Equity and Fairness

Equity and Fairness

We center equity in all our projects. We are committed to improving learning for all students, especially those who have not historically had fair access to educational opportunities. We work closely with states and school districts to ensure that their policies and practices on assessment and accountability are as equitable as possible, and we extend this work through our publications and our service on a variety of panels and committees.


Recent Equity and Fairness Projects

Equitable and fair assessment practices

Juan D’Brot serves on the National Council on Measurement in Education’s (NCME) Task Force on Civil Rights in Measurement and as a member of NCME’s Committee on Diversity in Testing. Carla Evans serves on the equity-focused “Assessment for Good” project.

Culturally Responsive Assessment

Carla Evans co-edited an NCME-sponsored volume, Culturally Responsive Assessment in Classrooms and Large-Scale Assessment Contexts: Theory, Research, and Practice, which includes chapters from Center experts, summarizes the most important research and sets future directions for more equitable and just assessment.

Hawaii

We are engaged in several lines of work in Hawaii to support equitable assessment, particularly for indigenous populations. This includes performance assessment development meant to instantiate views on culturally responsive practices. Center leaders have also provided vital technical advice to support the KA’EO assessment system to help this program receive federal approval


Recent Equity and Fairness Blog Posts and Papers

Promoting Equity Through Accountability System Design

States can use accountability system design as a lever for equity in student outcomes and opportunities, but 5 common barriers get in the way.
June 28, 2023

Mobility Matters When Designing More Equitable School Accountability Systems

Hear from a Center intern on his work studying performance mobility in contemporary school accountability systems.
September 13, 2022

Using Multiple Achievement Measures to Understand the Effects of COVID-19 on Student Learning

This paper describes a set of studies conducted to help understand the effects of pandemic-related disruptions on students’ academic performance […]
August 9, 2022

The SOAR Scholars Take Flight

The Strengthening Opportunities in Assessment and Research program enables SOAR scholars to pursue careers in measurement and psychometrics.
August 3, 2022

What Works? State Accountability Indicators to Promote Validity, Equity, and Improvement

Presentation at the AERA Special Interest Group on School Indicators and Profiles; uses examples from several states to highlight the […]
November 7, 2021

Culturally Sensitive, Relevant, Responsive, and Sustaining Assessment

How should culture affect the ways we think about teaching, learning, and assessment? 
November 3, 2021

A Culturally Responsive Classroom Assessment Framework

Guidance for the design and evaluation of classroom formative and summative assessments.
September 9, 2021

Ensuring Assessment Systems Meet the Needs of Students with Disabilities

Designing an Assessment Solution that Fits for All Students is Different than Fitting All Students into an Assessment Solution In […]
August 25, 2021

Considering Coherence in the Collection and Use of Opportunity-to-Learn Data

Ensuring Equitable Learning Opportunities for all Students Requires Coordination Across the Education System This is the second post by one […]
July 21, 2021

A Social Justice Critical Framing for Opportunity-to-Learn Indicator Use

Making the Meaning of Opportunity More Socioculturally Sustainable, Inclusive, and Action-Oriented This is the first post by one of our 2021 […]
July 7, 2021