience with the tool.
  • April 9 – 16, Enhance Communications for the Technology Readiness Tool Survey: CDE will consider issues and challenges, solidify the state-specific frequently asked questions (FAQs), and help enhance Consortium FAQs; CDE will host a statewide Technology Readiness Webinar that will be archived.
  • April 16 – June 14, Begin Statewide LEAs Data Collection: Use both the lessons learned from the early implementors and the enhanced FAQs to support California’s statewide rollout.
Technology Readiness Reporting - Spring 2012
SBAC determined baseline data from districts and schools was needed to help determine the minimum requirements for technology. Therefore, the first data collection window will be a technology readiness inventory. Data collection summaries will be available. These reports will help improve data quality and to inform the consortia regarding which types of hardware and operating systems are currently being used in schools.
About Smarter Balanced
The Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium brings together states to create a common, innovative assessment system for Mathematics and English Language Arts that is aligned with the Common Core State Standards and helps prepare students for college and careers. The Consortium involves educators, researchers, policymakers, and community groups in a transparent and consensus-driven process to help all students thrive in a knowledge-driven global economy. The Consortium’s projects are funded through a four-year, $175 million grant from the U.S. Department of Education, comprising 99 percent of activity resources, with the remaining support provided through generous contributions of charitable foundations. Membership is open to any interested U.S. state. For more information, please visit www.smarterbalanced.org.

About PARCC
PARCC is an alliance of states working together to develop common assessments serving nearly 25 million students. PARCC’s work is funded through a four-year, $185 million dollar grant from the U.S. Department of Education. Partners include about 200 higher education institutions and systems representing hundreds of campuses across the country that will help develop the high school component of the new assessment and then put it to good use as an indicator of student readiness. PARCC is led by its member states and managed by Achieve, a nonprofit group with a 15-year track record of working with states to improve student achievement by aligning K-12 education policies with the expectations of employers and the postsecondary community. PARCC’s ultimate goal is to make sure all students graduate from high school college- and career-ready. For more information, visitwww.parcconline.org.

About Pearson
Pearson, the world’s leading learning company, has global reach and market-leading businesses in education, business information and consumer publishing (NYSE: PSO). For more information about the Assessment & Information group of Pearson, visit www.pearsonassessments.com.


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Questions:  SBAC Technology Readiness Coordinator | sbac-itreadiness@cde.ca.
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