PARCC vs. SBAC Test

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Have you ever wondered about the difference between the PARCC vs. SBAC test? If so, you’re a parent of a child who will be taking the Common Core test sometime soon! The Common Core State Standards were originally intended to produce a uniform test that would be given across all 50 states. The idea was to replace the patchwork of state tests with a single, unified system.

Of course, as with many things, the Common Core quickly became more complicated and fragmented. A number of states joined the so-called PARCC Consortium, which gives one version of the Common Core test. Another group of states joined the SBAC, or Smarter Balanced, Consortium, which gives a different flavor of test. And a third group of states decided to decline the opportunity to join the Common Core initiative altogether, and instead stick with their own, unique state tests. We’ve heard from a number of parents wondering if there’s really a difference between the PARCC vs. SBAAC test.

The tests share many similarities, so if you’ve been using a one-size fits all Common Core solution, don’t panic. One of the biggest differences is that the SBAC adapts questions based on a student’s previous responses. This stands in contrast to the PARCC’s more traditional approach of presenting the same questions regardless of the student’s performance up to that point.

If you’re wondering if you’re in a PARCC vs. SBAC test state, don’t fear: we’ve listed the states in each consortium below. Don’t look now, but there’s also a third consortium emerging: the American Institutes for Research, or AIR Consortium. We’ve listed the three states that appear to be on track for that consortium as well. (Note there is some overlap as some states belong to more than one consortium.)

SBAC Consortium States:

Alabama
California
Colorado
Connecticut
Delaware
Hawaii
Idaho
Iowa
Kansas
Kentucky
Maine
Michigan
Montana
Nevada
New Hampshire
North Carolina
North Dakota
Ohio
Oregon
Pennsylvania
South Dakota
Utah
Vermont
Washington
West Virginia
Wisconsin
Wyoming

PARCC Consortium States:

Alabama
Arkansas
Colorado
District of Columbia
Florida
Georgia
Illinois
Indiana
Kentucky
Louisiana
Maryland
Massachusetts
Mississippi
New Jersey
New Mexico
New York
North Dakota
Ohio
Oklahoma
Pennsylvania
Rhode Island
Tennessee

AIR Consortium States:

Florida
Utah
Arizona

For more information on the PARCC vs. SBAC test, go to http://www.hmhco.com/educators/education-topics/by-topic/common-core/assessment-101-PARCC-and-SBAC