The Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium ("Smarter Balanced") is a state-led consortium working to develop next-generation assessments that accurately measure student progress toward college and career readiness. Smarter Balanced is one of two multistate consortia awarded funding from the U.S. Department of Education in 2010 to develop an assessment system aligned to the Common Core State Standards (CCSS) by the 2014-2015 school year. School districts in California will use the Smarter Balanced assessment (instead of the STAR) to measure student progress beginning in the 2014-2015 school year.