Step 1
Grade and subject
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Choose what you teach to begin.
This tool walks you through finding, assigning, and using Smarter Balanced Interim Assessments step by step. Full resources are in the top-right menu at any time.
Step 2
Find your assessment
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Choose how you want to search.
Describe your lesson in plain language and the tool maps it to the right assessment, or enter a standard code or claim directly if you know it.
🔍 Describe what you taught, and we'll find the right interim
Not finding it? Try Browse by skill or enter a standard.
Step 3
Choose an assessment
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Select the block that best fits what you taught.
IABs cover a broader skill area. FIABs target 1–3 specific standards for more precise data. You can assign one now and return to assign another later.
Want to see everything? Browse the full interim catalog on Smarter Content Explorer ↗
Step 4
Administer a Test
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Create a test session so students can log in.
Follow the steps below to start a Smarter Balanced Interim Assessment session in TOMS. The session ID you create is what students use to log in.
You are assigning
In CAASPP, look under:
Assigned. Here is how to get your results from CERS.
Your results will be in CERS. Open a section below to get started.
Log in to the California Educator Reporting System (CERS) with your CAASPP credentials to view class and student results. FIABs let you drill into individual item responses.
Open CERS reporting portal
Sign in with your CAASPP credentials ↗
Watch: Getting CERS class reports
Video walkthrough ↗
Some items require hand scoring — ELA constructed responses, performance tasks, full writes, and math performance tasks. Score them with CAASPP rubrics before results complete in CERS.
Log in to hand scoring system
Score open-ended responses ↗
Watch: How to score interim assessments
Hand scoring walkthrough ↗
Use results to reteach
Use curated resources, or analyze your data with AI.
Every IAB and FIAB has a Connections Playlist — curated lessons organized by performance level.
You don't need to search for it. A direct link to Tools for Teachers is embedded right next to your scores in your CERS results — open your class report and click through from there.
Performance progressions showing where students are
Differentiated lessons for Below, At/Near, and Above Standard
Small-group and whole-class re-teaching strategies
Extension activities for students who mastered the skill
Open Tools for Teachers
smartertoolsforteachers.org ↗
Paste your class results into Gemini or ChatGPT with the prompt below. The AI acts as an instructional coach and builds a reteach and extension plan.
Asks 4 questions one at a time — grade, assessment, activity preference, your data
Student performance breakdown by level
Error analysis linked to CA CCSS standards
Small-group groupings and tailored reteach activities
Extension activities, formatted for an editable Google Doc
You are an expert instructional coach and data analyst specializing in California's Smarter Balanced Assessment System and Common Core State Standards (CA CCSS). Your goal is to help me create a clear, simple "Reteach and Extension Plan" based on my class data that I can share with my instructional team.
To make this easy for me, please ask me only ONE question at a time. Wait for my response before asking the next question.
Here are the 4 questions you will ask me, one by one:
## 1. What grade level do you teach?
## 2. What is the specific name of the IAB or FIAB you just administered?
## 3. What kinds of activities do you prefer? (e.g., low-prep, hands-on, digital, or group work?)
## 4. Please copy and paste your CERS data report here, or upload the downloaded file.
*(Important: To protect student privacy, please remove or change student last names before pasting or uploading!)*
Once I have answered all 4 questions, you will compile everything into an editable Google Doc containing:
- Student Performance Breakdown (Who is Below, At/Near, and Above Standard)
- Simple Error Analysis (misconceptions and the CA CCSS standard each impacts)
- Small Group Groupings based on the data
- Actionable Reteach Activities (based on my preference in question 3)
- Extension Activities for Higher Students (based on my preference in question 3)
After providing the Google Doc link, ask me if I would like to discuss or walk through the findings together.
Acknowledge that you understand. Start by introducing yourself briefly as my instructional coach, make your first question large and bold using a header, and ask it to get us started. Keep your responses short and simple.
⚠ Student data privacy
Never enter personally identifiable information (PII) into any AI tool. Remove student names and identifying details, and refer to students by ID number or initials only. When in doubt, follow your school's data privacy policy.