The Center for Assessment

Academic Growth: Recommendations for the Senate HELP Committee | Center for Assessment The Center responds to the Senate HELP Committee's request for information on academic growth models.

Here's our response to the Senate HELP committee's RFI on academic growth. ➡️ bit.ly/4bZ2BWE As the leader in student growth measures, we outline recommendations for measures that are technically sound, aligned to clear purposes, and communicated in ways that support accurate interpretation and use.

Implementing Balanced Assessment Systems | Center for Assessment A practical guidebook, webinar and slides for states and districts working to implement balanced assessment systems.

Did you miss our webinar on implementing balanced assessment systems? We’ve got you! Here’s a link to the video. bit.ly/4roYkjY%E2%A... experts help you spot common threats to balanced assessment systems and walk you through concrete steps you can take to bring your system into better balance.

2026 NCME Annual Meeting Call for Proposals - Submission Deadline NCME is excited to announce that the Call for Proposals for the 2026 Annual Meeting is now availabl

We are excited to announce that the proposal submission portal for the 2026 NCME Annual Meeting is now open!

Proposals will be accepted until 11:59 p.m. PDT on Friday, September 12, 2025.

Learn more: www.ncme.org/events/event...

#NCME2026

School Choice and Accountability: Building Better Information Systems | Center for Assessment As school choice expands, families need better information. Learn how accountability and reporting systems can support informed decisions and public transparency.

Public school choice is growing, and families need good information to help them make decisions. In a new blog, ➡️ bit.ly/3ZNwdPD, Laura Hamilton and Andrew McEachin describe the features of an accountability system that supports families’ choices.

What does it take to implement more balanced assessment systems?  (Webinar) | Center for Assessment States should continue to implement high-quality school accountability systems, even if federal oversight diminishes.

Not much time left to register for our Feb. 12 webinar! Assessment systems work best when they’re well balanced. But how do you get a well-balanced system? bit.ly/3O6TMA9 ⬅️ We’ll provide practical guidance for district and school leaders. Please join us!

Math Badging in High School: Reimagining Math Education | Center for Assessment What happens when high schools adopt math badging? Our multi-state study examines benefits, challenges and lessons for reimagining math education.

What happens when states or districts reimagine high school math education? Our study examines a multi-state math-badging initiative. ➡️ bit.ly/4rbF8X3 Doctoral student Mostafa Hanafy conducted the study and writes about it in a new blog.

What does it take to implement more balanced assessment systems?  (Webinar) | Center for Assessment States should continue to implement high-quality school accountability systems, even if federal oversight diminishes.

Have you registered for our Feb. 12 webinar yet? Join us for a great discussion! Register here ▶️ bit.ly/4a0zHCV

School Climate Surveys Part 2 | Center for Assessment Several key questions arise when school leaders decide to use a climate survey to learn about students’ experiences. We explore them and offer guidance.

So you’ve decided to use a school climate survey to get more insight into students’ experiences. Great! Now you face 4 key questions. bit.ly/4qaeHQf ⬅️ In her latest blog, Laura Hamilton outlines them and explores important considerations to help you answer them.

School Climate Surveys Part 1 | Center for Assessment Education leaders have a powerful, low-cost tool at their disposal to gain insight into students’ learning experiences: school climate surveys.

Education leaders who want to improve students’ learning experiences have a powerful, low-cost tool at their disposal: surveys of school and classroom climate. bit.ly/4riETZK%E2%A... In her new blog, Laura Hamilton explains why schools should measure school climate.

Does K-12 Testing Need a Tune-Up? An upcoming webinar and a new report offer practical advice on implementing “balanced assessment,” a research-based approach designed to improve testing in K-12 education.

An upcoming webinar and a new report offer practical advice on implementing “balanced assessment,” a research-based approach designed to improve testing in K-12 education. @nciea.bsky.social bit.ly/4bgGpqF

Reflecting on 2025 and Looking Ahead to 2026 | Center for Assessment 2025 brought many challenges to K-12 education. The Center for Assessment moves into 2026 with a clear-eyed vision in changing times.

2025 was a uniquely challenging year for K-12 education. In a new blog post, ➡️ bit.ly/49eGFoL @chrisdomaleski.bsky.social reflects on last year and the clear-eyed vision we're carrying into 2026.

Happy holidays from the Center! During this holiday season, we look back with gratitude for our friends and partners and ahead with optimism for the year to come. We wish you a joyful holiday season and all the best for a bright new year.

Teachers’ Use of Classroom Assessments | Center for Assessment We studied how Chicago teachers use curriculum-embedded classroom assessments—and uncovered patterns that suggest the kinds of support that might be needed.

Chicago Public Schools created its own curriculum, Skyline, with embedded assessments, so all students could have access to high-quality curriculum. But how widely are those assessments used? bit.ly/45iWg42 ⬅️ Read this blog by Jesse Eze, one of our summer interns, who studied teachers’ use.

Want to be an intern at the Center? Check out the information we just posted for the 2026 program. ➡️ bit.ly/4pOkmfs It's a great opportunity for advanced doctoral students to work with seasoned professionals on projects with real-world implications for assessment and accountability policy.

Streamlining Accountability Systems | Center for Assessment Less is more when it comes to school accountability systems. Learn from a national leader in educational assessment concept & design.

Why do we keep adding measures to our school accountability systems? Read @scottnh24.bsky.social’s new blog, at bit.ly/4qfKGij, for an analysis, and an exploration of how we can harness the idea of subtraction to streamline these systems.

Implementing Balanced Assessment Systems: A Practical Guidebook for Districts & Schools - National Academy of Education

It's PUBLISHED!! A practical guidebook that can help schools and districts navigate their way to better-balanced assessment systems. ➡️ bit.ly/3KHEqAV Written by Carla Evans, Caroline Wylie, Erika Landl and Scott Marion and published by the National Academy of Education, it's available online, free.

Leveraging State Assessment Data | Center for Assessment More than ever, states need to leverage their data to maximize insight into student performance. Our framework paper can help.

It’s never been more important for states to be able to leverage their data to maximize insight into student performance. Our framework can help them do that. bit.ly/48M7NeD ⬅️ Read a new blog by André A. Rupp and Laura Pinsonneault for highlights and a link to the paper.

In case you missed it: Today's LinkedIn Live by Bellwether and Curriculum Associates provided great thoughts & framings on assessment! We're proud that Associate Director Carla Evans was featured. Watch the recording here: bit.ly/4phQec8

Interim Assessments: Useful Enough? | Center for Assessment Are interim assessments instructionally useful enough to warrant districts' time and money? Our study found a nuanced answer to that question.

Are interim assessments instructionally useful enough to warrant districts' investment of time and money? We found a lot of nuance in the answer to that question. bit.ly/4q9JDAu ⬅️ Read Nicolás Buchbinder's new blog to learn more.

Fair and Justice-Oriented Assessment | Center for Assessment Caroline Wylie and Margaret Heritage discuss their new book, which explores teaching and learning practices that can address opportunity gaps.

And it’s published! Check out this new book by @carolinewylie.bsky.social and Margaret Heritage. bit.ly/48skomN ⬅️ Read this Q & A with the authors that highlights key themes from the book.

Safeguards for State Assessment Systems | Center for Assessment States need safeguards to maintain strong assessment systems, in case the U.S. Department of Education can no longer enforce the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA).

What will states do if the U.S. Department of Education is downsized so much that it can’t enforce ESSA? bit.ly/44nnUMM ⬅️ Read Chris Domaleski's new blog, in which he outlines key safeguards states need in order to maintain strong systems of assessment.

Adaptive or Fixed-Form Assessments | Center for Assessment Deciding whether to use adaptive or fixed-form assessments depends not on what technology can do, but on what you want the system to achieve.

Should statewide summative tests be adaptive or fixed-form? It sounds like a technical decision, but it’s a philosophical one. bit.ly/3JrjgX8 ⬅️ Read @juandbrot.bsky.social's new blog. He says states should think not about what technology can do, but what they want the assessment system to achieve.

Assessment Culture in Schools | Center for Assessment Assessment culture shapes how schools approach student assessment. Discover how improving both culture and systems can strengthen student outcomes.

Assessment culture can have a powerful impact on shaping good assessment practice. But should schools focus on practice to improve their culture? Or vice-versa? Erika Landl and @carolinewylie.bsky.social answer that chicken-and-egg question in their new blog. www.nciea.org/blog/assessm...

Should States Assess 21st Century Skills? | Center for Assessment Before states jump into assessing 21st century competencies, they need to step back to consider some key tradeoffs and questions.

Before states jump into assessing 21st century competencies, they need to step back to consider some key tradeoffs and questions. In her new blog, Carla Evans explores roles states can play in supporting 21st century competencies. bit.ly/3WWsJIM

Assessment Must Follow Curriculum and Instruction | Center for Assessment We talk a lot about—and aim for—balanced assessment systems. But we’re still not paying enough attention to the instructional core.

We talk a lot about—and aim for—balanced assessment systems. But we’re still not paying enough attention to the instructional core. Read @scottnh24.bsky.social's latest blog for more. bit.ly/473fpsc

.@scottnh24.bsky.social's reappointment is earned and timely. NAEP isn't just data, it's like bedrock connecting states, a foundation supporting our shared pursuit of educational progress. Scott continuing in the "Testing & Measurement Expert" role keeps NAEP steady amid turbulent political winds.

Districts & Balanced Assessment Systems | Center for Assessment School districts play a key role in creating balanced assessment systems: They hold the power to align curriculum, instruction and assessment.

Creating a balanced assessment system is like a relay race, and districts play a powerful role as the place where the baton can be handed from one runner to another well. bit.ly/4nLupRr ⬅️ @juandbrot.bsky.social explains in his new blog.

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Center Board Member Gerunda Hughes Honored for Achievement in Math Education | Center for Assessment Gerunda Hughes, a member of the Center's board of trustees, wins the Louise Hay Award for contributions to mathematics education.

Congratulations to Gerunda B. Hughes, Ph.D., a member of our esteemed board of trustees, for this award from the Association for Women in Mathematics! bit.ly/4pVKtla

Scott Marion Reappointed to National Assessment Governing Board | Center for Assessment Scott Marion, principal learning associate at the Center for Assessment, has been reappointed to the National Assessment Governing Board.

We're delighted to announce that @scottnh24.bsky.social has been reappointed to the National Assessment Governing Board, which set policy for NAEP. Congrats, Scott! bit.ly/472FeIO