Employee Resources & Training

A new website from Smarter Balanced, is available for preview to all California local educational agency (LEA) staff. Tools for Teachers is replacing the Digital Library as the formative assessment component of the Smarter Balanced assessment system. It is an online collection of resources that supports K–12 teachers in their use of the formative assessment process to adjust teaching for improving student learning. The grand opening of Tools for Teachers is scheduled for September 30, 2020.All LEA staff members who had a Digital Library account on the date it was decommissioned have automatic access to Tools for Teachers. Self-registration is available for new users with an LEA email address. Tools for Teachers can be accessed by selecting the previous link or by selecting the “Tools for Teachers” button on the CAASPP website or ELPAC website.

Smarter Content Explorer

Offering new features based on educator feedback, this user-friendly web tool combines the information provided in the Smarter Balanced Content and Item Specifications—key resources used in test and item development—into an easy-to-use search interface. Users can access customized content generated by a quick search by subject, grade, and target or standard.

Video demonstration (5-minute)

Provides an overview of the features found throughout the web tool. Check out these updates today and share with your colleagues!