What It Takes to Implement Balanced Assessment Systems

Students are being over-tested in most American classrooms. Do all these assessments provide educators and leaders with unique and valuable information, or do some of them overwhelm the system with more data than information?

We can create a better balance of assessments, so that state, district, school and classroom leaders get good, timely information that can inform decisions at their level of the system. We can do this by: (1) ensuring the purpose and use for each assessment is made clear; (2) building tighter linkages among the curriculum, instruction, and assessment; and (3) carefully weighing the tradeoffs of reducing instructional time to obtain assessment information.

Examples of more balanced assessment systems are rare, but we will elevate voices of those leading this work, drawing on their different approaches to build a broader set of implementation features to help accelerate this work at scale.

At the 2025 Reidy Interactive Learning Series (RILS), we ask: 

• How do less balanced assessment systems impact teachers, students, and others? 
• What are state- and district-level barriers to balanced assessment systems, and what facilitates them? 
• How have states and districts navigated moving toward more balanced assessment systems?

Honoring the longstanding history of RILS, the conference will be highly interactive, with plenty of time for participants to share insights and experiences and discuss examples with colleagues in addition to learning from district, state, and national experts through presentations and panels. See our learning goals below.

Whether you are a state, district or school leader, or you support others at these levels, this conference will deepen your understanding of what it takes to implement balanced assessment systems. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact us. We can’t wait to see you in beautiful Portsmouth, N.H., on September 18-19, 2025!

September 18, 2025

Time	Session	Description
8:15 am	Breakfast & check in	Breakfast is provided.
9:00	Welcome, Context, & Essentials	Chris Domaleski, Carla Evans and Caroline Wylie provide introductory remarks about the background and purpose of RILS.
9:15	Session 1: Voices from the Field	Panel discussion with key constituents to discuss experiences with assessment systems that are more or less in balance and how they think about assessment purposes and uses, and what challenges they face.   Panelists: Christine Landwehrle, Colleen Olson, Tina Bento, Chester School District (SAU 82), NH Christine DonFrancesco, National Education Association (NEA) Moderators: Carla Evans and Caroline Wylie
10:15	Session 2A: Framework presentation	Carla Evans and Caroline Wylie explain the purpose of the Practical Guidance, the common threats to imbalance categories, and the role they played as presenters framed their presentations.
10:45	Break
11:00	Session 3A: Setting the Context	Scott Marion provides a framing presentation to introduce key ideas about balanced assessment systems, current challenges, and the unique roles of state and district leaders.
11:40	Session 3B: Table Talk	Table Talk: What connections do people notice between the initial panel discussion and Scott’s presentation? What questions do tables have that they’d like to explore over the next day and a half? What are barriers and facilitators to this work in their context?
12:00 pm	Lunch	Lunch provided
1:00	Session 4A: District Stories	Two districts will provide brief descriptions of work they have made to move assessment systems toward greater balance. Panelists:  Sanee Bell, Katy ISD, TX Sasha Klyachkina, Chicago Public Schools, IL Moderators: Laura Pinsonneault and Erika Landl
2:00	Session 4B: Four Corners Activity	Attendees participate in a Four Corners Activity to discuss one key question of most interest to them. Q1: How can external agencies (SEAs, intermediary agencies, vendors) support this work in districts? Q2: What do you think motivates districts to join in this work? What is their starting point/entry point?  Q3: What advice would you have for districts to ensure their assessment system is balanced for all students, including special populations? Q4: How do you think this work might differ in smaller versus larger districts? Four-corners Activity Leads: Damian Betebenner/Laura Hamilton Chris Brandt/Juan D’Brot Will Lorié/Nathan Dadey Andre Rupp/Cara Laitusis
2:30	Break
2:45	Session 5A: State-Intermediary-District story	An SEA-CESA-LEA partnership will be discussed in terms of the roles they each played to move assessment systems towards greater balance. Panelists:  Lauren Zellmer, Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction Kim Pencil, Collaborative Educational  Service Agency (CESA 7), WI Nick Joseph, De Pere School District, WI Moderators: Andre Rupp and Chris Brandt
3:45	Session 5B: Panel Reactions	Invited panelists representing urban schools, teachers, districts and students with disabilities will reflect on both sets of district and district/state stories presented.  Panelists:  Steven Snead, Oakland Schools, MI Jewelle Harmon, Gwinnett County Public Schools, GA Meagan Karvonen, Kansas University Office of Research Moderators: Cara Laitusis and Nathan Dadey
4:20	Individual Reflection	Final individual reflection (digital capture), including lingering questions for tomorrow
4:30	Wrap-Up/Adjourn Day 1
5:00 – 6:15	Reception	Evening reception and cocktail hour with light snacks.
6:30 – 8:00	Dinner	Center staff-hosted optional small group dinners at one of the selected restaurants in Portsmouth

September 19, 2025

Time	Session	Description
8:15 am	Breakfast	Breakfast provided
9:00	Welcome Day 2	Carla Evans and Caroline Wylie welcome participants to day 2. Review of lingering questions from previous end-of-day.
9:15	Session 6A: State Stories	Three SEA or state-wide organization leaders provide brief descriptions of work they have made to support districts/schools and educators in moving assessment systems toward greater balance. Panelists:  Dan Farley, Oregon Department of Education Dorcas Kong, California Collaborative for Educational Excellence (CCEE) Kathy Dewsbury-White, Michigan Assessment Consortium Moderators:  Juan D’Brot and Will Lorié
10:30	Break
10:45	Session 6B: Discussion	Carla Evans and Caroline Wylie facilitate an activity for table groups to discuss questions to solicit feedback on the Practical Guidance and record their feedback in a note-taker.
11:45	Session 7: Where Do We Go From Here?	Individual Reflection & Table Talk: What are possible next steps that elaborate on ideas identified by participants at the school, district, and state levels?
12:00	Taking Stock and Looking Ahead	Chris Domaleski will wrap up the conference with a short reflection and summary of the conference themes along with wrap-up.
12:15	Conference Ends	Lunch provided