SMART Act

To amend the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to award grants to States to improve delivery of high-quality assessments, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Support Making Assessments Reliable and Timely Act SMART Act 2. Accountability Subpart 1 of part A of title VI of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 ( 20 U.S.C. 7301 et seq. 6111. Grants to improve delivery of high-quality assessments and for related activities (a) In general From the amount reserved under section 6114(b)(5) and subject to subparagraphs (A) and (B) of such section, the Secretary shall make grants by allocating funds in accordance with subsection (b) of this section to States to enable the States to— (1) develop, administer, and further align State assessments required by section 1111(b)(3) to State content standards required by section 1111(b)(1); (2) ensure the provision of appropriate accommodations as required by section 1111(b)(3)(C)(ix) to students with limited English proficiency and students with disabilities to improve the rates of inclusion in State assessments of such students; (3) develop State assessment systems aligned to the State’s content standards that support systems of continuous improvement; (4) support local educational agencies in identifying uses of assessment data, which may include appropriate use of student assessment data as one of multiple measures of student learning for teacher and school leader performance and evaluation; and (5) carry out the activities described in the report required under subsection (c). (b) Allocation of funds From the amount reserved under section 6114(b)(5), each State shall receive an allocation for each fiscal year in an amount equal to— (1) $4,000,000; and (2) with respect to any amounts remaining after the allocation is made under paragraph (1), an amount that bears the same relationship to such total remaining amounts as the number of students ages 5 through 17 in the State (as determined by the Secretary on the basis of the most recent satisfactory data) bears to the total number of such students in all States. (c) State report Not later than 6 months after a State receives a grant under this section, the State shall, in consultation with education stakeholders, prepare and make publically available a report, that explains how the State has used, or will use, the grant to— (1) improve the quality and use of the State’s assessment system, including assessments not required by section 1111(b)(3), and for related activities; (2) ensure that all summative assessments that are used for accountability purposes are valid and reliable, and consistent with relevant, nationally recognized professional and technical standards; and (3) improve the use of State assessment data by school leaders, educators, and parents, and for related activities, such as— (A) disseminating the assessment data in an accessible and understandable format for educators, parents, and families; (B) decreasing time between administering such State assessments and releasing assessment data; (C) supporting the dissemination of promising practices from local educational agencies that have successfully used assessment data to improve individual student and overall school performance; (D) identifying appropriate uses of assessment data, which may include appropriate use of student assessment data as one of multiple measures of student learning for teacher and school leader performance and evaluation; and (E) providing professional development on assessment and data literacy to teachers and school leaders, including on the development and effective use of formative and classroom-based assessments aligned with State content standards. 6112. Grants for assessment system alignment, quality, and use (a) In general From the amount reserved under section 6114(b)(3), the Secretary shall make grants to States to— (1) in the case of a grant awarded under this section to a State for the first time— (A) carry out audits of State assessment systems and ensure that local educational agencies carry out audits of local assessments under subsection (e)(1); (B) prepare and carry out the State plan under subsection (e)(6); and (C) award subgrants under subsection (f); and (2) in the case of a grant awarded under this section to a State that has previously received a grant under this section— (A) carry out the State plan under subsection (e)(6); and (B) award subgrants under subsection (f). (b) Minimum amount Each State with an approved application shall receive a grant amount of not less than $2,000,000. (c) Reallocation If a State chooses not to apply to receive a grant under this subsection, or if such State’s application under subsection (d) is disapproved by the Secretary, the Secretary shall reallocate such grant amount to other States with approved applications. (d) Application A State desiring to receive a grant under this section shall submit an application to the Secretary at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary may require. (e) Audits of State assessment systems and local assessments (1) Audit requirements Not later than 1 year after a State receives a grant under this section for the first time, the State shall— (A) conduct an audit of the State assessment system; (B) ensure that each local educational agency under the State’s jurisdiction and receiving funds under this Act— (i) conducts an audit of each local assessment administered by the local educational agency; and (ii) submits the results of such audit to the State; and (C) report the results of each State and local educational agency audit conducted under subparagraphs (A) and (B)— (i) in a publicly available format, such as a widely accessible online platform; and (ii) with appropriate accessibility provisions for individuals with disabilities and individuals with limited English proficiency. (2) Resources for local educational agencies In carrying out paragraph (1)(B), each State shall develop and provide local educational agencies with resources, such as guidelines and protocols, to assist the agencies in conducting and reporting the results of the audit required under such paragraph (1)(B). (3) State assessment system description An audit of a State assessment system conducted under paragraph (1) shall include a description of each State assessment carried out in the State, including— (A) the grade and subject matter assessed; (B) whether the assessment is required under section 1111(b)(3); (C) the annual cost to the State educational agency involved in developing, purchasing, administering, and scoring the assessment; (D) the purpose for which the assessment was designed and the purpose for which the assessment is used, including assessments designed to contribute to systems of continuous improvement of teaching and learning; (E) the time for disseminating assessment results; (F) a description of how the assessment is aligned with the State’s content standards; (G) a description of any State law or regulation that established the requirement for the assessment; (H) the schedule and calendar for all State assessments given; and (I) a description of the State’s policies for inclusion of students with limited English proficiency and students with disabilities. (4) Local assessment description An audit of a local assessment conducted under paragraph (1) shall include a description of the local assessment carried out by the local educational agency, including— (A) the descriptions listed in subparagraphs (A), (D), and (E) of paragraph (3); (B) the annual cost to the local educational agency of developing, purchasing, administering, and scoring the assessment; (C) the extent to which the assessment is aligned to the State’s content standards; (D) a description of any State or local law or regulation that establishes the requirement for the assessment; and (E) in the case of a summative assessment that is used for accountability purposes, whether the assessment is valid and reliable and consistent with nationally recognized professional and technical standards. (5) Stakeholder feedback Each audit of a State assessment system or local assessment system conducted under subparagraph (A) or (B) of paragraph (1) shall include feedback on such system from education stakeholders, which shall cover information such as— (A) how educators and administrators use assessment data to improve and differentiate instruction; (B) the timing of release of assessment data; (C) the extent to which assessment data is presented in an accessible and understandable format for educators, parents, students, if appropriate, and the community; (D) the opportunities, resources, and training educators and administrators are given to review assessment results and make effective use of assessment data; (E) the distribution of technological resources and personnel necessary to administer assessments; (F) the amount of time educators spend on test preparation; (G) the assessments that administrators, educators, parents, and students, if appropriate, do and do not find useful; (H) the amount of time students spend taking the assessments; and (I) other information as appropriate. (6) State plan on audit findings (A) Preparing the State plan Not later than 6 months after a State conducts an audit under paragraph (1) and based on the results of such audit, the State shall, in coordination with the local educational agencies under the jurisdiction of the State, prepare and submit to the Secretary, a plan to improve and streamline State assessment systems and local assessment systems, including through activities such as— (i) eliminating any assessments that are not required by section 1111(b)(3) (such as by buying out the remainder of procurement contracts with assessment developers) and that— (I) are low-quality; (II) not aligned to the State’s content standards; (III) in the case of summative assessments used for accountability purposes, are not valid or reliable and are inconsistent with nationally recognized professional and technical standards; (IV) do not contribute to systems of continuous improvement for teaching and learning; or (V) are redundant; (ii) supporting the dissemination of promising practices from local educational agencies or other States that have successfully improved assessment quality and efficiency to improve teaching and learning; (iii) supporting local educational agencies or consortia of local educational agencies to carry out efforts to streamline local assessment systems and implementing a regular process of review and evaluation of assessment use in local educational agencies; (iv) supporting appropriate uses of assessment data, which may include appropriate use of student assessment data as one of multiple measures of student learning for teacher and school leader performance and evaluation; and (v) providing professional development to teachers and school leaders on selecting and implementing formative assessments, designing classroom-based assessments, and assessment and data literacy. (B) Carry out the State plan A State shall carry out a State plan as soon as practicable after the State prepares such State plan under subparagraph (A) and during each grant period of a grant described in subsection (a)(2) that is awarded to the State. (f) Subgrants to local educational agencies (1) In general From the amount awarded to a State under this section, the State shall reserve not less than 20 percent of funds to make subgrants to local educational agencies in the State, or a consortium of such local educational agencies, based on demonstrated need in the agency’s or consortium’s application to improve assessment quality, use, and alignment with the State’s content standards. (2) Local educational agency application Each local educational agency, or consortium of local educational agencies, seeking a subgrant under this subsection shall submit an application to the State at such time, in such manner, and describing that agency’s or consortium’s needs to improve assessment quality, use, and alignment (as described in paragraph (1)), and such other information as determined by the State. (3) Use of funds A subgrant awarded under this subsection to a local educational agency or consortium of such agencies may be used to— (A) conduct an audit of local assessments under subsection (e)(1)(B); (B) eliminate any assessments identified for elimination by such audit, such as by buying out the remainder of procurement contracts with assessment developers; (C) disseminate the promising practices described in subsection (e)(6)(B); (D) improve the capacity of school leaders and educators to disseminate assessment data in an accessible and understandable format for parents and families, including for individuals with disabilities or individuals with limited English proficiency; (E) support the appropriate use of assessment data, which may include appropriate use of student assessment data as one of multiple measures of student learning for teacher and school leader performance and evaluation; (F) provide professional development to, and time for teacher collaboration on designing classroom-based assessments and improving assessments and data literacy for, teachers and school leaders, which may include providing additional planning time to analyze student and team data and designing instruction based on data analysis; (G) improve assessment delivery systems and schedules, including by increasing access to technology and exam proctors, where appropriate; (H) hire instructional coaches, or promoting educators who may receive increased compensation to serve as instructional coaches, to support educators to develop classroom-based assessments, interpret assessment data, and design instruction; and (I) provide for appropriate assessment accommodations to maximize inclusion of students with disabilities and students with limited English proficiency, including by providing the assessments described in section 1111(b)(6). 6113. National activities From the amount reserved under section 6114(b)(4), the Secretary shall provide technical assistance to States to improve State understanding of existing flexibility in design and implementation of high-quality, streamlined State assessment systems to meet the requirements of section 1111(b)(3), including by— (1) informing States of innovative designs in State assessment systems that meet the requirements of section 1111(b)(3); (2) providing technical assistance to States on including appropriate assessment design and accommodation strategies that meet the requirements of section 1111(b)(3) and provide for inclusion of all students in State assessments; (3) providing technical assistance to States conducting audits of State assessment systems under section 6112(e), including by providing resources such as templates and guidelines for data collection and for making audit results publicly available; (4) conducting Departmental review of existing regulation and guidance for any language that unnecessarily confuses or inhibits innovation and flexibility in assessment design and implementation, and making revisions where needed, consistent with the requirements of section 1111(b)(3); (5) collecting information on State development of new and innovative assessment systems that meet the requirements of section 1111(b)(3); and (6) reporting on such new and innovative assessment systems to the Committee on Education and the Workforce of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions of the Senate. 6114. Funding (a) Authorization of appropriations (1) National assessment of educational progress For the purpose of administering the State assessments under the National Assessment of Educational Progress, there are authorized to be appropriated $72,000,000 for fiscal year 2016, and such sums as may be necessary for each of the 5 succeeding fiscal years. (2) State assessments and related activities For the purpose of carrying out this subpart, there are authorized to be appropriated $600,000,000 for fiscal year 2016, and such sums as may be necessary for each of the 5 succeeding fiscal years. (b) Reservation of appropriated funds From amounts made available for each fiscal year under subsection (a)(2), the Secretary shall— (1) reserve one-half of 1 percent for the Bureau of Indian Affairs; (2) reserve one-half of 1 percent for the outlying areas; (3) reserve 20 percent to carry out section 6112; (4) reserve 3 percent to carry out section 6113; and (5) reserve the remainder (after reserving funds under paragraphs (1) through (4)) to carry out section 6111, except that— (A) for any fiscal year for which the funds appropriated under subsection (a)(2) of this section are equal to or greater than $450,000,000, each State that receives a grant under section 6111 shall use the grant to carry out paragraphs (1) through (5) of section 6111(a); and (B) for any fiscal year for which the funds appropriated under subsection (a)(2) of this section are less than $450,000,000, each State that receives a grant under section 6111 shall only be required to use the grant to carry out paragraphs (1) through (3) of section 6111(a). 6115. Definitions In this subpart: (1) Local assessment The term local assessment (2) State The term State .

Summary: Support Making Assessments Reliable and Timely Act or the SMART Act Amends subpart 1 (Accountability) of part A of title VI of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to revise the program allotting grants to states to develop and administer state academic content and achievement standards and assessments of student progress toward those standards. Requires each state to use such grant to: develop and administer such assessments and further align them with the state's academic content standards, ensure that students with limited English proficiency and disabled students are provided with appropriate accommodations to improve their inclusion in the assessments, develop state assessment systems aligned to content standards that support systems of continuous improvement, support local educational agencies (LEAs) in identifying uses of assessment data, and carry out certain other activities to improve the quality and use of state assessments. Revises the program awarding competitive grants to states to enhance assessment instruments. Requires each grantee that has not yet received a grant under such program to use the grant to: carry out audits of the state assessment system and ensure that LEAs carry out audits of local assessments; prepare and carry out a state plan, in coordination with LEAs, to improve and streamline state and local assessment systems; and award subgrants to LEAs to improve the quality and use of local assessments and their alignment with state academic content standards. Requires a state that has previously received such a grant to use a new grant to: carry out a state plan, in coordination with LEAs, to improve and streamline state and local assessment systems; and award subgrants to LEAs to improve the quality and use of local assessments and their alignment with state academic content standards. Directs the Secretary to provide technical assistance to states to improve their understanding of existing flexibility in the design and implementation of high-quality, streamlined state assessment systems to measure student progress toward state academic achievement standards. Reauthorizes appropriations for the National Assessment of Educational Progress and the revised subpart 1 grant programs.