The essential standards for writing should guide instructional responses by focusing on the key learning targets for each grade level. These standards emphasize the skills students need to develop, such as planning, drafting, revising, and editing their writing. However, the SBAC rubrics provide a scoring guide that helps evaluate the writing based on specific criteria like organization, evidence, and language use.

When using the SBAC rubrics, it’s important to consider the grade span and the learning targets specific to your grade level. While the rubrics offer a framework for scoring, teachers should align their assessments with the essential standards to ensure instruction targets the developmental needs of students at each stage in their writing progress. This dual approach ensures that scoring reflects both standardized expectations and the instructional goals of the grade level.