Subject Matter Experts - ELA

Scope of Work: The purpose of this engagement is to create assessment items aligned to the state standards and state assessment test across 7 states. The SME will review content alignment and ensure the quality and accuracy for English Language Arts (ELA).

Assessments The project involves developing assessment questions in the style according to the state test blueprints for ELA grades 3-8 and English I. The course will have passages and questions, for each of the 7 seven states and across 7 grade levels:

The project involves AI-generated and SME-authored assessment items, including any passages as needed. Furthermore, the assessment items will need to have this distribution of Depth of Knowledge levels

SME Responsibilities The subject matter expert (SME) will collaborate with the Learning Design team to generate and review the AI-generated multiple-choice and non-multiple-choice questions developed for each grade level and state. The SME will evaluate the questions for accuracy, pedagogical relevance and rigor, and alignment to standards and/or Unpacked Standards Measurable Objectives (USMOs). The SME will review each question, including any attached passage, for the following: content accuracy and clarity, identifying any errors, ambiguities, or language or phrasing that is not grade-appropriate; pedagogical relevance, identifying and ensuring that the question assesses the intended skill in the most effective and clear way for the specific standard; rigor of assessment that aligns with testing best practices, ensuring that the question aligns accurately with the DOK level needed, has clear answers and distractors that are plausible, and is grade-appropriate in complexity, vocabulary, and cognitive requirement; adherence to the client writing guidelines for assessment items and passages; and alignment to the Common Core standards for ELA specific to the grade and the USMOs, identifying any misalignment to be corrected.

The SME will collaborate closely with the Learning Design team to ensure any feedback provided is correctly applied to the questions generated, validating the items and providing a sign off on each item’s content accuracy, relevance, rigor, and standards and/or objective alignment. The SME will also author items, including sources or creating passages as necessary, for each test question as needed, ensuring that each item: aligns with the specified ELA standard; is original (If any AI tool is used, the SME needs to inform); meets the rigor expected according to the DOK level identified for the item; adheres to pedagogical best practices; and aligns with the client guidelines.

Qualifications Required Proven expertise as a Subject Matter Expert, specifically in

ELA instruction

(Grade 3-8 and HS English I content level). Demonstrated experience in authoring high-quality, rigorous assessment items for state or standardized testing. Strong understanding of

Depth of Knowledge (DOK) levels

and experience authoring questions at

DOK Level 2 and DOK Level 3 . Strong understanding of the science of reading research and how it impacts grades 3+. Familiarity with various question types, including multiple-choice, multiple-select, and short-answer, fill the blanks, matching list, choice matrix, etc . High accuracy and turnaround time, as this is a very short project.