Governance Structure

Smarter Balanced is led by its members. The consortium operates on a transparent, consensus-based governance structure. Read more about our Governing Board Procedures.

Executive Committee

Each state appoints K-12 and higher education leads to coordinate with the Consortium. An elected Executive Committee composed of member representatives provides day-to-day oversight and refers key matters to the full membership.

The Smarter Balanced Executive Committee oversees the ongoing development and management of the assessment system and the Consortium’s finances. The Executive Committee is comprised of seven positions: Chair, Chair-Elect, Past-Chair, two At-Large K-12 positions, one Higher Education positions, and one Post-Secondary Careers position. Executive Committee members and chairs are elected by the Governing members.

Advisory Committees

Smarter Balanced has established several advisory committees to inform the ongoing development and operation of the assessment system. These teams of national experts work to ensure the assessments accurately measure student progress and growth toward college and career readiness.

The Technical Advisory Committee

The Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) provides guidance on technical assessment matters pertaining to validity and reliability, accuracy, and fairness. Members of the TAC are highly regarded national experts who have been widely published in their fields. Areas of expertise include: assessment design; computer adaptive testing (CAT); assessment accommodations; uses of tests; and English language arts/literacy and math.

English Language Learners Advisory Committee

The English Language Learners Advisory Committee is comprised of national experts in ELL assessment, bilingual education, and language acquisition. This committee will provide feedback to Smarter Balanced staff, work groups, and contractors to ensure that the assessments provide valid, reliable, and fair measures of achievement and growth for English learners.

Students with Disabilities Advisory Committee

The Students with Disabilities Advisory Committee is comprised of national experts in learning disabilities, assistive technology, and accessibility and accommodations policy. This committee will provide feedback to Smarter Balanced staff, work groups, and contractors to ensure that the assessments provide valid, reliable, and fair measures of achievement and growth for students with disabilities.

Performance and Practice Committee

The Performance and Practice Committee is comprised of approximately 20 educators from Smarter Balanced member states who were nominated by state chiefs. The committee also includes experts in educational measurement, English learners, and students with disabilities. The goals of the committee are to:

  • Provide recommendations for enhancements to the Smarter Balanced Assessment System
  • Serve as a communication and information resource for the Consortium