Audit Finds Smarter Balanced Test May Not Be Smarter

One week after the Oregon Department of Education released results of the Smarter Balanced exams showing scores were flat and demonstrated racial and income disparities, more bad news - this time from the Secretary of State's office.

A newly completed audit questions whether the tests are the best use of time and resources for school districts across the state.

"Our auditors conducted wide-reaching surveys of parents and educators, visited six public schools, and interviewed over 100 people to learn about the challenges and concerns over the Smarter Balanced tests," Secretary of State Jeanne Atkins said.

"it is apparent that there is not a clear understanding about the test’s purpose and that administering the test is presenting challenges to some schools."

The Smarter Balanced tests are tied to the Common Core standards

The audit reached several conclusions:

There is not clear agreement on the test's purpose;

The results of the test are not used consistently;

Many educators reported test administration challenges; and

Some student populations may experience more negative impacts than others.

The audit found that educators and parents are concerned that the focus of the tests is what students know at the end of the year and don't have as great a value to instruction. Auditors heard that a more comprehensive assessment system could be useful.

"Moving ahead, we need to consider the assessment system as a whole," Atkins said. "The department has made efforts to improve test administration but an ongoing commitment is needed."

The tests have met widespread opposition in the state, The United States Department of Education says 95 percent of students need to take the test - a standard that many districts, including Portland and Lake Oswego, fell short of.

Auditors also heard from teachers that it would be better if they received results earlier.

"Educators told us that it would be easier to use results if they received them sooner," the audit said. "Many reported that additional guidance on how to use results would be helpful. Some also reported that a more comprehensive assessment system would be useful."

The auditors made several recommendations, most importantly that the Department of Education "improve communication, foster consistent use of results and continue its commitment to improve test administration."

In response to the audit, Salem Noor, the state's deputy superintendent of instruction, said that the department of education agrees with most of the findings and the department will work to take corrective action.

"We will establish additional communication channels to provide information and resources in the most timely and effective manner possible," Noor wrote.

"In addition, we will conduct an internal review of the technical documentation that explains how the tests are organized, aligned to academic content standards, administered, scored, and reported, to ensure consistency and accessibility of critical information to schools and educators."

Image via Oregon Secretary of State's Office