Evaluating the Impact of Statewide School Accountability Systems
Are school accountability systems working as intended? As the U.S. Education Department offers states flexibility, it’s time to examine the evidence.
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Measuring Durable Competencies: Right-Sizing Expectations
Pressure to measure durable competencies is surging. But it’s challenging: there are limitations to what the data actually tell us.
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Supporting Systemic Changes in High School Math
Making deep changes in high school math assessment requires sustained support. These two new guides for state and district leaders can help.
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What We’re Up To: Center Presentations at NCME & AERA
Check out our lineup of fascinating presentations at two of the assessment field’s big conferences, NCME and AERA.
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Measuring Durable Skills: Why States Need More Than a Test
A large-scale test isn’t enough to measure durable skills. A broader view of assessment opens up a nuanced, more promising landscape.
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Assessing Civic Learning
The editors of a new book discuss how assessment can support civics learning and students’ engagement in civics.
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Using School and Classroom Climate Surveys to Improve Learning Environments (Part 2)
Several key questions arise when school leaders decide to use a climate survey to learn about students’ experiences. We explore them and offer guidance.
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Using School and Classroom Climate Surveys to Improve Learning Environments (Part 1)
Education leaders seeking insight into students’ learning experiences have a powerful, low-cost tool at their disposal: school climate surveys.
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Reflecting on 2025 and Looking Ahead to 2026
2025 brought many challenges to K-12 education. The Center for Assessment moves into 2026 with a clear-eyed vision in changing times.
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Teacher Engagement With Embedded Classroom Assessments
We studied how Chicago teachers use the district’s curriculum-embedded assessments, patterns that point to the kinds of support they need.
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Accountability System Design Tensions
Why we keep adding measures to our school accountability systems and how we can harness the idea of subtraction to streamline them.
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Leveraging All State Education Data at a Crucial Time
More than ever, states need to be able to leverage their data to maximize insight into student performance. Our framework paper can help.
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Safeguarding State Assessment
States should consider key safeguards to maintain strong assessment systems, in case the U.S. Department of Education can no longer enforce ESSA.
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Assessment Culture and Assessment Systems
Assessment culture can shape how schools approach student assessment. Improving both culture and systems can strengthen student outcomes.
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Don’t Start With Assessment: Navigating State Involvement in 21st Century Competencies
Before states jump into assessing 21st century competencies, they need to step back to consider some key tradeoffs and questions.
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Balanced Assessment Systems, Reimagined as a Relay Race
School districts play a powerful role in creating balanced assessment systems.
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Building on a Strong Foundation: A New Chapter of Leadership at the Center
As three new leaders take the helm at the Center for Assessment, they share their vision for the future and the commitments that will guide them.
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Chris Domaleski: The Center’s New Executive Director
Chris Domaleski becomes the Center’s executive director on Sept. 18. In this interview, he discusses his plans and priorities.
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