Center for Standards, Assessment, and Accountability

Grade Level: Elementary School (K-5)

Transforming Students’ Lives with Social and Emotional Learning

Social and emotional learning (SEL) is the process of integrating thinking, feeling, and behaving in order to become aware of the self and of others, make responsible decisions, and manage one’s own behaviors and those of others. This resource describes the objectives and theoretical underpinnings of SEL, highlights research findings demonstrating the evidence supporting SEL […]

Item Writing Guides and Item Exemplars (ELA & Math)

CSAI has developed two resources to support educators interested in deepening their knowledge of assessment design and assessment literacy. These two resources, specific to English Language Arts (ELA) and Mathematics, are designed to enhance educators’ ability to recognize and create high-quality assessment items. Because the content contained in the resources sequentially build, educators using the guides are strongly advised to read from beginning to end. The first part […]

Supporting Students in Close Reading

This resource guides teachers in the process of instructional planning for close reading with students. It is one in a series produced by the Center for Standards and Assessment Implementation (CSAI). The series’ goal is to assist teachers and those who support teachers to plan teaching and learning for diverse learners from College and Career […]

Assessing English Learners Under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, as Amended by the Every Student Succeeds Act

The Elementary and Secondary Education Act, as amended by the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), includes new provisions that are designed to support ELs’ participation in statewide testing. To facilitate testing of ELs and to support their testing participation, ESSA includes stipulations for states to administer content assessments in languages other than English. ESSA also […]

ESSA Requirements Related to English Learners

CSAI presented at the Bureau of Indian Education (BIE) Standards, Assessments, and Accountability System Negotiated Rulemaking Committee meeting on state requirements related to English Learners under the Every Student Succeeds Act. In the presentation, CSAI shared federal policy requirements, state implementation examples, and considerations for how the Committee may approach their own decision-making. The meeting […]

Fundamentals of Learning (FOL)

This publication provides a framework, the Fundamentals of Learning (FOL), to assist teachers in transitioning to the classroom practices called for in the College- and Career-Ready Standards (CCRS). The content of this resource is drawn from leading theory and research about learning and assessment and from an examination of the Common Core State Standards. Since […]