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

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.
January 21, 2026

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.
January 14, 2026

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.
January 7, 2026
A classroom of students with their hands raised, sitting at desks.

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.
December 17, 2025
A desk covered in papers with people pointing at key information on the papers.

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.
December 10, 2025
A group of professionals sitting at a conference table

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.
December 3, 2025
A group of professionals in a meeting, sitting at a table with laptops.

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.
November 12, 2025
A class of students sitting in a semi-circle. One student is in the center.

Assessment Culture and Assessment Systems

Assessment culture can shape how schools approach student assessment. Improving both culture and systems can strengthen student outcomes.
October 29, 2025

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.
October 22, 2025
A teacher reading to a classroom of children.

Balanced Assessment Systems, Reimagined as a Relay Race

School districts play a powerful role in creating balanced assessment systems.
October 8, 2025
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