The Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium is a group of U.S. states that collaborates to create standardized assessments for students in grades 3-8 and high school. These assessments are designed to measure student progress in subjects like English Language Arts and Mathematics, aligning with the Common Core State Standards. The assessments include a variety of question types, such as multiple-choice and performance tasks, to evaluate critical thinking and problem-solving skills. The results help educators identify areas where students excel or need improvement, guiding instruction and supporting student learning across participating states.