Classroom-Based Assessment (CBA) Cooperative

At the request of regional districts, NWESD’s CBA was formed in the spring of 2004 with the goal of developing quality state test-like items and assessments (CBAs) in math and reading for teachers to use in their classrooms.

Developed using state specifications, each item is piloted and then edited several times before going through a rigid review by a Fairness and Bias committee.  Teachers from CBA Cooperative districts are encouraged to participate in professional development focusing on the importance and use of formative assessments to gather learner data and then offer targeted instruction and learning. These professional development opportunities are provided throughout the school year in both reading and math.
 

In this section, you can learn more about:

• Math Assessments
• Reading Assessments
• The Data Tool
• Sample CBA Math Tasks
   

Math Assessments

The CBA has created over 330 grade-level multiple choice, completion, short-answer and extended response items for use in classrooms in grades K through 8 and Algebra 1. Multiple-choice items have informative distracters; short-answer and extended response items are accompanied by scoring guides and annotated anchors.

Additionally, the Cooperative used 2008 state test specifications to develop fall and spring assessments targeting critical specific math skills for grades 3 through 8. Because the same skills are targeted for both the fall and spring assessment within each grade level, it is possible to track student learning over a school year.

As classroom-based assessments, these math items and assessments are intended to be:

• Either formative or summative assessments.
• Primarily supportive of classroom instruction.

Reading Assessments

The CBA Cooperative used the state test and item specifications to develop 34 grade-level reading assessments for use in the classroom at grades 2 through 10. In addition, the Cooperative has developed 12 “mini-assessments” targeting critical specific reading skills at grades 5 through 8. Recently the Cooperative added 6 functional text "mini-assessments" for use in grades 3 through 8.

Each of the original 34 reading assessments at these grade levels include:

• One or more literary and/or informational passages
• A student packet with multiple-choice, short-answer, and completion questions using question stems provided by OSPI
• A teachers’ guide with sample responses and suggested scoring
• A summary grid that reports the scope of the assessment (number of points, targets, types of questions, etc.)
• Annotated student sample responses
• Unscored student sample responses for some assessments.

The Data Tool

Assessments alone are not enough to spark changes in student learning; it is the analysis of assessment results both by teachers and students which holds the most potential to ignite improvement. With this in mind, NWESD’s CBA Cooperative created a tool to assist in this analysis.

The CBA Data Tool scores the completed student assessments for both math and reading. Teachers are able to quickly view areas in need of improvement based on the scores of each assessment. The data tool allows a teacher to view reports by student or by an entire class to determine what method of follow-up instruction is needed. It specifies which of the assessed reading targets or math performance expectations has been met and which needs more attention.

For more information about the Classroom-Based Assessment Cooperative, contact the Assistant Superintendent for Teaching and Learning.  The contact information is below.