Accountability systems identify schools in need of support, but they’re not very good at helping educators, schools and districts understand the problem or what to do next. In a new blog ➡️ bit.ly/4uR6mnC, Juan D'Brot describes how we need to reclaim accountability as a force for school improvement.

Reclaiming Accountability: From Labels to Learning | Center for Assessment

Accountability identifies schools that need support, but it must do better to help educators, schools and districts understand the problem and what to do next.

bit.ly

How could states improve their assessments if they get more flexibility from The U.S. Department of Education? In a new paper ➡️ bit.ly/4shg0xI, Scott Marion and Kyla McClure explore possibilities, and also caution about some types of flexibility that could undermine student learning.

Assessment Options for States: Potential Designs With Increased Federal Flexibility | Center for Assessment

This paper explores potential opportunities and risks of several kinds of assessment options that might become available with more federal flexibility.

loom.ly

And our publishing spree continues into April! A new paper ➡️ bit.ly/4shg0xI by @scottnh24.bsky.social and Kyla McClure explores the opportunities and risks in several kinds of assessment designs that could become available with additional federal flexibility.

Assessment Options for States: Potential Designs With Increased Federal Flexibility | Center for Assessment

This paper explores potential opportunities and risks of several kinds of assessment options that might become available with more federal flexibility.

bit.ly

We published FIVE new papers in March! Whew! Today we're highlighting work by Juan D'Brot and Laura Pinsonneault, ➡️ bit.ly/4v3r3xj who identify the faulty assumptions that hamper current accountability systems. Read "Reclaiming Accountability."

Reclaiming Accountability | Center for Assessment

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

bit.ly

We've been on a huge publishing tear lately. Have you seen our new reports? Today we're highlighting a paper ➡️ bit.ly/4dUfVMU by André A. Rupp, discussing the kinds of language states need in assessment contracts that involve AI. Take a look!

Artificial Intelligence and State Assessment Contracts | Center for Assessment

This brief describes discusses the types of contract language necessary for states using artificial intelligence (AI) in statewide assessment systems.

bit.ly

Heading to L.A. for #NCME2026 and #AERA2026? Check out our lineup of fascinating presentations. bit.ly/4sHyEQm

Center Presentations at NCME and AERA 2026 | Center for Assessment

Check out our lineup of fascinating presentations at two of the assessment field’s big conferences, NCME and AERA.

bit.ly

Real-Time Data Shows Exactly How Students Use AI on School Technology: About 20% of student interactions with AI using school technology involved problematic behaviors.

Real-Time Data Shows Exactly How Students Use AI on School Technology

About 20% of student interactions with AI using school technology involved problematic behaviors.

edweek.org

Assessment systems can be redesigned to better support the cultivation of informed and engaged citizens. In a new paper, bit.ly/3MUdjnf Laura Hamilton and Chris Brandt suggest relatively small changes that support schools’ civic goals and provide data to monitor progress toward those goals.

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

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

loom.ly

A large-scale test isn’t enough to measure durable skills. bit.ly/4s6mUpQ ⬅️ Carla Evans argues that taking a broader view of assessing durable skills opens up a nuanced, more promising landscape, with multiple ways to gauge mastery that also recognize purpose, context and constraints.

Assessing durable skills | Center for Assessment

A large-scale test isn’t enough to measure students' durable skills. A broader view of assessment opens up a nuanced, more promising landscape.

loom.ly

What role can AI play in the development and use of assessments? Read our new paper bit.ly/4r9uC1O by William Lorié and Nathan Dadey for an exploration of the potential of artificial intelligence at each stage of an assessment’s life cycle, from construct definition to scoring and reporting.

Artificial Intelligence in Large-Scale Assessment Systems | Center for Assessment

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

loom.ly

Here's our response to the Senate HELP committee's RFI on academic growth. ➡️ bit.ly/4bZ2BWE As the leader in student growth measures, we outline recommendations for measures that are technically sound, aligned to clear purposes, and communicated in ways that support accurate interpretation and use.

Academic Growth: Recommendations for the Senate HELP Committee | Center for Assessment

The Center responds to the Senate HELP Committee's request for information on academic growth models.

loom.ly

Did you miss our webinar on implementing balanced assessment systems? We’ve got you! Here’s a link to the video. bit.ly/4roYkjY%E2%A... experts help you spot common threats to balanced assessment systems and walk you through concrete steps you can take to bring your system into better balance.

Implementing Balanced Assessment Systems | Center for Assessment

A practical guidebook, webinar and slides for states and districts working to implement balanced assessment systems.

loom.ly

We are excited to announce that the proposal submission portal for the 2026 NCME Annual Meeting is now open! Proposals will be accepted until 11:59 p.m. PDT on Friday, September 12, 2025. Learn more: www.ncme.org/events/event... #NCME2026

2026 NCME Annual Meeting Call for Proposals - Submission Deadline

NCME is excited to announce that the Call for Proposals for the 2026 Annual Meeting is now availabl

ncme.org

Public school choice is growing, and families need good information to help them make decisions. In a new blog, ➡️ bit.ly/3ZNwdPD, Laura Hamilton and Andrew McEachin describe the features of an accountability system that supports families’ choices.

School Choice and Accountability: Building Better Information Systems | Center for Assessment

As school choice expands, families need better information. Learn how accountability and reporting systems can support informed decisions and public transparency.

loom.ly

Not much time left to register for our Feb. 12 webinar! Assessment systems work best when they’re well balanced. But how do you get a well-balanced system? bit.ly/3O6TMA9 ⬅️ We’ll provide practical guidance for district and school leaders. Please join us!

What does it take to implement more balanced assessment systems?  (Webinar) | Center for Assessment

States should continue to implement high-quality school accountability systems, even if federal oversight diminishes.

loom.ly

What happens when states or districts reimagine high school math education? Our study examines a multi-state math-badging initiative. ➡️ bit.ly/4rbF8X3 Doctoral student Mostafa Hanafy conducted the study and writes about it in a new blog.

Math Badging in High School: Reimagining Math Education | Center for Assessment

What happens when high schools adopt math badging? Our multi-state study examines benefits, challenges and lessons for reimagining math education.

loom.ly

Have you registered for our Feb. 12 webinar yet? Join us for a great discussion! Register here ▶️ bit.ly/4a0zHCV

What does it take to implement more balanced assessment systems?  (Webinar) | Center for Assessment

States should continue to implement high-quality school accountability systems, even if federal oversight diminishes.

nciea.org

So you’ve decided to use a school climate survey to get more insight into students’ experiences. Great! Now you face 4 key questions. bit.ly/4qaeHQf ⬅️ In her latest blog, Laura Hamilton outlines them and explores important considerations to help you answer them.

School Climate Surveys Part 2 | Center for Assessment

Several key questions arise when school leaders decide to use a climate survey to learn about students’ experiences. We explore them and offer guidance.

loom.ly

Education leaders who want to improve students’ learning experiences have a powerful, low-cost tool at their disposal: surveys of school and classroom climate. bit.ly/4riETZK%E2%A... In her new blog, Laura Hamilton explains why schools should measure school climate.

School Climate Surveys Part 1 | Center for Assessment

Education leaders have a powerful, low-cost tool at their disposal to gain insight into students’ learning experiences: school climate surveys.

loom.ly

An upcoming webinar and a new report offer practical advice on implementing “balanced assessment,” a research-based approach designed to improve testing in K-12 education. @nciea.bsky.social bit.ly/4bgGpqF

Does K-12 Testing Need a Tune-Up?

An upcoming webinar and a new report offer practical advice on implementing “balanced assessment,” a research-based approach designed to improve testing in K-12 education.

nepc.colorado.edu

2025 was a uniquely challenging year for K-12 education. In a new blog post, ➡️ bit.ly/49eGFoL @chrisdomaleski.bsky.social reflects on last year and the clear-eyed vision we're carrying into 2026.

Reflecting on 2025 and Looking Ahead to 2026 | Center for Assessment

2025 brought many challenges to K-12 education. The Center for Assessment moves into 2026 with a clear-eyed vision in changing times.

bit.ly

Happy holidays from the Center! During this holiday season, we look back with gratitude for our friends and partners and ahead with optimism for the year to come. We wish you a joyful holiday season and all the best for a bright new year.

Chicago Public Schools created its own curriculum, Skyline, with embedded assessments, so all students could have access to high-quality curriculum. But how widely are those assessments used? bit.ly/45iWg42 ⬅️ Read this blog by Jesse Eze, one of our summer interns, who studied teachers’ use.

Teachers’ Use of Classroom Assessments | Center for Assessment

We studied how Chicago teachers use curriculum-embedded classroom assessments—and uncovered patterns that suggest the kinds of support that might be needed.

loom.ly

Want to be an intern at the Center? Check out the information we just posted for the 2026 program. ➡️ bit.ly/4pOkmfs It's a great opportunity for advanced doctoral students to work with seasoned professionals on projects with real-world implications for assessment and accountability policy.

Why do we keep adding measures to our school accountability systems? Read @scottnh24.bsky.social’s new blog, at bit.ly/4qfKGij, for an analysis, and an exploration of how we can harness the idea of subtraction to streamline these systems.

Streamlining Accountability Systems | Center for Assessment

Less is more when it comes to school accountability systems. Learn from a national leader in educational assessment concept & design.

loom.ly

It's PUBLISHED!! A practical guidebook that can help schools and districts navigate their way to better-balanced assessment systems. ➡️ bit.ly/3KHEqAV Written by Carla Evans, Caroline Wylie, Erika Landl and Scott Marion and published by the National Academy of Education, it's available online, free.

Implementing Balanced Assessment Systems: A Practical Guidebook for Districts & Schools - National Academy of Education

bit.ly

It’s never been more important for states to be able to leverage their data to maximize insight into student performance. Our framework can help them do that. bit.ly/48M7NeD ⬅️ Read a new blog by André A. Rupp and Laura Pinsonneault for highlights and a link to the paper.

Leveraging State Assessment Data | Center for Assessment

More than ever, states need to leverage their data to maximize insight into student performance. Our framework paper can help.

loom.ly

In case you missed it: Today's LinkedIn Live by Bellwether and Curriculum Associates provided great thoughts & framings on assessment! We're proud that Associate Director Carla Evans was featured. Watch the recording here: bit.ly/4phQec8

Are interim assessments instructionally useful enough to warrant districts' investment of time and money? We found a lot of nuance in the answer to that question. bit.ly/4q9JDAu ⬅️ Read Nicolás Buchbinder's new blog to learn more.

Interim Assessments: Useful Enough? | Center for Assessment

Are interim assessments instructionally useful enough to warrant districts' time and money? Our study found a nuanced answer to that question.

bit.ly

And it’s published! Check out this new book by @carolinewylie.bsky.social and Margaret Heritage. bit.ly/48skomN ⬅️ Read this Q & A with the authors that highlights key themes from the book.

Fair and Justice-Oriented Assessment | Center for Assessment

Caroline Wylie and Margaret Heritage discuss their new book, which explores teaching and learning practices that can address opportunity gaps.

bit.ly