Education Policy

Education Policy

Educators and policymakers need supportive policies to improve schools. We partner with states and districts to develop those policies and advocate their adoption at the district, state and federal levels. In papers, blog posts and presentations nationally, we highlight good policy practices.

Recent Education Policy Projects

Maryland

We partnered with Maryland as it undertook a comprehensive re-envisioning of both its assessment and accountability systems. The Center helped develop and coordinate a broad-based task force to help define policy priorities, which we documented in a comprehensive report that outlined clear recommendations to improve assessment and accountability.

National Assessment Governing Board

Scott Marion is one of three measurement professionals on the 26-member board that sets policy for the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), also known as the “Nation’s Report Card.” In this role, he helps support the technical quality of the assessment and advocates for strong policies to support it.

Policy briefs, blogs and webinars

We work to build support for federal and state policies to support high-quality assessment and accountability systems that ensure that all students have a fair opportunity to learn meaningful content and skills. Two short papers, “The Case for State Testing” and “The Case for Statewide School Accountability Systems,” are recent examples of this work.

Recent Education Policy Blog Posts and Papers

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.
April 15, 2026

Assessment Options for States: Potential Designs With Increased Federal Flexibility

This paper explores the potential opportunities and risks of several assessment options that could be available with more federal flexibility.
April 2, 2026

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.
April 1, 2026

Reclaiming Accountability

To improve school accountability, we must confront and change the faulty assumptions that undergird the system. This paper provides a new framing.
March 31, 2026

Artificial Intelligence and State Assessment Contracts

This brief describes discusses the types of contract language necessary for states using AI in statewide assessment systems.
March 27, 2026

Civic Learning Matters. Assessment Systems Should Measure It

Schools should prepare graduates for economic opportunity and democratic participation, but our assessment systems don't gauge how well they’re doing.
March 25, 2026

Designing a Communication Plan When an Assessment Changes

This document provides guidance for education leaders in developing a communication plan when there are changes to statewide assessments.
March 11, 2026

Testing Democracy: How Large-Scale Assessment Systems Can Support Civic Learning

This paper provides guidance to support small changes that could help raise the salience of civic goals and generate data to monitor progress.
March 2, 2026

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.
February 25, 2026

Artificial Intelligence in Large-Scale Assessment Systems

An exploration of the potential of AI, especially generative AI, in key stages of the educational assessment life cycle.
February 18, 2026
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