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# Assessment HQ

an initiative by the Collaborative for Student Success

## Sitemaps

- [XML Sitemap](https://assessmenthq.org/sitemap.xml): Contains all public & indexable URLs for this website.

## Posts

- [With great flexibility comes great responsibility](https://assessmenthq.org/with-great-flexibility-comes-great-responsibility-a-conversation-with-u-s-assistant-secretary-for-elementary-and-secondary-education-kirsten-baesler/) - At first glance, Kirsten Baesler occupies an unlikely place in today’s education landscape. As the Trump administration works to return education to the states, the Assistant Secretary for Elementary and Secondary Education has emerged as one of its most forceful advocates for strong assessment and accountability systems.
- [Dynamic Assessment or Dynamic Branding?](https://assessmenthq.org/dynamic-assessment-or-dynamic-branding/) - A new white paper on assessment innovation, Modernizing Measurement, argues that advances in technology and artificial intelligence have made traditional statewide summative tests increasingly obsolete.
- [Beyond the Status Quo: Rewriting Accountability with Indiana Secretary of Education Katie Jenner](https://assessmenthq.org/beyond-the-status-quo-rewriting-accountability-with-indiana-secretary-of-education-katie-jenner/) - For anyone who thinks education reform sleeps with the fishes, Indiana offers a useful rebuttal. Under the capable direction of Education Secretary Katie Jenner, the Hoosier State has reasserted itself as a national leader on accountability and systemwide reform.
- [Waiver HQ: Can Alabama Thread the Needle Between Rigor and Pathways?](https://assessmenthq.org/waiver-hq-can-alabama-thread-the-needle-between-rigor-and-pathways/) - Alabama is seeking a package of federal waivers under ESSA, but the provision getting the most attention would tweak the high school academic achievement indicator.
- [Waiver HQ: Laissez Les Bons Tests Rouler](https://assessmenthq.org/waiver-hq-laissez-les-bons-tests-rouler/) - Louisiana has just secured approval for a limited federal flexibility option and formally submitted its ESEA waiver proposal. Both are focused on funding flexibility, not testing.
- [Waiver HQ: Mississippi’s Misguided Testing Waiver Directive](https://assessmenthq.org/waiverhq-mississippis-misguided-testing-waiver-directive/) - Mississippi’s omnibus education bill (HB 2), which passed the House before stalling in the Senate, has drawn attention largely for its school choice provisions.
- [Waiver HQ: Idaho’s assessment ambitions](https://assessmenthq.org/waiver-hq-idahos-assessment-ambitions/) - By Dale Chu Idaho is seeking public comment on its waiver proposal, which includes two substantive changes to the state’s assessment framework: Replace the state’s third grade assessment with an early literacy screener Replace the state’s eleventh grade assessment with a menu of college and career exams' Idaho's state superintendent framed this as an
- [Vermont’s Persistent Delay in Test Reporting](https://assessmenthq.org/still-in-the-back-of-the-pack-vermonts-persistent-delay-in-test-reporting/) - By Dale Chu To date, 49 states and Washington D.C. have released their Spring 2025 summative test results. Only Vermont remains a holdout, with official statewide results now not expected until early 2026. That simple fact encapsulates a systemic problem that’s persisted for years: Vermont’s inability to provide timely, transparent academic performance data. To be
- [Waiver HQ: Kansas’s coherence cover story](https://assessmenthq.org/waiver-hq-kansass-coherence-cover-story/) - Kansas’s ESSA waiver requests broad, multi-year flexibility to pause school identification and exit timelines while the state integrates federal accountability into its accreditation system.
- [Waiver HQ: Indiana aims to rewrite accountability, but questions remain](https://assessmenthq.org/waiver-hq-indiana-aims-to-rewrite-accountability-but-questions-remain/) - Indiana’s ESSA waiver request is ambitious: less a targeted flexibility play than a deliberate effort to rethink assessment, accountability, and how federal K-12 dollars are governed, monitored, and evaluated.
- [A tale of two states: How cut scores shape the story of student learning](https://assessmenthq.org/a-tale-of-two-states-how-cut-scores-shape-the-story-of-student-learning/) - Illinois and Virginia are sending two very different signals about what it means to be on track.
- [Waiver HQ: Iowa reaffirms state testing in its ESSA waiver](https://assessmenthq.org/waiverhq-iowa-steering-clear-of-state-testing-in-its-essa-waiver/) - Iowa has officially submitted its ESSA waiver, and the state is making a very deliberate choice: leave state testing alone.
- [Waiver HQ: Tracking state testing flexibility under McMahon](https://assessmenthq.org/waiver-hq-tracking-state-testing-flexibility-under-mcmahon/) - U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon has signaled renewed openness to state requests for flexibility under the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA).
- [States are obscuring student math performance](https://assessmenthq.org/states-are-obscuring-student-math-performance/) - By Dale Chu The Center on Reinventing Public Education’s new State of the American Student 2025 report delivers a sobering verdict: most states are failing to give parents and the public a clear view of how students are doing in math. At a time when the Nation’s Report Card shows persistent struggles—particularly among historically marginalized
- [WEBINAR: How ed leaders are using state test data for pandemic recovery](https://assessmenthq.org/webinar-how-ed-leaders-are-using-state-test-data-for-pandemic-recovery/) - By Dale Chu This past weekend, the Associated Press published an article on the current state of play in regard to state testing. The upshot is that states have adopted a patchwork of approaches in large part due to Uncle Sam’s convoluted waiver process. Some states—New Mexico in particular—have really fallen down on the job
- [The Biden administration’s unseriousness on PISA](https://assessmenthq.org/the-biden-administrations-unseriousness-on-pisa/) - By Dale Chu The latest PISA results dropped earlier today and, perhaps to no one’s surprise, they weren’t good. U.S. students saw a 13-point drop in math, which was “among the lowest ever measured by PISA in mathematics” for the U.S., according to the OECD. This morning’s headlines summarize the bad news: “U.S. students’ math
- [An honest check on state and district recovery practices](https://assessmenthq.org/an-honest-check-on-state-and-district-recovery-practices/) - By Dale Chu Last week, the Collaborative for Student Success—in concert with the Center on Reinventing Public Education and Edunomics Lab—launched EduRecoveryHub, a one-stop online resource spotlighting promising practices for pandemic recovery. From accelerating learning to using data to drive decision-making, the new platform calls attention to innovative and noteworthy practices from states and school
- [Guest Post: To catalyze assessment innovation, Uncle Sam must step up](https://assessmenthq.org/guest-post-to-catalyze-assessment-innovation-uncle-sam-must-step-up/) - Lindsay Fryer is the president and founding principal of Lodestone DC, an education consulting firm based in Washington, D.C. She’s also a friend, and one of the few people I know who geeks out on state testing as much as I do. Today, a guest post by Lindsay offers concrete steps on how the federal
- [Michigan: If at first you don’t succeed…](https://assessmenthq.org/michigan-if-at-first-you-dont-succeed/) - By Dale Chu Last summer, Michigan became the first state to formally seek federal permission to suspend state testing in 2021—a full ten months before the assessments were even slated to begin. Former education secretary Betsy DeVos appropriately denied that request, but Michigan was undeterred and submitted a second application in January. Instead of administering
- [Blowing the whistle on Maine’s flagrant fouls with testing](https://assessmenthq.org/blowing-the-whistle-on-maines-flagrant-fouls-with-testing/) - By Dale Chu I’ve made no bones about Uncle Sam’s laissez-faire approach to state testing throughout the pandemic, so count me as pleasantly surprised at the news last Friday that the U.S. Department of Education (USED) lowered the boom on the state of Maine, one of two states that have still not released statewide test
- [Washington: Will the feds go for its NAEP-like proposal?](https://assessmenthq.org/washington-will-the-feds-go-for-its-naep-like-proposal/) - By Dale Chu Last week, Washington state filed their assessment waiver request with the feds, proposing to conduct a NAEP-like sampling of approximately 50,000 students—in selected grades and content areas—in lieu of attempting to test the 700,000 students across the state ordinarily eligible in a given year. Their proposed methodology is being developed in collaboration
- [New Assessment HQ Update](https://assessmenthq.org/new-assessment-hq-update/) - By Dale Chu Roses are red. Violets are blue. The most comprehensive state testing data Is only available at Assessment HQ! On this Valentine’s Day, may you be surrounded by love, romance, and glitteringly exquisite assessment data that would sweep both Jared and his paramours off of their feet! All kidding aside, there’s a lot
- [What parents need to know about state assessments](https://assessmenthq.org/what-parents-need-to-know-about-state-assessments/) - By Dale Chu Recently, EdNavigator published an easy-to-use resource for helping parents better understand student test results and why they matter. It’s an important question to answer because the value of large-scale testing is more clearly understood as a benefit to policymakers than as one for educators and families. To figure this out, EdNavigator partnered
- [The glitter of assessment innovation](https://assessmenthq.org/the-glitter-of-assessment-innovation/) - By Dale Chu Last Friday, the U.S. Department of Education announced nearly $30 million in awards to 10 states under the 2022 Competitive Grants for State Assessments program (CGSA). (For more on the CGSA, see this earlier post). The ten states are: Arkansas, Hawaii, Illinois, Kentucky, Louisiana, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New York, and North Carolina.
- [Where’s the (assessment) data?](https://assessmenthq.org/wheres-the-assessment-data/) - By Dale Chu With testing season right around the corner and uncertainty brewing around how state exams will be administered this spring, it felt timely to kick off this series on the present and future of statewide annual academic assessments. Coinciding with this effort is a refresh of the AssessmentHQ platform after a months-long scouring
- [Student assessment during COVID-19: A conversation with Laura Jimenez (Part I)](https://assessmenthq.org/student-assessment-during-covid-19-a-conversation-with-laura-jimenez-part-i/) - By Dale Chu Laura Jimenez is the Director of Standards and Accountability at the Center for American Progress, a left-leaning policy and research think tank. Last month, Laura authored a report titled Student Assessment During COVID-19, which discussed why schools should assess students next year using annual state tests, the role other assessments might play in
- [The obfuscation of student data](https://assessmenthq.org/the-obfuscation-of-student-data/) - By Dale Chu There’s a long list of grievances when it comes to standardized testing. Among these are the glacial pace of returning results to parents, the politics of setting cut scores, and the user unfriendliness of state report cards. But perhaps the most foundational sticking point is what parents experience when it comes to
- [IADA intrigue](https://assessmenthq.org/iada-intrigue/) - By Dale Chu The U.S. Department of Education just put out a request for information (RFI) on the Innovative Assessment Demonstration Authority (IADA) pilot. The feds are asking whether there are better ways to measure comparability, if states could use a planning period (one or two years), and what other barriers are preventing states from
- [New Mexico: And the Razzie goes to…](https://assessmenthq.org/new-mexico-and-the-razzie-goes-to/) - By Dale Chu As I’ve made my way through states via the assessment power rankings, a question I sometimes get is which one has been the most egregious. An argument can be made for the nation’s capital, the only jurisdiction to receive an official pass from state testing, but they can’t be entirely faulted for
- [Uncle Sam moves against state assessments](https://assessmenthq.org/uncle-sam-moves-against-state-assessments/) - By Dale Chu In the latest episode of never sleep on assessments, the Senate Appropriations committee just passed a funding bill before going on August recess that underscores the deteriorating support for state testing on Capitol Hill. In what could be a harbinger of things to come, the proposal would cut ten millions dollars from
- [The role of assessment data in driving educational opportunity](https://assessmenthq.org/the-role-of-assessment-data-in-driving-educational-opportunity/) - By Dale Chu The National Center on Education and the Economy (NCEE) recently published an interview with Dr. Sean Reardon, Professor of Poverty and Inequality in Education at Stanford University. Reardon is known for his scholarship and commitment to measuring educational opportunity, as well as bucking conventional wisdom with studies like the one he did
- [State tests that are useful for both instruction and accountability: A conversation with New Meridian’s Arthur VanderVeen (Part II)](https://assessmenthq.org/state-tests-that-are-useful-for-both-instruction-and-accountability-a-conversation-with-new-meridians-arthur-vanderveen-part-ii/) - Arthur VanderVeen is the founder and CEO of New Meridian, an assessment design and development company. Today, it works with over 2,500 districts in five states. Because of New Meridian’s leadership in response to the call for better measures, I wanted to take a closer look under the hood of their efforts. In the second
- [Trick or trade-offs: The tensions in assessment innovation](https://assessmenthq.org/trick-or-trade-offs-the-tensions-in-assessment-innovation/) - By Dale Chu With Halloween right around the corner, I’ve been catching up on some light reading and came across this gem by the Center for Assessment’s Scott Marion and Carla Evans titled, “Following their Lead: Conversations with Innovative Assessment Demonstration Authority State Leaders.” Their piece summarizes lessons learned from state officials in three of
- [Parents are back in backing state testing](https://assessmenthq.org/parents-are-back-in-backing-state-testing/) - By Dale Chu As the father of a rising second grader, I’ve got another year before my daughter begins annual state testing as required under federal law. Like many parents, I’m looking forward to the data these exams will provide—above all as a check upon the local assessments she’s been taking since she entered grade
- [Years late and a dollar short in Vermont](https://assessmenthq.org/years-late-and-a-dollar-short-in-vermont/) - By Dale Chu States are notoriously slow when it comes to releasing annual test results, but the state of Vermont took apathy to new lows a couple of weeks ago when, as part of a Friday news dump, the state finally released its 2022 state assessment results for schools and districts. Some states have already
- [As the assessment world turns](https://assessmenthq.org/as-the-assessment-world-turns/) - By Dale Chu With school accountability drawing some attention at the top of this new year, the elephant in the room continues to be what Uncle Sam has in store for its red headed stepchild, spring testing. There’s a growing sense that the feds plan on taking a hands-off approach once again, by issuing matter-of-fact
- [Arkansas: Every student should test](https://assessmenthq.org/arkansas-every-student-should-test/) - By Dale Chu As some states and districts duck out of testing for a second consecutive year, it’s easy to forget that others have been resolute and standing firm. Arkansas is one such paragon, where state leaders have remained steadfast in their commitment to state testing and the concomitant understanding of Covid’s impact upon schools.
- [Cheers, jeers, and chandeliers: Assessment edition](https://assessmenthq.org/cheers-jeers-and-chandeliers-assessment-edition/) - By Dale Chu The assessment-related news keeps on coming! Here are some noteworthy happenings in three states: Cheers Arkansas — Add another state to the list of five that are “doing it!” Last month, Arkansas reported that 97 percent of students participated in state assessments. Astute readers will remember that the state earned a
- [March Mathness: Using assessments to support student numeracy](https://assessmenthq.org/march-mathness-using-assessments-to-support-student-numeracy/) - By Dale Chu This month, the Collaborative For Student Success announced a March Mathness tournament, which aims to shine a spotlight on promising practices to improve upon America’s dismal performance in mathematics. Yours truly was tasked, along with my estimable colleagues Chad Aldeman and Jocelyn Pickford, to wade through an assortment of initiatives—ranging from statewide
- [Montana gets the green light from the feds](https://assessmenthq.org/montana-gets-the-green-light-from-the-feds/) - By Dale Chu Earlier today, the U.S. Department of Education (USED) officially greenlit Montana’s waiver request. This is big news in the world of large-scale testing as, among other things, it allows the state to move forward with its innovative assessment pilot without “double testing” (more on this below) during the upcoming school year. Alert
- [An obtuse angle on the honesty gap](https://assessmenthq.org/an-obtuse-angle-on-the-honesty-gap/) - By Dale Chu Virginia’s latest bid to raise academic standards took center stage at last month’s state board of education meeting, where policymakers debated the future of the state’s proficiency benchmarks. At the heart of this discussion is Virginia’s “honesty gap”—the misleadingly high proficiency rates reported on state exams compared to the more sobering results
- [Demystifying state assessments](https://assessmenthq.org/demystifying-state-assessments/) - By Dale Chu Bellwether just released a set of briefs—six in total—that offer a primer on how state standardized assessments are developed, scored, and reported. With spring testing season now upon us, the timing of Bellwether’s latest publication is right, and comes as standardized exams continue to face political headwinds. More myth-busting, as is the
- [The state of play on summative testing](https://assessmenthq.org/the-state-of-play-on-summative-testing/) - By Dale Chu Tracker Updated Dec. 20, 2022. Since our assessment snapshot was released a few weeks ago, several states have responded with new information, which is now reflected in the narrative below. We intend to continue revising this post as more updates become available, though it’s worth underscoring here why we’re sharing and reporting
- [California lays a not-so-golden egg on state testing](https://assessmenthq.org/california-lays-a-not-so-golden-egg-on-state-testing/) - By Dale Chu Last Friday’s news dump by the California Department of Education was as disappointing as it was woefully overdue. Student tests scores in the state plummeted, as did the number of students who took the assessments at all. Indeed, less than a quarter of California students in grades 3-8 and 11 took the
- [A bitter pill makes for strong medicine in Texas and Indiana](https://assessmenthq.org/a-bitter-pill-makes-for-strong-medicine-in-texas-and-indiana/) - By Dale Chu On the heels of some particularly depressing test results from Texas, last week saw the release of another state’s spring assessment scores where the picture was no less grim. Results from Indiana revealed steep declines, highlighting the uneven toll of the pandemic that adversely affected low-income students and families in particular. Although
- [Rising above the zero sum, anti-testing din](https://assessmenthq.org/rising-above-the-zero-sum-anti-testing-din/) - By Dale Chu Today, an impressive coalition of fifteen leading policy, advocacy, and member organizations wrote a letter to U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona asking for clarity on how the federal government will provide guidance and oversight to states in fulfilling ESSA’s testing requirements for the 2021-2022 school year. Importantly, the group includes recommendations
- [Comprehensive or convoluted? Testing in 2021 painted a cloudy picture](https://assessmenthq.org/comprehensive-or-convoluted-testing-in-2021-painted-a-cloudy-picture/) - By Dale Chu State testing is now underway. With luck and hopefully some leadership (more on that later in this series), the disruptions of the past two years will be put behind us. It’s likely we’ll see the bottom drop even more, but in too many states we won’t know because of shoddy data resulting
- [Oregon: Setting a low bar](https://assessmenthq.org/oregon-setting-a-low-bar/) - By Dale Chu Late last night, the U.S. Department of Education approved Oregon’s amended waiver request. The verdict itself was expected given the similarities with Colorado’s approved waiver (more on that below) coupled with the opening of Oregon’s testing window next week (i.e., April 13th). Nevertheless, the state’s plan is still worth reviewing on its
- [Assessment HQ refresh: Making the Honesty Gap Harder to Miss](https://assessmenthq.org/assessment-hq-refresh-making-the-honesty-gap-harder-to-miss/) - Drumroll, please… Assessment HQ, the go-to source for transparent state-level student assessment information, just refreshed its website—and it’s a glow-up worth celebrating.
- [Testing Provides Crucial Information](https://assessmenthq.org/testing-provides-crucial-information/) - Statewide annual assessments offer insights into whether students are receiving an equitable and excellent education. By Marc H. Morial For more than century, the National Urban League has empowered parents and students in underserved and urban communities to achieve equality in education, jobs, and justice. As a legacy civil rights organization, we recognize the power
- [Testing 1-2-3 Blog](https://assessmenthq.org/testing-1-2-3-blog/) - Author: Dale Chu Welcome to Testing 1-2-3, my new blog on state practices around annual assessments here at Assessment HQ! Sure, the education policy world is chock full of commentary, but there aren’t any outlets I can think of that focus exclusively on the state of assessments across the country. Why assessments and why now?
- [The SAT “adversity score” brouhaha misses the mark on what matters most](https://assessmenthq.org/the-sat-adversity-score-brouhaha-misses-the-mark-on-what-matters-most/) - Author: Dale Chu To kick things off here at Testing 1-2-3, let’s take a look at one of the biggest assessment stories of the day. In the wake of the college admissions scandal, the College Board’s announcement last month of a new “adversity score” to measure a student’s school and environmental context was a lit
- [Game-based assessments: hollow promise or promising frontier?](https://assessmenthq.org/game-based-assessments-hollow-promise-or-promising-frontier/) - Author: Dale Chu When it comes to the future of assessments, gaming is often enthusiastically cited as a potential solution. After all, if standardized tests are boring and gaming is fun, the race to replace the former with the latter is entirely comprehensible. The aura of innovation and excitement surrounding video games, in particular, makes
- [Back to school season is a busy one for state testing](https://assessmenthq.org/back-to-school-season-is-a-busy-one-for-state-testing/) - Author: Dale Chu With many students returning to school this month, high-quality annual assessments and the significant role they play are as pressing as ever. Annual tests help us all (1) take stock of how well states are doing; (2) gauge state progress toward workforce readiness; and (3) ground education policies and practices in real
- [States are closing the honesty gap, but will it last?](https://assessmenthq.org/states-are-closing-the-honesty-gap-but-will-it-last/) - By Dale Chu Some honest-to-goodness good news today: The latest National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) study shows that states have raised the cut scores for proficiency on state tests. Both Education Week and U.S. News and World Report have strong write-ups on the study. What this news means is that the honesty gap—the discrepancy
- [Musical chairs and the politics of state assessments](https://assessmenthq.org/musical-chairs-and-the-politics-of-state-assessments/) - By Dale Chu Over the summer, Tennessee signed a contract with their third company in five years to administer the state’s testing system. As demonstrated by the “Assessments by State” map on our homepage, the lack of consistency is hardly unique to the Volunteer State (though they’ve had a particularly bumpy ride). Not to be
- [End of course exams should be a matter of course](https://assessmenthq.org/end-of-course-exams-should-be-a-matter-of-course/) - By Dale Chu A new study released today by the Thomas B. Fordham Institute looks at End of Course Exams (EOCs) and their relationship with high school graduation rates and college entrance exam scores. Not to be confused with high school exit exams—tests students must pass to receive their high school diploma—EOCs are rarely high
- [The “adversity score” is no more](https://assessmenthq.org/the-adversity-score-is-no-more/) - By Dale Chu Well that didn’t take long. Three months ago, the College Board announced with great fanfare its intent to assign an “adversity score” to gauge students’ social and economic hardships. Yesterday, the College Board changed its mind. In announcing the about face, College Board CEO David Coleman stated, “It was very important that
- [The lessons of assessment politics are often “ILEARNed” the hard way](https://assessmenthq.org/the-lessons-of-assessment-politics-are-often-ilearned-the-hard-way/) - By Dale Chu Tomorrow, the results from Indiana’s new state test—called “ILEARN”—will be released to the public at the Indiana State Board of Education’s monthly meeting. Wednesday’s release has been preceded by considerable hubbub because the scores are disappointingly low according to parents and school officials who already received their results last month. As a
- [The assessment roller coaster is far from amusing](https://assessmenthq.org/the-assessment-roller-coaster-is-far-from-amusing/) - By Dale Chu Yesterday, Indiana publicly released the results from its new state test and, as predicted, the numbers were sobering. Fewer than half of students passed. Notably, the results continued to show wide disparities across race and demographics: 43.3% of white students passed both the English Language Arts and mathematics exams compared to 24.2%
- [Balanced assessment: Pipe dream or in the pipeline?](https://assessmenthq.org/balanced-assessment-pipe-dream-or-in-the-pipeline/) - By Dale Chu In June, Forbes published an intriguing interview with two educators—Theresa Morris and Christa Krohn—on the evolution of education reform as it pertains to testing in the state of Ohio. Although the piece opens with some questionable assertions about the root causes of today’s K-12 shortcomings, the interview itself contains a few observations
- [The new testing landscape: A conversation with FutureEd’s Lynn Olson](https://assessmenthq.org/the-new-testing-landscape-a-conversation-with-futureeds-lynn-olson/) - By Dale Chu Lynn Olson is an award-winning writer and editor, and a senior fellow at FutureEd, a think tank at Georgetown University’s McCourt School of Public Policy. They recently released a new report called The New Testing Landscape: State Assessments Under ESSA, which includes a scan of state testing systems across the country, a
- [Rather than blaming the test, let’s lift up Maryland’s students](https://assessmenthq.org/rather-than-blaming-the-test-lets-lift-up-marylands-students/) - By Dale Chu A recent contention in the Baltimore Sun that Maryland’s standardized test is to blame for declining math scores doesn’t explain why math proficiency scores among Maryland students on both the NAEP and the ACT college readiness test are also falling. And it conveniently ignores several independent and governmental analyses, including two from
- [Assessment shouldn’t be a bad word: A conversation with Amanda McAdams](https://assessmenthq.org/assessment-shouldnt-be-a-bad-word-a-conversation-with-amanda-mcadams/) - By Dale Chu Amanda McAdams, a former practicing attorney and 2011 Arizona Teacher of the Year, is currently the Director of Elementary Education and K-12 Literacy for Lincoln County School District #2 in Star Valley, Wyoming. She is a big believer in the power of assessments and authored a blog post titled “State Assessment Data
- [The testing two-step](https://assessmenthq.org/the-testing-two-step/) - By Dale Chu Last Friday, I had the opportunity to sit in on a discussion regarding the strengths and weaknesses of today’s state testing systems. Held under the auspices of the PIE Network, the panel—thoughtfully moderated by Future Ed’s Tom Toch—paired two state-level reform advocates, New Mexico Kids CAN’s Amanda Aragon and Georgia Partnership for
- [Annual assessments, adult success, and amnesia](https://assessmenthq.org/annual-assessments-adult-success-and-amnesia/) - By Dale Chu Education Week just ran a piece by CALDER’s Dan Goldhaber and Umut Özek on the research linking standardized tests and success in later life. The upshot is that there’s vast research literature connecting test scores and later life outcomes, such as educational attainment, health, and earnings, but these links—as compelling as they
- [The future(?) of state assessment (Part I): A conversation with NWEA’s Abby Javurek](https://assessmenthq.org/the-future-of-state-assessment-part-i-a-conversation-with-nweas-abby-javurek/) - By Dale Chu Abby Javurek is the Senior Director of Large Scale Assessment Solutions at Northwest Evaluation Association (NWEA), an education services organization probably best known for their computerized adaptive “MAP” tests. They recently announced the development of an adaptive, “through-year” assessment, a new solution that NWEA says eliminates the need for states to administer
- [The future(?) of state assessment (Part II): A conversation with NWEA’s Abby Javurek](https://assessmenthq.org/the-future-of-state-assessment-part-ii-a-conversation-with-nweas-abby-javurek/) - By Dale Chu Abby Javurek is the Senior Director of Large Scale Assessment Solutions at Northwest Evaluation Association (NWEA), an education services organization probably best known for their computerized adaptive “MAP” tests. They recently announced the development of an adaptive, “through-year” assessment, a new solution that NWEA says eliminates the need for states to administer
- [Around the horn with NAEP](https://assessmenthq.org/around-the-horn-with-naep/) - By Dale Chu Last week’s release of the 2019 NAEP report—the results of which were mostly grim—generated plenty of handwringing and a flurry of responses from pundits and policymakers of all stripes. In no particular order, here are some of them: - Former U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan said it’s even more important now
- [Does the bell toll for annual assessments?](https://assessmenthq.org/does-the-bell-toll-for-annual-assessments/) - By Dale Chu The Aurora Institute, formerly known as iNACOL, recently released five state policy recommendations for governors aimed at the future of education, training, and the future of work. What caught my eye was that one of these recommendations focused on pushing the envelope of state assessment systems. Specifically, the Aurora Institute calls out
- [The dishonesty of the assessment debate](https://assessmenthq.org/the-dishonesty-of-the-assessment-debate/) - By Dale Chu New Mexican students in grades 3 through 8 will be taking a new state assessment this upcoming spring. The “New Mexico Measure of Student Success and Achievement” — which also goes by the shorter though no more elucidating acronym “NM-MSSA” —replaces the PARCC test after it was scrapped with much fanfare. These
- [ESSA turns 4!](https://assessmenthq.org/essa-turns-4/) - By Dale Chu Four years ago this month, the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) was signed into law. To mark the anniversary, the Collaborative for Student Success is hosting an event on December 10th at the Dirksen Senate Office Building in Washington, D.C. The afternoon event will include remarks from some of ESSA’s congressional authors,
- [Two tensions in testing](https://assessmenthq.org/two-tensions-in-testing/) - By Dale Chu Last week, the Collaborative for Student Success and Education Week held a special event to mark the four-year anniversary of the passage of the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA). Participants took stock of the law’s impact thus far, and of the many conversations that took place, it became clear that for better
- [Is Biden backpedaling on testing?](https://assessmenthq.org/is-biden-backpedaling-on-testing-2/) - By Dale Chu You’d be hard-pressed to find anyone in the 2020 presidential field—on either side of the aisle—willing to offer a full-throated endorsement of annual assessments, but former Vice President Joe Biden’s wobbly-kneed response to an incredibly loaded question at last week’s Public Education Forum was noteworthy nonetheless. Unlike Sen. Bernie Sanders, for example,
- [Don’t make testing into a scapegoat](https://assessmenthq.org/dont-make-testing-into-a-scapegoat-2/) - By Dale Chu Last month, a Harvard professor—an acclaimed policy expert on assessment and testing—wrote an op-ed piece for NBC News laying the blame for poor student academic performance squarely on the doorstep of standardized tests. Since the advent of test-based accountability, dozens of studies across multiple decades have shown how tests can positively affect
- [A shot in the arm for innovative assessments](https://assessmenthq.org/a-shot-in-the-arm-for-innovative-assessments-2/) - By Dale Chu Perhaps concerned by the dearth of takers on the flexibility afforded under the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) to pilot innovative assessments, the U.S. Department of Education just released a proposed rule related to the Competitive Grants for State Assessments (CGSA) program. With this step, Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos is ostensibly
- [What the NPP (Yeah, you know me!) might mean for states](https://assessmenthq.org/what-the-npp-yeah-you-know-me-might-mean-for-states-2/) - By Dale Chu Recently, the U.S. Department of Education published a notice of proposed priorities (NPP) for the Competitive Grants for State Assessments (CGSA) program. In and of itself, the announcement of grantmaking priorities is unexceptional. The Department typically does this each time it administers a grant competition under the program. However, previous priorities have
- [Major improvements in middle school math](https://assessmenthq.org/major-improvements-in-middle-school-math-2/) - By Dale Chu One of the most complete and accurate sources for state proficiency trend data is right here at Assessment HQ. Our Explore State Data tool allows readers to explore data trends in 32 states where four years of comparable data is available. (Additional data will be added soon.) Using the tool, we can
- [On testing, Andrew Yang’s math doesn’t add up](https://assessmenthq.org/on-testing-andrew-yangs-math-doesnt-add-up/) - By Dale Chu Presidential candidate Andrew Yang has worn many hats. The one that simply reads “MATH” gets the most attention, but his role and what he learned as the former CEO of a test prep company merits further scrutiny from education advocates now that he’s earned a spot on New Hampshire’s debate stage. In
- [Putting the testing cart before the standards horse](https://assessmenthq.org/putting-the-testing-cart-before-the-standards-horse/) - By Dale Chu In what was hopefully the last major skirmish involving the Common Core State Standards (what year are we in?), Florida just announced recommendations for revisions to their state standards following a yearlong review initiated at the governor’s direction. The new standards are now public, but the playbook followed by the Sunshine State
- [Formative assessments results are no slam-dunk](https://assessmenthq.org/formative-assessments-results-are-no-slam-dunk/) - By Dale Chu By all accounts, Saturday’s NBA Slam Dunk Contest was a dizzying display of gravity-defying athleticism. Even for the uninitiated, it was hard not to appreciate the performances brought to bear by the aerial artists who competed. Because the scoring for an event like this requires some degree of subjectivity, controversy can often
- [A test of resolve: A conversation with NewMexicoKidsCAN’s Amanda Aragon](https://assessmenthq.org/a-test-of-resolve-a-conversation-with-newmexicokidscans-amanda-aragon/) - By Dale Chu Amanda Aragon is the Executive Director of NewMexicoKidsCAN, a New Mexico-based policy and advocacy organization. Last summer, they released a report called A Test of Resolve: Reinforcing High Expectations & Student Progress in New Mexico, which analyzed the impressive gains New Mexico students have made since the state implemented a more rigorous
- [Burying the lede on analyzing assessment data](https://assessmenthq.org/burying-the-lede-on-analyzing-assessment-data/) - By Dale Chu A provocatively titled Education Week opinion piece—“Does Studying Student Data Really Raise Test Scores?”—generated some buzz this month thanks to Betteridge’s law of headlines. For those who are unfamiliar, the tongue in cheek law states, “Any headline that ends in a question mark can be answered by the word no". As such,
- [Another testing straw man bites the dust](https://assessmenthq.org/another-testing-straw-man-bites-the-dust/) - By Dale Chu The tried-and-true playbook used by anti-testing advocates is a raggedy, dog-eared one. From test anxiety to student stress, the straw men trotted out in service of eliminating standardized tests are heavy on anecdotes, but light on evidence. Perhaps the most popular example is the oft-repeated yet oft-unchecked claim that the modern testing
- [Will testing irregularities knock the wind out of Chicago’s sails?](https://assessmenthq.org/will-testing-irregularities-knock-the-wind-out-of-chicagos-sails/) - By Dale Chu In 2017, an analysis by Stanford researchers appeared to show students in Chicago Public Schools (CPS) learning faster than almost every other school system in the country. The data was so compelling, it defied conventional wisdom about the relationship between wealth and educational attainment. Not surprisingly, CPS officials have taken great pride
- [Testing is important? You don’t say…](https://assessmenthq.org/testing-is-important-you-dont-say/) - By Dale Chu With the novel coronavirus dominating the headlines, disrupting schools, and upending lives, my friend Michael Petrilli recently made a droll observation calling attention to the irony in how testing is viewed in education versus in medicine now that we’re in the midst of a public health crisis. As it stands, one of
- [Don’t test, don’t tell](https://assessmenthq.org/dont-test-dont-tell/) - By Dale Chu As the novel coronavirus outbreak continues to accelerate, the most telling response to the closing of schools across over 30 states (and counting) is that the overriding concern appears to be students’ access to meals. It goes without saying that feeding children is a must, but food should be table stakes in
- [State testing at a crossroads](https://assessmenthq.org/state-testing-at-a-crossroads/) - By Dale Chu With the remainder of the school year up in the air because of the coronavirus, a growing number of states have announced or are contemplating the cancelation of testing this spring. Nationwide, nearly 40 million students have been impacted by the closures, representing 74,000 schools. To help keep track of where states
- [State testing at a crossroads](https://assessmenthq.org/state-testing-at-a-crossroads-2/) - By Dale Chu With the remainder of the school year up in the air because of the coronavirus, a growing number of states have announced or are contemplating the cancelation of testing this spring. Nationwide, nearly 40 million students have been impacted by the closures, representing 74,000 schools. To help keep track of where states
- [COVID-19 Tracker Update: March 19th](https://assessmenthq.org/covid-19-tracker-update-march-19th/) - By Dale Chu As promised, this is the first in a series of updates to the COVID-19 end-of-year assessment status tracker we launched yesterday. With conversations happening between a number of national organizations, including the Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO), and the U.S. Department of Education, we’re expecting states to update their positions
- [COVID-19 Tracker Update: March 19th (Evening)](https://assessmenthq.org/covid-19-tracker-update-march-19th-evening/) - By Dale Chu As predicted, states are quickly updating their positions. Valerie Strauss from the Washington Post has a write up here. Since our update this morning, three more states have made moves on testing: Mississippi, Pennsylvania, and Utah. The tracker below reflects these changes. COVID-19 State End-of-Year Assessment [table id=2 /]
- [COVID-19 Tracker Update: March 20th](https://assessmenthq.org/covid-19-tracker-update-march-20th/) - By Dale Chu Since yesterday’s post, three more states have made moves. With today’s announcement by U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos of broad waivers from federal testing requirements, it seems more and more likely that state assessments will be significantly delayed if not outright canceled in many, perhaps all, states. Losing these assessments means
- [COVID-19 Tracker Update: March 20th (Evening)](https://assessmenthq.org/covid-19-tracker-update-march-20th-evening/) - By Dale Chu As expected, new developments on state testing are happening fast and furiously. Since this morning, Alabama, D.C., Kentucky, North Carolina, and South Dakota have expressed their intent to pursue a waiver. In addition, North Dakota has canceled spring testing, and Rhode Island is postponing. Please stay tuned. COVID-19 State End-of-Year Assessment
- [COVID-19 Tracker Update: March 23rd](https://assessmenthq.org/covid-19-tracker-update-march-23rd/) - By Dale Chu I hope you’re buckled up for more action on state testing this week. Since our last update on Friday, six states—Alabama, Arkansas, Hawaii, Minnesota, Oregon, and Wyoming—have taken steps to cancel testing or obtain a waiver. Two states, Hawaii and Wyoming, have publically announced that their waiver was already approved. According to
- [COVID-19 Tracker Update: March 23rd (Evening)](https://assessmenthq.org/covid-19-tracker-update-march-23rd-evening/) - By Dale Chu Here’s the latest: Since this morning, several states have announced waiver approval from the U.S. Department of Education and a few have updated their plans to suspend or cancel assessments. We have verified through publicly available sources that 10 additional states have had their waivers approved. They are: Connecticut, Louisiana, Michigan, North
- [What will the cancellation of spring testing mean?](https://assessmenthq.org/what-will-the-cancellation-of-spring-testing-mean/) - By Dale Chu Over the last week, we’ve been monitoring state movement on spring testing with our COVID-19 end-of-year assessment tracker. Given the trend, it’s become clear that by the end of the week all states are going to have a testing waiver and will not be testing this spring. With that in mind, we’re
- [The testing terminator](https://assessmenthq.org/the-testing-terminator/) - By Dale Chu All 50 states including the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the Bureau of Indian Education have sought or received an initial waiver from the U.S. Department of Education to suspend spring testing. Given the extensive disruption in learning, pressing the pause button now makes sense. It’s hard to overstate the implications
- [Assessments by the numbers](https://assessmenthq.org/assessments-by-the-numbers/) - By Dale Chu With all of the coronavirus related news vis-à-vis testing, I’ve neglected to mention the exciting updates we’ve made to Assessment HQ’s Explore State Data tool. Here are some of the notable ones, which reflect state data released at the end of last year: - 33 states have comparable data from 2016 through 2019.
- [Owning the next steps on testing](https://assessmenthq.org/owning-the-next-steps-on-testing/) - By Dale Chu For all the talk about federal testing waivers and the anticipated COVID-19 learning loss, there’s been far less discussion on what happens next to help students hit the ground running in the fall. As if the stakes weren’t already high enough, NWEA released a study last week that raised the panic level
- [The sound and fury of testing reduction](https://assessmenthq.org/the-sound-and-fury-of-testing-reduction/) - By Dale Chu The convergence of the suspension of spring testing with a bipartisan backlash to standardized tests has raised questions as to what the future holds for annual state assessments. Into the breach stepped FutureEd earlier this week with a timely analysis titled, “The Big Test: The Future of State Standardized Assessments.” The report,
- [New science assessments in Massachusetts](https://assessmenthq.org/new-science-assessments-in-massachusetts/) - By Dale Chu Just because spring testing is on hold doesn’t mean innovation in assessment has come to a halt. Last week, Massachusetts got the green light from the U.S. Department of Education to develop new science assessments for grades 5 and 8 under ESSA as part of the Innovative Assessment Demonstration Authority or IADA
- [Why not a race to the top for diagnostic testing?](https://assessmenthq.org/why-not-a-race-to-the-top-for-diagnostic-testing/) - By Dale Chu With spring testing canceled, the need for some form of high-quality diagnostic testing this fall seems to be gaining steam. For the moment, states and districts are still largely focused on basic needs and technology, but I expect the conversation around diagnostics to pick up as we near the end of the
- [A consensus on diagnostic testing](https://assessmenthq.org/a-consensus-on-diagnostic-testing/) - By Dale Chu The Collaborative for Student Success recently released the results from a national survey of over 5,500 education professionals, which gauged their perspectives on what schools must do this fall to help students “catch up” from the unprecedented disruption in learning engendered by school closures due to the coronavirus. Notably, the poll showed
- [Can we land the COVID-19 assessment plane?](https://assessmenthq.org/can-we-land-the-covid-19-assessment-plane/) - By Dale Chu The Center for Assessment just published a curious piece suggesting that the current conversation regarding how to measure the covid slide come this fall is a fool’s errand. The author opens by creating a straw man in the form of a composite question from school and district officials: What assessment do you
- [A testing template in Texas](https://assessmenthq.org/a-testing-template-in-texas/) - By Dale Chu Last week, the Texas Education Agency advanced the conversation on fall testing by making optional end-of-year assessments (EOY) available to parents and educators free of charge. Covering most of the same grades and subject areas as the State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness (STAAR), these EOY assessments are being provided as
- [Assessment HQ Presents: COVID-19, Learning Loss, and the Role of Assessments](https://assessmenthq.org/assessment-hq-presents-covid-19-learning-loss-and-the-role-of-assessments/) - Note: This event was rescheduled for June 16 at 3:30pm ET. By Dale Chu Starting Tuesday, June 2nd, Assessment HQ, a project of the Collaborative for Student Success, will present a series of three weekly webinars that delve into the COVID slide and testing related topics, such as the effectiveness of available diagnostic tools and
- [RESCHEDULED: Assessment HQ Presents: COVID-19, Learning Loss, and the Role of Assessments](https://assessmenthq.org/rescheduled-assessment-hq-presents-covid-19-learning-loss-and-the-role-of-assessments/) - Last week, the Collaborative for Student Success joined the Blackout Tuesday movement out of respect and solidarity with the Black community and to help focus online and media attention on efforts protesting systemic racism. In light of these events, we postponed the Assessment HQ Presents: Measurement Matters online event originally scheduled for June 2, 2020, which
- [Diagnostic assessments: Between a rock and a hard place](https://assessmenthq.org/diagnostic-assessments-between-a-rock-and-a-hard-place/) - By Dale Chu Since the cancellation of spring testing, the push for diagnostic assessments this fall continues to gather steam. But as with all things in education policy, dissent is brewing for a host of reasons, centered primarily on equity concerns and the ongoing sentiment that schools and districts should be shown continued leniency and
- [On testing, Tennessee looks further south](https://assessmenthq.org/on-testing-tennessee-looks-further-south/) - By Dale Chu Last month, Texas made assessment headlines when they offered optional, end-of-year assessments to districts and families free of charge in response to the cancellation of spring testing and the anticipated drag on student performance caused by the pandemic. Not to be outdone, Tennessee just made a similar announcement, albeit aimed at schools
- [Testing in Georgia on my mind (er, the chopping block)](https://assessmenthq.org/testing-in-georgia-on-my-mind-er-the-chopping-block/) - By Dale Chu In light of current events, it was bound to happen, but who knew it would happen so soon? Earlier today, Georgia became the first state to signal its intention to seek a federal waiver from 2021 testing requirements. In a joint announcement from Governor Brian Kemp and State Superintendent Richard Woods, the
- [A quick recap of “Measurement Matters”](https://assessmenthq.org/a-quick-recap-of-measurement-matters/) - By Dale Chu Last Tuesday, I had the pleasure of hosting the first of three online events delving into the proper role of assessments in the wake of COVID-19. My guests were Chris Woolard, Senior Executive Director for Performance and Impact at the Ohio Department of Education, and Bill Porter, Partner at Education First. With
- [Take Five for Testing](https://assessmenthq.org/take-five-for-testing/) - There’s been a lot happening in the world of assessment. In case you missed any of it, here’s a quick recap of five stories: States have started lining up for 2021 testing waivers We all suspected it was bound to happen, but who knew it would happen so soon? Georgia was the first to signal
- [When it comes to testing waivers, some won’t take no for an answer](https://assessmenthq.org/when-it-comes-to-testing-waivers-some-wont-take-no-for-an-answer/) - By Dale Chu Last month, a top deputy to U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos indicated it would be premature to cancel state testing in 2021, saying, “Our instinct would not be to give those waivers.” His comments came on the heels of considerable buzz in Michigan, Georgia, South Carolina et al. that have already
- [The fat lady of testing hasn’t sung yet](https://assessmenthq.org/the-fat-lady-of-testing-hasnt-sung-yet/) - By Dale Chu Moments ago, the U.S. Department of Education appeared to shoot down the testing waiver requests submitted by states like Georgia and Michigan while potentially deterring those currently in the works in other states. In a strongly worded letter sent today to state chiefs by U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos, she writes,
- [Beyond the Scantron: Tests and Equity in Today’s Schools](https://assessmenthq.org/beyond-the-scantron-tests-and-equity-in-todays-schools/) - By Dale Chu The George W. Bush Institute recently produced an informative and highly engaging 13-piece series examining the importance of high-quality assessments and why they continue to be an essential guardrail for educational equity and excellence. The conversations reflect an assortment of expert voices on how assessments are designed, how they are deployed, how
- [Student assessment during COVID-19: A conversation with Laura Jimenez (Part II)](https://assessmenthq.org/student-assessment-during-covid-19-a-conversation-with-laura-jimenez-part-ii/) - By Dale Chu Laura Jimenez is the Director of Standards and Accountability at the Center for American Progress, a left-leaning policy and research think tank. Last month, Laura authored a report titled Student Assessment During COVID-19, which discussed why schools should assess students next year using annual state tests; the role other assessments might play
- [Student assessment during COVID-19: A conversation with Laura Jimenez (Part III)](https://assessmenthq.org/student-assessment-during-covid-19-a-conversation-with-laura-jimenez-part-iii/) - By Dale Chu Laura Jimenez is the Director of Standards and Accountability at the Center for American Progress, a left-leaning policy and research think tank. Last month, Laura authored a report titled Student Assessment During COVID-19, which discussed why schools should assess students next year using annual state tests; the role other assessments might play
- [A new administration and an uncertain future for annual testing](https://assessmenthq.org/a-new-administration-and-an-uncertain-future-for-annual-testing/) - By Dale Chu California just shortened its annual test for next spring. New York has canceled its January round of Regents exams (standardized tests in core high school subjects). And with the virus resurging, the prospect of low student turnout is causing concern in states like Ohio and North Carolina, where one parent reportedly
- [Ixnaying the NAEP](https://assessmenthq.org/ixnaying-the-naep/) - By Dale Chu In a breaking but not altogether surprising move, the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) just announced their plan to delay the biennial NAEP assessment of reading and math. According to James Woodworth, NCES’s commissioner, there are not enough students physically attending school to allow for a valid and reliable administration next
- [Preparing for an education recovery](https://assessmenthq.org/preparing-for-an-education-recovery/) - By Dale Chu Uncertainty about the status of spring testing notwithstanding, schools and systems across the country are steeling themselves for what could be a long road ahead. Even as the pandemic intensifies, public officials are recognizing the importance of annual assessments to support a post-Covid recovery. States understandably had to forgo testing last spring
- [More questions than answers on state testing](https://assessmenthq.org/more-questions-than-answers-on-state-testing/) - By Dale Chu As the second semester gets underway, the debate about whether or not the federal government should waive state testing will soon come to a head. Betsy DeVos is gone and, although she said she wouldn’t offer waivers again, decisions about what to do this spring now fall to Biden’s education secretary, Miguel
- [What President Biden’s EOs mean for state testing](https://assessmenthq.org/what-president-bidens-eos-mean-for-state-testing/) - By Dale Chu Joe Biden wasted no time last week in signing a flurry of executive orders (EOs) in the first hours of his presidency. Two actions in particular are worth noting because of the language employed and its potential implications for state testing. Consider the title of the first one: “Executive Order on Ensuring
- [How waivers could be the hundred-and-first blow against testing](https://assessmenthq.org/how-waivers-could-be-the-hundred-and-first-blow-against-testing/) - By Dale Chu With Miguel Cardona’s confirmation and installation as the nation’s next education secretary imminent, it’s worth reviewing the stakes attached to one of the most immediate and consequential decisions he will have to make: Whether to offer testing waivers to states for a second consecutive year. More than a handful (i.e., GA, MI,
- [Biden throws a wet blanket on blanket waivers](https://assessmenthq.org/biden-throws-a-wet-blanket-on-blanket-waivers/) - By Dale Chu With more states signaling interest in skipping annual testing in 2021, the Biden administration announced yesterday evening that it would not be issuing blanket waivers on state assessments. In a letter sent to state education chiefs, the U.S. Department of Education (USDOE) correctly underscored the importance of state tests in “advancing educational
- [Will the feds waver on waivers?](https://assessmenthq.org/will-the-feds-waver-on-waivers/) - By Dale Chu Despite last month’s letter from the U.S. Department of Education announcing that it won’t grant blanket testing waivers this year, a number of states plan on pursuing one nonetheless. To wit, Colorado—where this intrepid blogger is based—had been steeped in the buzz of test cancellation until very recently. In a change of
- [Assessment power rankings: States with the best approach to measuring student progress](https://assessmenthq.org/assessment-power-rankings-states-with-the-best-approach-to-measuring-student-progress/) - By Dale Chu With testing season about to begin (or in some cases, having already begun), states are wrestling with a host of tricky decisions regarding the administration of annual assessments. The hurdles are particularly daunting in states where schools have continued to remain shuttered (i.e., the West Coast and Maryland), creating cascading tensions along
- [Indiana: Using test data to study the pandemic’s effects](https://assessmenthq.org/indiana-using-test-data-to-study-the-pandemics-effects/) - By Dale Chu The time for states to make their case for waiving out of testing this spring is likely at an end, but the period for mischief-making is just getting started. In the coming weeks and months, in addition to examining assessment waivers, I’ll be using this space to look at how states have
- [The complexities of K-12 testing](https://assessmenthq.org/the-complexities-of-k-12-testing/) - By Dale Chu The original eduwonk, Andy Rotherham, penned a worthwhile read recently on where we find ourselves on K-12 testing, along with the inescapable tensions that are part and parcel of the competing interests and aspirations involved. Rotherham correctly observes that the “holy grail” are exams that can “yield good information for parents, teachers,
- [Is it time for “forward-looking” assessments?](https://assessmenthq.org/is-it-time-for-forward-looking-assessments/) - By Dale Chu As predicted, two consecutive years without state testing has provided the permission structure for some to begin questioning the utility of statewide standardized assessments. Take California as a prime example, where Uncle Sam afforded local jurisdictions an escape hatch from federal testing requirements via some dizzying verbal gymnastics, which resulted in many
- [Are another round of federal assessment waivers in the cards?](https://assessmenthq.org/are-another-round-of-federal-assessment-waivers-in-the-cards/) - By Dale Chu As state testing data continues to roll in and as schools gear up for a new academic year, it’s not too soon to ask how the feds might handle assessment waivers in 2022. Indeed, the question is almost certainly not if, but when states will begin lining up for flexibility in
- [Five states that are “doing it” on testing and recovery](https://assessmenthq.org/five-states-that-are-doing-it-on-testing-and-recovery/) - By Dale Chu Tracking the dismaying trend in states like Texas and Indiana, test results in Florida, Tennessee, and now Louisiana have also shown dramatic dips in student performance—with bigger drops in math than in reading. In Florida, 52 percent of students are on grade level in ELA and 51 percent in math. In
- [Florida man causes stir on state assessments](https://assessmenthq.org/florida-man-causes-stir-on-state-assessments/) - By Dale Chu All eyes are on the Sunshine State in the wake of Governor Ron DeSantis’ call for retiring the state’s annual assessment system in favor of shorter “progress monitoring” tests. The move took some of the heat off of the state’s contentious mask debate while generating broad support within Florida’s education community. Is
- [Asking the wrong questions about the 2021 standardized test scores](https://assessmenthq.org/asking-the-wrong-questions-about-the-2021-standardized-test-scores/) - By Dale Chu Is testing a failed strategy? This was the implication by a prominent testing critic in a recent piece for The Washington Post’s Valerie Strauss, in which he outlined eleven pointed questions for state lawmakers and other policymakers as part of what he called an “assessment of the assessors.” Punctuated with an emphatic
- [Latest NAEP results suggest we’re at a critical inflection point](https://assessmenthq.org/latest-naep-results-suggest-were-at-a-critical-inflection-point/) - By Dale Chu The bad news keeps on coming. A different iteration of the nation’s report card, the “Long-Term Trend Assessment (LTT),” raises additional concerns about how our students were faring even before the pandemic took hold (i.e., the results are from late 2019/early 2020). The upshot: the gap is growing between the highest and
- [Lots and lots and lots of assessment activity](https://assessmenthq.org/lots-and-lots-and-lots-of-assessment-activity/) - By Dale Chu At first glance, a new report from KnowledgeWorks on emerging trends in K-12 assessment innovation is impressive. Indeed, it paints one of the rosiest pictures I’ve seen on the current state of play on this important yet precariously fraught topic. To wit, the report’s authors characterize what’s been happening in states (more
- [Will assessment history repeat itself?](https://assessmenthq.org/will-assessment-history-repeat-itself/) - By Dale Chu As conversations about the opportunity to rethink standardized testing gain steam following two years of pandemic-related interruptions, it’s worth remembering what happened the last time we got roped into an assessment rodeo of sorts. I’m referring, of course, to Race to the Top and the $330 million award that was made to
- [Curriculum and Assessment: The Peanut Butter Cup of Education](https://assessmenthq.org/curriculum-and-assessment-the-peanut-butter-cup-of-education/) - By Dale Chu and Jocelyn Pickford As part of the recent launch of AssessmentHQ’s new sister site, CurriculumHQ, Dale Chu sat down with his Curriculum A-B-C counterpart, Jocelyn Pickford, to talk about the important links between curriculum and assessment. Both former teachers, Jocelyn and Dale had a lot to say on the synergy between the
- [Will complacency be assessment’s coup de grâce?](https://assessmenthq.org/will-complacency-be-assessments-coup-de-grace/) - By Dale Chu During The Hill’s The Future of Education summit held last week, U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona said that he’s more worried about complacency than he is about the pandemic. He has good reason to be: after two awful years of Covid-constrained learning, students have fallen further behind and the gaps between
- [Are annual assessments old hat?](https://assessmenthq.org/are-annual-assessments-old-hat/) - By Dale Chu The state assessments happening now in 2022 closely mirror students’ testing experience back in 2002 at the advent of NCLB: they are largely multiple-choice and they are designed to gauge student progress towards a basic level of achievement. In some respects this is understandable. Twenty years ago, policymakers were constrained by the
- [Who will lead on assessment innovation?](https://assessmenthq.org/who-will-lead-on-assessment-innovation/) - By Dale Chu “There go the people. I must follow them for I am their leader.” — Alexandre Auguste Ledru-Rollin One of the few things that have become increasingly clear in the fog of the standardized testing debate is the glaring lack of leadership from education officials: state, national, or otherwise. Indeed, in an interview
- [Teachers, particularly BIPOC teachers, value state testing](https://assessmenthq.org/teachers-particularly-bipoc-teachers-value-state-testing/) - By Dale Chu A new survey conducted by Educators for Excellence offers some intriguing insights into how teachers see the process of education recovery and what schools might need to help get students back on track. Based on a representative sample of 1,000 full-time public school teachers, the survey, sponsored by NWEA, also included an
- [Kiss my assessment](https://assessmenthq.org/kiss-my-assessment/) - By Dale Chu For the first time in a long time, results from state standardized tests administered this spring will soon be available to help guide educators and policymakers through the long-term education recovery effort. Or will it? While no states begged out-of-state assessments entirely this year, there are already reasons to be concerned about
- [The future of assessments](https://assessmenthq.org/the-future-of-assessments/) - By Dale Chu Back in March, I kicked off a series of blog posts coinciding with the refresh of the Assessment HQ website (links to the first six installments below). I looked back on state testing during the last couple of years and lamented the lack of leadership and conviction vis-à-vis state assessment systems. I
- [Broadening perspectives on testing](https://assessmenthq.org/broadening-perspectives-on-testing/) - By Dale Chu On Tuesday, I attended a convening in New York City hosted by the National Urban League (NUL) and UnidosUS on the future of assessment and accountability (FOAA). Coming on the heels of last week’s NAEP release (more on that here and here), the timely event—titled “Broadening Perspectives: Education Assessment, Accountability, and Equity”—summarized
- [Indiana Jones and the Dial of (Data) Disarray](https://assessmenthq.org/indiana-jones-and-the-dial-of-data-disarray/) - By Dale Chu Indiana Jones is back! For better or worse, the legendary archaeologist will have his hands full again with Nazis and their grotesque ilk, but at least Dr. Jones is not dealing with the disarray that has been the hunt for 2022 statewide test results. Following closely on the heels of the assessment
- [The State of Assessment](https://assessmenthq.org/the-state-of-assessment/) - By Dale Chu Ahead of President Biden’s State of the Union address tonight, where he is expected to do a victory lap for his handling of the economy as he weighs another run for the Oval Office, the mood is decidedly more mixed when it comes to the state of K-12 education—especially as it relates
- [Houses, macarons, and state testing data](https://assessmenthq.org/houses-macarons-and-state-testing-data/) - By Dale Chu Earlier this month, we refreshed the Assessment HQ website to reflect student proficiency data and information on participation rates for the 2021-22 school year. An update to the press release was also issued, regarding the progress of students in math. Instead of calling out the slower rate of recovery in mathematics versus
- [The tortuous road to more inclusive and innovative assessments](https://assessmenthq.org/the-tortuous-road-to-more-inclusive-and-innovative-assessments/) - By Dale Chu Last month, the National Center for Learning Disabilities (NCLD) released an important and insightful report titled, “Inclusive, Innovative Assessments for Students With Learning Disabilities.” It reflects findings gathered from surveys and focus groups NCLD conducted in 2022—with educators of students with disabilities, caregivers, and young adults with disabilities—to better understand their perceptions
- [Four recommendations for improving IADA](https://assessmenthq.org/four-recommendations-for-improving-iada/) - By Dale Chu Earlier this month, the Collaborative for Student Success proudly joined a group of thirteen signatories in submitting a response to the U.S. Department of Education’s request for information (RFI) on the Innovative Assessment Demonstration Authority (IADA) pilot. A putative first step of re-regulation, you can read more about the RFI here. Notably,
- [State tests that are useful for both instruction and accountability: A conversation with New Meridian’s Arthur VanderVeen (Part I)](https://assessmenthq.org/state-tests-that-are-useful-for-both-instruction-and-accountability-a-conversation-with-new-meridians-arthur-vanderveen-part-i/) - Arthur VanderVeen is the founder and CEO of New Meridian, an assessment design and development company. Today, it works with over 2,500 districts in five states. Because of New Meridian’s leadership in response to the call for better measures, I wanted to take a closer look under the hood of their efforts. In part one
- [Instructional transparency hits a dead end](https://assessmenthq.org/instructional-transparency-hits-a-dead-end/) - By Dale Chu One year ago, EdReports and the Center for Assessment announced a joint effort to bring greater transparency to the commercially available, and financially lucrative, interim assessment market. That project recently collapsed when assessment publishers demurred, citing a laundry list of misgivings ranging from timing, capacity, proprietary concerns, and skepticism about the need
- [Testing in Missouri: Showing how it’s done or worrisome show?](https://assessmenthq.org/testing-in-missouri-showing-how-its-done-or-worrisome-show/) - By Dale Chu In August, the Missouri State Board of Education unanimously approved a waiver request from nineteen districts and one charter school that allows them to pilot a through-year assessment model and to be exempted from certain provisions in the state’s accountability system for three years. The ability to apply for “innovation waivers” in
- [Bright spots and a missed opportunity in new bipartisan call to action](https://assessmenthq.org/bright-spots-and-a-missed-opportunity-in-new-bipartisan-call-to-action/) - By: Chad Aldeman, Jocelyn Pickford, and Dale Chu In a refreshing display of collaboration, the Building Bridges initiative recently released a call to action to “quickly and dramatically improve the learning opportunities for today’s students.” They diagnose the problems in a clear but sobering way: The COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated a crisis in our education system—with
- [Four Texas-sized testing happenings to keep an eye on](https://assessmenthq.org/four-texas-sized-testing-happenings-to-keep-an-eye-on/) - By Dale Chu While the education talk in Texas revolves around the expansion of school choice, the goings on in the Lone Star State as it relates to standardized testing, lawmaking, and the strategic use of assessment data have largely flown under the radar. I’d like to call your attention to four items in particular:
- [Guest Post: Standardized tests are good…we should listen to what the results are telling us](https://assessmenthq.org/guest-post-standardized-tests-are-goodwe-should-listen-to-what-the-results-are-telling-us/) - By: Dale Chu and Chad Aldeman Chad Aldeman is a nationally recognized expert on education policy and my compatriot on the EduProgress: Unpacked blog. There are few people in the education sector as well-respected as Chad. He’s also a friend, and incredibly endearing whenever he laments the plodding pace at which states slow walk their assessment results. Today,
- [Now live: 2022-23 state assessment results](https://assessmenthq.org/now-live-2022-23-state-assessment-results/) - By Dale Chu Fans of Assessment HQ will be pleased to learn that 2022-23 state assessment scores from more than two-thirds of states are now available on the site. With this update, Assessment HQ features three years of post-pandemic results for most states and is the only place to find a clear and comprehensive snapshot
- [States should use test scores to increase student enrollment in advanced math](https://assessmenthq.org/states-should-use-test-scores-to-increase-student-enrollment-in-advanced-math/) - By: Chad Aldeman and Dale Chu Of the many ways poor and minority students are often given short shrift by schools, none may be more insidious than being automatically subjugated to remedial level work when they could be enrolled in advanced courses. Six states have endeavored to tackle this problem head on by enacting “automatic
- [Can Uncle Sam be believed on assessment innovation?](https://assessmenthq.org/can-uncle-sam-be-believed-on-assessment-innovation/) - By Dale Chu The Monday of the week leading into Thanksgiving, the U.S. Department of Education (USED) issued a “Dear Colleague” letter announcing changes to the Innovative Assessment Demonstration Authority (IADA), the federal government’s underwhelming-to-date mechanism for encouraging states to pilot, develop, and deploy the next generation of state assessments. Under the current administration, Uncle
- [Portrait of an assessment](https://assessmenthq.org/portrait-of-an-assessment/) - By Dale Chu It’s the trend that’s sweeping the nation: the “portrait of a graduate.” The Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching’s President Tim Knowles says, “They’re everywhere.” To wit, at least seventeen states have adopted (or are in the process of developing) one with the goal of establishing an agreed-upon sets of skills
- [Can AI help bridge the divide between state assessment data and the public?](https://assessmenthq.org/can-ai-help-bridge-the-divide-between-state-assessment-data-and-the-public/) - By Dale Chu A new AI tool debuted last December that complements the work we’ve been doing here at AssessmentHQ to monitor the reporting of state summative test results. Developed by Emily Oster, Zelma aims to make assessment data “more widely accessible and engaging for the general public.” USA Today and The 74 covered the
- [The pernicious predictability of anti-testing advocates](https://assessmenthq.org/the-pernicious-predictability-of-anti-testing-advocates/) - By Dale Chu A viral TikTok video posted earlier this week served up some freshly warmed-over disparagement of annual assessments. The digital screed was prompted by an opinion column’s review of a new paper by Jamil Maroun and Chris Tienken purporting to debunk the use of standardized tests as a credible measure of student learning.
- [Reading the assessment tea leaves](https://assessmenthq.org/reading-the-assessment-tea-leaves/) - By Dale Chu Even though the energy and enthusiasm for standardized testing seems to have stalled out, there’s no shortage of new developments. Here are four worth highlighting, though how to interpret them I’ll leave to you, dear reader: 1. Stick a fork in Carnegie's new education initiative: A thought-provoking read by Max Eden on
- [State test results are still too d*mn slow](https://assessmenthq.org/state-test-results-are-still-too-dmn-slow/) - By Dale Chu In April, Alaska published its 2023 state assessment results, making it the final one to publicly release its assessment data for that academic year. This came at a time when students were preparing to take the 2024 exams. Which is to say, states continue to be notoriously slow when it comes to
- [Breaking the assessment stalemate](https://assessmenthq.org/breaking-the-assessment-stalemate/) - By Dale Chu The fine folks at FutureEd, specifically Lynn Olson and Tom Toch, just released a thoughtful new report titled, “None of the Above: A New Vision for State Standardized Testing.” (Intrepid readers of this blog will recall my interview with Olson a few years back.) The authors provide a primer on the history
- [We all want assessment innovation, but at what cost?](https://assessmenthq.org/we-all-want-assessment-innovation-but-at-what-cost/) - By Chad Aldeman and Dale Chu In a report for FutureEd last month, Lynn Olson and Tom Toch advocate for a “matrix sampling” approach to federally required achievement tests. Basically, instead of testing all kids in grades 3-8, states could test just a sample of students and still get high-level accountability results. As Dale noted
- [Boosting parental support for standardized testing](https://assessmenthq.org/boosting-parental-support-for-standardized-testing/) - By Dale Chu Today, the Collaborative for Student Success, the National Parents Union (NPU), and EdTrust announced the results of a joint effort to bridge the gap between parents and policymakers on the important question of how state assessment results are used to smartly and efficiently drive resources in service of raising student achievement. Two
- [The best of a bad lot: Weighing updates to annual testing](https://assessmenthq.org/the-best-of-a-bad-lot-weighing-updates-to-annual-testing/) - By Dale Chu One of the most frustrating aspects of the future of assessment conversation is the absence of specifics. So much of the talk is about the shortcomings of the current testing regime (e.g., too punitive, too expensive) and how we need something “better” (e.g., less time intensive, more instructionally useful, more innovative). But
- [If more schools would only look to the data…](https://assessmenthq.org/if-more-schools-would-only-look-to-the-data/) - By Dale Chu Two policy wonks I respect and admire, Charlie Barone and Rianna Saslow, recently co-authored an article in The 74 highlighting the key strategies used by “spotlight schools” in Colorado and Massachusetts to help lift student achievement. Notable among these is the centrality of assessment data and its role in guiding strategy and
- [Assessment headline blitz](https://assessmenthq.org/assessment-headline-blitz/) - By Dale Chu There’s less than ninety days before voters head to the polls, but no shortage of assessment headlines worth flagging. Let’s go: States have started releasing 2024 state results: Texas, Tennessee, Florida, Indiana, Louisiana, and Missouri have issued their most recent assessment data. Overall, the scores are a mixed bag, but kudos
- [A myopic view of standardized testing](https://assessmenthq.org/a-myopic-view-of-standardized-testing/) - By Dale Chu Coinciding with this week’s convention, the Democrats just released its party platform, a document that provides plenty of political comfort food, but nothing appetizing when it comes to annual assessments. Turn to page 26 in the platform to see for yourself the off-putting dish on serve: The Administration supports a multitude of
- [Oklahoma’s fictional test score gains](https://assessmenthq.org/oklahomas-fictional-test-score-gains/) - By Dale Chu The assessment world was set alight last week with the news of skyrocketing test gains in the Sooner State. Reading scores for Oklahoma’s third graders jumped from 29 percent proficient last year to 51 percent this year. Eighth graders bested their previous mark by double, spiking from 20 percent proficiency to 40
- [Now live: 2023-24 state assessment results](https://assessmenthq.org/now-live-2023-24-state-assessment-results/) - By Dale Chu With the election and Thanksgiving in the rearview mirror and the end of the year right around the corner, Assessment HQ enthusiasts can take heart in today’s release of 2023-24 state assessment scores for 41 states (and D.C.). With this update, Assessment HQ now features four years of post-pandemic results for most
- [2024 assessment results: Slight progress in math](https://assessmenthq.org/2024-assessment-results-slight-progress-in-math/) - By Dale Chu Now that most states have released their 2024 assessment results, what can we make of them? Overall, most states are nowhere near full recovery. Anecdotally, in conversations I’ve had with school and district leaders, more movement is being seen in math than ELA—with the conventional wisdom being that math skills are more
- [2024 assessment results: The asterisk era](https://assessmenthq.org/2024-assessment-results-the-asterisk-era/) - By Dale Chu This week, Assessment HQ published 2024 assessment results for 41 states (and D.C.). The key takeaway is that (nominal) gains in math are outpacing ELA, but students are by and large still far behind. That hasn’t stopped some states from trying to sugarcoat the setbacks students have faced post-Covid, but the lack
- [NAEP sounds the alarm on math. Who’s paying attention?](https://assessmenthq.org/naep-sounds-the-alarm-on-math-whos-paying-attention/) - By Dale Chu The latest NAEP math results are in, and they confirm what many have feared: our students remain in a deep hole when it comes to student achievement. The Nation’s Report Card has long been an invaluable barometer of academic progress, and this new data should serve as yet another wake-up call. But
- [Dodging an assessment bullet](https://assessmenthq.org/dodging-an-assessment-bullet/) - By Dale Chu In an interview Miguel Cardona gave before he stepped down, the now former education secretary offered a curious answer to the question of his biggest regret. Here’s what he said: You never punch out. There’s always more you can do. I wanted to do more in terms of assessments. I think our
- [March Mathness: Behind and beyond the scoreboard](https://assessmenthq.org/march-mathness-behind-and-beyond-the-scoreboard/) - By: Dale Chu March is here, and with it comes the return of March Mathness—a time to spotlight state-led efforts to improve math achievement. While the tournament gives us plenty to cheer about (just ask my colleagues and erstwhile math judges Jocelyn Pickford and Chad Aldeman), it’s also worth asking: Are we actually fixing math
- [When a test notice becomes a culture war memo](https://assessmenthq.org/when-a-test-notice-becomes-a-culture-war-memo/) - By Dale Chu Standardized testing season typically brings reminders about sleep and snacks—not culture war disclaimers. But a recent message to families from my daughter’s Colorado charter school, sent ahead of this month’s fourth-grade social studies test, took a very different tack. Rather than a straightforward update on logistics (which, to be fair, parents received
- [NAEP can’t—and shouldn’t—do it all](https://assessmenthq.org/naep-cant-and-shouldnt-do-it-all/) - By Dale Chu The National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) is shrinking. Due to budget constraints and shifting priorities, the federal government is scaling back the Nation’s Report Card. Upcoming assessments in science, writing, and U.S. history are being canceled or limited to fewer grade levels. Fewer students will be tested. Fewer data points will
- [Beyond test scores—but not beyond what they’re good for](https://assessmenthq.org/beyond-test-scores-but-not-beyond-what-theyre-good-for/) - By Dale Chu The post-NCLB push to broaden how we judge school quality is well-intentioned—and overdue in some respects. Headlines like the one from a recent op-ed in The 74, “Beyond Test Scores: 186 Innovative Educators on How to Know a School Is Good” reflect a growing desire for richer, more holistic indicators of student
- [Texoma’s testing moves raise red flags](https://assessmenthq.org/texomas-testing-moves-raise-red-flags/) - By Dale Chu Don’t look now, but Texas and Oklahoma are turning heads with their latest moves on assessment. Texas is poised to overhaul its assessment and accountability system—and not all of the changes are for the better. House Bill 4, which has already cleared the Texas House with broad bipartisan support (by a vote
- [A love letter to NCLB: A conversation with Kristin Fitzgerald](https://assessmenthq.org/a-love-letter-to-nclb-a-conversation-with-kristin-fitzgerald/) - By Dale Chu As a former member of the Naperville District 203 Board of Education, Kristin Fitzgerald spent over a decade working on the front lines of education, advocating for policies that address achievement gaps. Her tenure on the board—where she helped drive key decisions about school improvement, assessments, and data use—offers a unique perspective
- [The best assessment news you probably missed](https://assessmenthq.org/the-best-assessment-news-you-probably-missed/) - By Dale Chu and Lindsay Fryer You’d be forgiven for missing it, buried as it is in the weeds of the Trump administration’s fiscal year 2026 budget request. But tucked into the document is something we haven’t seen from Washington in years: a clear, affirmative statement of support for statewide assessments, accountability, and transparency under
- [From labels to lower bars: a three-state snapshot of testing policy](https://assessmenthq.org/from-labels-to-lower-bars-a-three-state-snapshot-of-testing-policy/) - By Dale Chu From Missouri to Texas to Illinois, state leaders are debating the nuts and bolts of annual assessments. Whether it’s recalibrating score reports, lowering proficiency bars, or scrapping tests entirely, the constant is that state testing policy remains under pressure. Missouri adds a “grade-level” mark to test reports Missouri lawmakers recently passed legislation
- [Could Oklahoma’s waiver end state testing as we know it?](https://assessmenthq.org/could-oklahomas-waiver-end-state-testing-as-we-know-it/) - If you only read last week’s press release, you might think Oklahoma had just liberated its students from a tyrannical testing regime. The headline blares: “END of Government Mandated End-of-Year Testing,” complete with vows to “return power back to the states” and give it to parents, plus multiple nods to the Trump administration.
- [The rare case of a testing cut worth applauding](https://assessmenthq.org/the-rare-case-of-a-testing-cut-worth-applauding/) - By Dale Chu Testing can feel like a zero sum game: too many assessments eat into classroom time while cutting tests risks compromising accountability. (Look no further than the latest hullabaloo from Oklahoma to see how tricky the tradeoffs can be.) But in Tucson, a local teachers union recently helped one Arizona district navigate a
- [Texas pushes school boards to act on early learning data](https://assessmenthq.org/texas-pushes-school-boards-to-act-on-early-learning-data/) - By Dale Chu Texas is taking a bold step to keep its youngest students from falling behind. As part of its new spending package, local superintendents must report K–3 reading and math assessment results to their school boards and make them available to parents. While these are brief “screeners” rather than high-stakes exams, the move is

## Pages

- [Home](https://assessmenthq.org/) - TESTING IS A RITE OF PASSAGE. We test to drive, to fly, to become doctors, lawyers, and soldiers. We test because we have to know if someone is qualified. Education shouldn’t be any different – students need to take standardized tests so that we know whether they are mastering the knowledge and skills necessary to
- [Resources and Information](https://assessmenthq.org/resources-and-information/) - Resources & Information The resources below are provided to help increase understanding of academic assessments and have been created by state and national organizations. About the State Test Learning Heroes This online resource helps parents better understand their state test and ensure their children succeed. Visit Learning Heroes to learn more about the test administered
- [Principles](https://assessmenthq.org/why-assessments/principles/) - Assessment Principles WHY ASSESSMENTS Assessment Principles Annual assessments provide critical information to educators, policymakers, and families on the progress of all students and on the progress of schools and districts in improving student outcomes. In order for states to have reliable information from annual assessments, state leaders must know they are delivering a high-quality test.
- [Honesty Gap](https://assessmenthq.org/honesty-gap/) - The Honesty Gap is the discrepancy between what a state and the National Assessment on Educational Progress (NAEP) each consider to be “proficient.”With academic recovery efforts stalled and policymakers sidestepping school accountability, lowering student expectations becomes an easy way to project success. Holding the bar high is far less appealing.The warning signs are clear. More
- [Why Assessments](https://assessmenthq.org/why-assessments/) - Why Assessments WHY ASSESSMENTS TESTING IS A RITE OF PASSAGE We test to drive, to fly, to become doctors, lawyers, and soldiers. We test because we have to know if someone is qualified. Education shouldn’t be any different – students need to take standardized tests so that we know whether they are mastering the knowledge
- [Methodology](https://assessmenthq.org/why-assessments/methodology/) - Sources & Methodology WHY ASSESSMENTS Sources and Methodology This page seeks to shed further light on the methods used in Assessment HQ’s data tool and the sources of the data. If you have questions or concerns about the data, or the sources/availability of data, please reach out to us at jparrish@forstudentsuccess.org. Explore Principles Methodology What is
- [Testing 1-2-3 Blog](https://assessmenthq.org/testing-1-2-3/) - Testing 1-2-3 Welcome to Testing 1-2-3 A blog on state practices around annual assessments by former educator and policy expert Dale Chu! Dale writes about K-12 academic assessments and makes sense of the data, facts, and myths about them. Annual statewide tests provide actionable data on student learning to help inform instruction, continue recovery, and strategically
- [Explore State Data](https://assessmenthq.org/explore-state-data/) - ASSESSMENT HQ EXPLORE STATE DATA Select a state below to view student proficiency data and information on participation rates for grades 3-8. 2023-2024 data now available.The map below displays state-reported student performance results in mathematics and English language arts (ELA) by student group as well as information on participation rates – a key consideration when
- [Contact](https://assessmenthq.org/contact/) - Contact Contact the Assessment HQ Team Assessment HQ is a project of the Collaborative for Student Success, a non-profit advocacy organization that works to defend high standards, high-quality assessments, and strong systems of accountability, to ensure that each and every student is prepared for college or career.Contact media@forstudentsuccess.org or fill out the form below. Questions /
- [About](https://assessmenthq.org/about/) - About Us ABOUT US About Assessment HQ Assessment HQ is the go-to source for understanding how states are using K-12 annual academic assessments to help improve education. High-quality, annual assessments aligned with high and rigorous academic standards help states evaluate if and how they are preparing every student for future success in college or careers.Assessment
- [2022-2023 Summative Assessment Snapshot](https://assessmenthq.org/testing-1-2-3/2022-2023-summative-assessment-snapshot/) - 2022-2023 Summative Assessment Snapshot This snapshot provides an overview of publicly released information from state educational agencies related to the administration of spring 2023 statewide assessments in math and English language arts in grades 3–8 required by Federal law. Statewide assessments of student learning are an important tool in understanding where students stand on their
- [2021-2022 Summative Assessment Snapshot](https://assessmenthq.org/testing-1-2-3/2021-2022-summative-assessment-snapshot/) - 2021-2022 Summative Assessment Snapshot This snapshot provides an overview of publicly released information from state educational agencies related to the administration of spring 2022 statewide assessments in math and English language arts in grades 3–8 required by Federal law. Statewide assessments of student learning are an important tool in understanding where students stand on their
- [2023-2024 Summative Assessment Snapshot](https://assessmenthq.org/testing-1-2-3/2023-2024-summative-assessment-snapshot/) - 2023-2024 Summative Assessment Snapshot This snapshot provides an overview of publicly released information from state educational agencies related to the administration of spring 2024 statewide assessments in math and English language arts in grades 3–8 required by Federal law. Statewide assessments of student learning are an important tool in understanding where students stand on their
- [Thank You](https://assessmenthq.org/thank-you/) - Thank You Thanks for Contacting Assessment HQ Assessment HQ is the go-to source for understanding how states are using K-12 annual academic assessments to help improve education. High-quality, annual assessments aligned with high and rigorous academic standards help states evaluate if and how they are preparing every student for future success in college or careers.
- [Sitemap](https://assessmenthq.org/sitemap/) - Sitemap About Contact Explore State Data Home Honesty Gap Privacy Policy Thank You Resources and Information Testing 1-2-3 Blog 2023-2024 Summative Assessment Snapshot 2021-2022 Summative Assessment Snapshot 2022-2023 Summative Assessment Snapshot Why Assessments Principles Methodology Contact the Assessment HQ Team Explore State Assessments Explore States Now Explore Explore Honesty Gap
- [Privacy Policy](https://assessmenthq.org/privacy-policy/) - Privacy Policy Last revised: August, 2014 The Collaborative for Student Success (“Collaborative”) is committed to protecting the personal information that you provide and entrust to us when using our websites. This online privacy statement describes how we treat all user data collected by us during your visit, both technical data that is automatically collected and voluntarily

## News

- [Beto O’Rourke wants to end the STAAR tests. Here’s why he can’t.](https://assessmenthq.org/news/beto-orourke-wants-to-end-the-staar-tests-heres-why-he-cant/)
- [State ed officials explore periodic exams as alternative to year-end standardized tests](https://assessmenthq.org/news/state-ed-officials-explore-periodic-exams-as-alternative-to-year-end-standardized-tests/)
- [American students’ test scores plunge to levels unseen for decades](https://assessmenthq.org/news/american-students-test-scores-plunge-to-levels-unseen-for-decades/)
- [‘Nation’s Report Card’: Two Decades of Growth Wiped Out by Two Years of Pandemic](https://assessmenthq.org/news/nations-report-card-two-decades-of-growth-wiped-out-by-two-years-of-pandemic/)
- [The Pandemic Erased Two Decades of Progress in Math and Reading](https://assessmenthq.org/news/the-pandemic-erased-two-decades-of-progress-in-math-and-reading/)
- [Stamford schools’ state test scores plummet from pre-pandemic era](https://assessmenthq.org/news/stamford-schools-state-test-scores-plummet-from-pre-pandemic-era/)
- [Academic progress rebounds — but more recovery needed](https://assessmenthq.org/news/academic-progress-rebounds-but-more-recovery-needed/)
- [Nearly 75% of Texas public schools graded A or B in latest school ratings](https://assessmenthq.org/news/nearly-75-of-texas-public-schools-graded-a-or-b-in-latest-school-ratings/)
- [Mississippi sees rebound in latest student test scores](https://assessmenthq.org/news/mississippi-sees-rebound-in-latest-student-test-scores/)
- [With the new Florida Assessment of Student Thinking, students will be tested three times per year.](https://assessmenthq.org/news/with-the-new-florida-assessment-of-student-thinking-students-will-be-tested-three-times-per-year/)
- [NJ tells schools to administer Start Strong test in the fall to assess students' standing](https://assessmenthq.org/news/nj-tells-schools-to-administer-start-strong-test-in-the-fall-to-assess-students-standing/)
- [Ga. kids’ test scores remain below pre-pandemic levels](https://assessmenthq.org/news/ga-kids-test-scores-remain-below-pre-pandemic-levels/)
- [Texas STAAR results improve in math and reading after pandemic dips](https://assessmenthq.org/news/texas-staar-results-improve-in-math-and-reading-after-pandemic-dips/)
- [IPS reports math, literacy improvements after spring tutoring program](https://assessmenthq.org/news/ips-reports-math-literacy-improvements-after-spring-tutoring-program/)
- [Tennessee Releases 2021-22 TCAP State-Level Results Highlighting Significant Learning Acceleration](https://assessmenthq.org/news/tennessee-releases-2021-22-tcap-state-level-results-highlighting-significant-learning-acceleration/)
- [Ask & Answer: Why do North Carolina students take standardized tests?](https://assessmenthq.org/news/ask-answer-why-do-north-carolina-students-take-standardized-tests/)
- [NM sees delay in student assessment data](https://assessmenthq.org/news/nm-sees-delay-in-student-assessment-data/)
- [Illinois board of education holds off on changes to the state assessment](https://assessmenthq.org/news/illinois-board-of-education-holds-off-on-changes-to-the-state-assessment/)
- [New survey gives insight into teacher views on assessment, unfinished learning, and more](https://assessmenthq.org/news/new-survey-gives-insight-into-teacher-views-on-assessment-unfinished-learning-and-more/)
- [K-12 state testing starts amid ongoing COVID recovery](https://assessmenthq.org/news/k-12-state-testing-starts-amid-ongoing-covid-recovery/)
- [Arizona kids not ready for standardized testing to return after COVID-19, teachers warn](https://assessmenthq.org/news/arizona-kids-not-ready-for-standardized-testing-to-return-after-covid-19-teachers-warn/)
- [Standardized testing returns to public school classrooms in New Mexico](https://assessmenthq.org/news/standardized-testing-returns-to-public-school-classrooms-in-new-mexico/)
- [Missouri standardized tests count this year, but schools won’t be punished for low scores](https://assessmenthq.org/news/missouri-standardized-tests-count-this-year-but-schools-wont-be-punished-for-low-scores/)
- [Scores on Pa. standardized tests fell in 2021, but many students didn’t take them](https://assessmenthq.org/news/scores-on-pa-standardized-tests-fell-in-2021-but-many-students-didnt-take-them/)
- [WA: How did the pandemic impact kids’ test scores in Washington? Early numbers don’t look good](https://assessmenthq.org/news/wa-how-did-the-pandemic-impact-kids-test-scores-in-washington-early-numbers-dont-look-good/)
- [More studies mark the pandemic’s toll on student achievement](https://assessmenthq.org/news/more-studies-mark-the-pandemics-toll-on-student-achievement/)
- [Amid COVID pandemic, just 25% of California students took statewide tests](https://assessmenthq.org/news/amid-covid-pandemic-just-25-of-california-students-took-statewide-tests/)
- [The Case for Kindergarten Tests](https://assessmenthq.org/news/the-case-for-kindergarten-tests/)
- [MA: Learning disruptions caused by the pandemic reinvigorate debate over MCAS](https://assessmenthq.org/news/ma-learning-disruptions-caused-by-the-pandemic-reinvigorate-debate-over-mcas/)
- [Academic achievement measures at Kansas schools drop during pandemic](https://assessmenthq.org/news/academic-achievement-measures-at-kansas-schools-drop-during-pandemic/)
- [Ohio Department of Education will release K-12 school report cards Thursday, minus the grades](https://assessmenthq.org/news/ohio-department-of-education-will-release-k-12-school-report-cards-thursday-minus-the-grades/)
- [Role Of MCAS exam continues to rile education world](https://assessmenthq.org/news/role-of-mcas-exam-continues-to-rile-education-world/)
- [Florida says it’s ending year-end, high-stakes standardized testing. Here’s what it’s really doing.](https://assessmenthq.org/news/florida-says-its-ending-year-end-high-stakes-standardized-testing-heres-what-its-really-doing/)
- [Pandemic Testing Gaps Complicate Ability to Pinpoint Struggling Schools at a Time When Students Need Extra Help, School Leaders Say](https://assessmenthq.org/news/pandemic-testing-gaps-complicate-ability-to-pinpoint-struggling-schools-at-a-time-when-students-need-extra-help-school-leaders-say/)
- [Student test scores drop as predicted during pandemic year in Missouri](https://assessmenthq.org/news/student-test-scores-drop-as-predicted-during-pandemic-year-in-missouri/)
- [Illinois board of education moves to change state test by 2023](https://assessmenthq.org/news/illinois-board-of-education-moves-to-change-state-test-by-2023/)
- [Schools start new year in the hole after pandemic drives down test scores](https://assessmenthq.org/news/schools-start-new-year-in-the-hole-after-pandemic-drives-down-test-scores/)
- [California will give a short version of its standardized math and English tests next spring](https://assessmenthq.org/news/california-will-give-a-short-version-of-its-standardized-math-and-english-tests-next-spring/)
- [AL: State school board releases raw data on student assessments](https://assessmenthq.org/news/al-state-school-board-releases-raw-data-on-student-assessments/)
- [MO: School standardized testing data released to districts, helping address learning loss](https://assessmenthq.org/news/mo-school-standardized-testing-data-released-to-districts-helping-address-learning-loss/)
- [Data: Majority of NC K-12 students taking state exams failed](https://assessmenthq.org/news/data-majority-of-nc-k-12-students-taking-state-exams-failed/)
- [SC: How are Beaufort Co. schools addressing big drop in math, virtual student test scores?](https://assessmenthq.org/news/sc-how-are-beaufort-co-schools-addressing-big-drop-in-math-virtual-student-test-scores/)
- [CT: State data shows student learning in CT hindered by the pandemic](https://assessmenthq.org/news/ct-state-data-shows-student-learning-in-ct-hindered-by-the-pandemic/)
- [Minnesota test scores are dropping, Dept. of Education launches recovery program](https://assessmenthq.org/news/minnesota-test-scores-are-dropping-dept-of-education-launches-recovery-program/)
- [VA Dept. of Education releases 2020-2021 SOL test results; outline plans moving forward](https://assessmenthq.org/news/va-dept-of-education-releases-2020-2021-sol-test-results-outline-plans-moving-forward/)
- [After COVID’s Disruption, Groups Push Cardona to Detail Plans for Testing, Accountability](https://assessmenthq.org/news/after-covids-disruption-groups-push-cardona-to-detail-plans-for-testing-accountability/)
- [Failing grades should lead to dialogue, planning and accountability, not finger-pointing](https://assessmenthq.org/news/failing-grades-should-lead-to-dialogue-planning-and-accountability-not-finger-pointing/)
- [Canceling Standardized Testing Does a Disservice To Disadvantaged Students | Opinion](https://assessmenthq.org/news/canceling-standardized-testing-does-a-disservice-to-disadvantaged-students-opinion/)
- [Opinion: Canceling Standardized Testing Does a Disservice To Disadvantaged Students](https://assessmenthq.org/news/opinion-canceling-standardized-testing-does-a-disservice-to-disadvantaged-students/)
- [AZ: Flagstaff Unified School District prepares for 2021/22 standardized testing](https://assessmenthq.org/news/az-flagstaff-unified-school-district-prepares-for-2021-22-standardized-testing/)
- [Midyear tests point to education ‘state of emergency’ in NJ](https://assessmenthq.org/news/midyear-tests-point-to-education-state-of-emergency-in-nj/)
- [3 things to watch with Indiana’s 2021 ILEARN scores](https://assessmenthq.org/news/3-things-to-watch-with-indianas-2021-ilearn-scores/)
- [Analysis: This Spring Testing Season, States Must Gather Data That Ensures Every Student Has the Opportunity to Learn](https://assessmenthq.org/news/analysis-this-spring-testing-season-states-must-gather-data-that-ensures-every-student-has-the-opportunity-to-learn/)
- [Hundreds of thousands of California students won’t take statewide standardized tests this spring](https://assessmenthq.org/news/hundreds-of-thousands-of-california-students-wont-take-statewide-standardized-tests-this-spring/)
- [California state board likely to adopt long-awaited ‘student growth model’ to measure test scores](https://assessmenthq.org/news/california-state-board-likely-to-adopt-long-awaited-student-growth-model-to-measure-test-scores/)
- [Op-ed: We need MCAS data to drive equitable educational recovery](https://assessmenthq.org/news/op-ed-we-need-mcas-data-to-drive-equitable-educational-recovery/)
- [Editorial | The Massachusetts Teachers Association’s misleading anti-MCAS effort](https://assessmenthq.org/news/editorial-the-massachusetts-teachers-associations-misleading-anti-mcas-effort/)
- [Texas Schools Need the STAAR to Assess and Recover from Pandemic Learning Loss](https://assessmenthq.org/news/texas-schools-need-the-staar-to-assess-and-recover-from-pandemic-learning-loss/)
- [Mass. Education officials approve change to competency requirements for Class of 2022](https://assessmenthq.org/news/mass-education-officials-approve-change-to-competency-requirements-for-class-of-2022/)
- [Oregon District opts out of state testing amid pandemic](https://assessmenthq.org/news/oregon-district-opts-out-of-state-testing-amid-pandemic/)
- [New Jersey gets green light for alternative plan to statewide standardized testing this spring](https://assessmenthq.org/news/new-jersey-gets-green-light-for-alternative-plan-to-statewide-standardized-testing-this-spring/)
- [Scoppe: Remind me again why we have all these tests, anyway](https://assessmenthq.org/news/scoppe-remind-me-again-why-we-have-all-these-tests-anyway/)
- [Gov. Jared Polis signs bill scaling back standardized testing. Now the federal government must weigh in.](https://assessmenthq.org/news/gov-jared-polis-signs-bill-scaling-back-standardized-testing-now-the-federal-government-must-weigh-in/)
- [New York scales back Regents exams as it awaits test waiver ruling](https://assessmenthq.org/news/new-york-scales-back-regents-exams-as-it-awaits-test-waiver-ruling/)
- [Should schools get to cancel standardized tests this year? - Pro/Con](https://assessmenthq.org/news/should-schools-get-to-cancel-standardized-tests-this-year-pro-con/)
- [What Parents Need to Know About Tests](https://assessmenthq.org/news/what-parents-need-to-know-about-tests/)
- [Arkansas requires school districts state wide to give ACT Aspire Tests this Spring](https://assessmenthq.org/news/arkansas-requires-school-districts-state-wide-to-give-act-aspire-tests-this-spring/)
- [A Plan for Standardized Test Scores During the Pandemic Has Gotten States’ Attention](https://assessmenthq.org/news/a-plan-for-standardized-test-scores-during-the-pandemic-has-gotten-states-attention/)
- [Editorial: This is one time standardized tests could be good for everyone](https://assessmenthq.org/news/editorial-this-is-one-time-standardized-tests-could-be-good-for-everyone/)
- [Biden Administration Requires States to Test Students, But With Flexibility for Shorter, Remote or Delayed Exams. Experts Say Balance Struck is ‘Sensible’](https://assessmenthq.org/news/biden-administration-requires-states-to-test-students-but-with-flexibility-for-shorter-remote-or-delayed-exams-experts-say-balance-struck-is-sensible/)
- [Pennsylvania wants to allow districts to delay standardized testing until fall](https://assessmenthq.org/news/pennsylvania-wants-to-allow-districts-to-delay-standardized-testing-until-fall/)
- [A reply to the anti-testers](https://assessmenthq.org/news/a-reply-to-the-anti-testers/)
- [Editorial Board: STAAR test would provide look at knowledge gaps](https://assessmenthq.org/news/editorial-board-staar-test-would-provide-look-at-knowledge-gaps/)
- [Cardona, in Mostly Gentle Prodding From Senate, Offers Views on Testing, Transgender Students and Reopening Schools](https://assessmenthq.org/news/cardona-in-mostly-gentle-prodding-from-senate-offers-views-on-testing-transgender-students-and-reopening-schools/)
- [Arkansas won’t ask for a waiver from standardized testing](https://assessmenthq.org/news/arkansas-wont-ask-for-a-waiver-from-standardized-testing/)
- [Opinion: States should use pandemic to create more relevant tests](https://assessmenthq.org/news/opinion-states-should-use-pandemic-to-create-more-relevant-tests/)
- [Editorial: This year of all years, we need data from school tests](https://assessmenthq.org/news/editorial-this-year-of-all-years-we-need-data-from-school-tests/)
- [Five principles for K-12 testing through COVID-19 and beyond](https://assessmenthq.org/news/five-principles-for-k-12-testing-through-covid-19-and-beyond/)
- [Texas will require students to take the STAAR test in person](https://assessmenthq.org/news/texas-will-require-students-to-take-the-staar-test-in-person/)
- [Without statewide testing data California will fall short in supporting student learning](https://assessmenthq.org/news/without-statewide-testing-data-california-will-fall-short-in-supporting-student-learning/)
- [Will California students have to take standardized tests at home? Educators are wary](https://assessmenthq.org/news/will-california-students-have-to-take-standardized-tests-at-home-educators-are-wary/)
- [Opinion: Why we shouldn’t abandon student testing this spring](https://assessmenthq.org/news/opinion-why-we-shouldnt-abandon-student-testing-this-spring/)
- [State Schools Chiefs Push Biden for Wiggle Room on Accountability During Pandemic](https://assessmenthq.org/news/state-schools-chiefs-push-biden-for-wiggle-room-on-accountability-during-pandemic/)
- [Nation’s Largest Test Providers Answer Some Questions On Assessments During COVID](https://assessmenthq.org/news/nations-largest-test-providers-answer-some-questions-on-assessments-during-covid/)
- [EDITORIAL: Don’t water down academic testing](https://assessmenthq.org/news/editorial-dont-water-down-academic-testing/)
- [State education officials postpone, extend MCAS testing due to rising COVID-19 cases](https://assessmenthq.org/news/state-education-officials-postpone-extend-mcas-testing-due-to-rising-covid-19-cases/)
- [Missouri board waives school accountability piece of spring testing](https://assessmenthq.org/news/missouri-board-waives-school-accountability-piece-of-spring-testing/)
- [To test or not to test? Colorado educators and advocates divided on CMAS in a pandemic](https://assessmenthq.org/news/to-test-or-not-to-test-colorado-educators-and-advocates-divided-on-cmas-in-a-pandemic/)
- [An Open Letter to the NAEP Governing Board](https://assessmenthq.org/news/an-open-letter-to-the-naep-governing-board/)
- [NAEP goes AWOL](https://assessmenthq.org/news/naep-goes-awol/)
- [Illuminate Education Partners with Turnitin to Provide Assessment Resources for Remote Learning](https://assessmenthq.org/news/illuminate-education-partners-with-turnitin-to-provide-assessment-resources-for-remote-learning/)
- [How badly has the pandemic hurt K-12 learning? Let state testing in the spring tell us.](https://assessmenthq.org/news/how-badly-has-the-pandemic-hurt-k-12-learning-let-state-testing-in-the-spring-tell-us/)
- [Making the case for standardized school tests, even during a pandemic](https://assessmenthq.org/news/making-the-case-for-standardized-school-tests-even-during-a-pandemic/)
- [Could Biden Find a Middle Path on Student Testing During the Pandemic?](https://assessmenthq.org/news/could-biden-find-a-middle-path-on-student-testing-during-the-pandemic/)
- [CA: State tries to find ‘balance’ in state testing this spring](https://assessmenthq.org/news/ca-state-tries-to-find-balance-in-state-testing-this-spring/)
- [Silver & Polikoff: Getting Testy about Testing — K-12 Parents Support Canceling Standardized Testing this Spring. That Might Not Be a Good Idea](https://assessmenthq.org/news/silver-polikoff-getting-testy-about-testing-k-12-parents-support-canceling-standardized-testing-this-spring-that-might-not-be-a-good-idea/)
- [Shorter exams will replace California’s annual Smarter Balanced tests](https://assessmenthq.org/news/shorter-exams-will-replace-californias-annual-smarter-balanced-tests/)
- [Biden Campaign Won't Commit to State Testing Waivers During COVID-19 Crisis](https://assessmenthq.org/news/biden-campaign-wont-commit-to-state-testing-waivers-during-covid-19-crisis/)
- [Waiving tests next school year a poor decision](https://assessmenthq.org/news/waiving-tests-next-school-year-a-poor-decision/)
- [New Research Predicts Steep COVID Learning Losses Will Widen Already Dramatic Achievement Gaps Within Classrooms](https://assessmenthq.org/news/new-research-predicts-steep-covid-learning-losses-will-widen-already-dramatic-achievement-gaps-within-classrooms/)
- [State offers assessment support to local districts following months of closures](https://assessmenthq.org/news/state-offers-assessment-support-to-local-districts-following-months-of-closures/)
- [You Say Tomato: Concerns About the Diagnostic Assessment Rhetoric](https://assessmenthq.org/news/you-say-tomato-concerns-about-the-diagnostic-assessment-rhetoric/)
- [Opinion: Why standardized STAAR testing at home and start of school year matters during pandemic](https://assessmenthq.org/news/opinion-why-standardized-staar-testing-at-home-and-start-of-school-year-matters-during-pandemic/)
- [The impact of COVID-19 on student achievement and what it may mean for educators](https://assessmenthq.org/news/the-impact-of-covid-19-on-student-achievement-and-what-it-may-mean-for-educators/)
- [TEA offers tool for parents, schools to measure students' potential 'COVID Slide'](https://assessmenthq.org/news/tea-offers-tool-for-parents-schools-to-measure-students-potential-covid-slide/)
- [The Grade-Level Expectations Trap](https://assessmenthq.org/news/the-grade-level-expectations-trap/)
- [3 reasons to use formative assessment in your virtual instruction—and tips on how to go about it](https://assessmenthq.org/news/3-reasons-to-use-formative-assessment-in-your-virtual-instruction-and-tips-on-how-to-go-about-it/)
- [Fall Educational Assessment: The Information You Need and How to Get It](https://assessmenthq.org/news/fall-educational-assessment-the-information-you-need-and-how-to-get-it/)
- [How States, Assessment Companies Can Work Together Amid Coronavirus Testing Cancellations](https://assessmenthq.org/news/how-states-assessment-companies-can-work-together-amid-coronavirus-testing-cancellations/)
- [The COVID-19 Slide and What It Could Mean for Student Achievement](https://assessmenthq.org/news/the-covid-19-slide-and-what-it-could-mean-for-student-achievement/)
- [Massachusetts Gets Green Light to Pilot Innovative Science Assessment](https://assessmenthq.org/news/massachusetts-gets-green-light-to-pilot-innovative-science-assessment/)
- [How Can We Continue Monitoring Student Performance When We’re Losing Large-Scale Assessment Data?](https://assessmenthq.org/news/how-can-we-continue-monitoring-student-performance-when-were-losing-large-scale-assessment-data/)
- [Statewide Standardized Assessments Were in Peril Even Before the Coronavirus. Now They’re Really in Trouble.](https://assessmenthq.org/news/statewide-standardized-assessments-were-in-peril-even-before-the-coronavirus-now-theyre-really-in-trouble/)
- [Federally Mandated State Tests May Be Gone, but There Are Other, Better Ways Educators Can Assess Students During the Shutdown](https://assessmenthq.org/news/federally-mandated-state-tests-may-be-gone-but-there-are-other-better-ways-educators-can-assess-students-during-the-shutdown/)
- [In California, Common Core Has Not Failed](https://assessmenthq.org/news/in-california-common-core-has-not-failed/)
- [Assessments and Grading in the Midst of a Pandemic](https://assessmenthq.org/news/assessments-and-grading-in-the-midst-of-a-pandemic/)
- [The Outlook for ESSA School Accountability After COVID-19](https://assessmenthq.org/news/the-outlook-for-essa-school-accountability-after-covid-19/)
- [Standardized tests should still be given](https://assessmenthq.org/news/standardized-tests-should-still-be-given/)
- [It's Official: All States Have Been Excused From Statewide Testing This Year](https://assessmenthq.org/news/its-official-all-states-have-been-excused-from-statewide-testing-this-year/)
- [The Next Generation of State Assessment and Accountability](https://assessmenthq.org/news/the-next-generation-of-state-assessment-and-accountability/)
- [An Assessment Response to Anticipated Learning Gaps](https://assessmenthq.org/news/an-assessment-response-to-anticipated-learning-gaps/)
- [Amid Pandemic, DeVos Announces One-Year Testing and Accountability Waiver. Here’s a Look at What to Expect](https://assessmenthq.org/news/amid-pandemic-devos-announces-one-year-testing-and-accountability-waiver-heres-a-look-at-what-to-expect/)
- [Coronavirus Throws Spring Testing Into Disarray](https://assessmenthq.org/news/coronavirus-throws-spring-testing-into-disarray/)
- [Closures, Testing And Accountability: What Coronavirus Means For Schools](https://assessmenthq.org/news/closures-testing-and-accountability-what-coronavirus-means-for-schools/)
- [Innovative Assessment Pilots Should Support Equity, and Strive for Broad Impact, Groups Say](https://assessmenthq.org/news/innovative-assessment-pilots-should-support-equity-and-strive-for-broad-impact-groups-say/)
- [State of D.C. Schools, 2018-19: Student achievement is on the rise, but critical gaps persist](https://assessmenthq.org/news/state-of-d-c-schools-2018-19-student-achievement-is-on-the-rise-but-critical-gaps-persist/)
- [9 things to know as Chicago reconsiders its high-stakes test, the NWEA](https://assessmenthq.org/news/9-things-to-know-as-chicago-reconsiders-its-high-stakes-test-the-nwea/)
- [Minnich: Testing in Our Schools Needs to Evolve. Here’s How 3 States Are Trying Innovative New Approaches Under ESSA](https://assessmenthq.org/news/minnich-testing-in-our-schools-needs-to-evolve-heres-how-3-states-are-trying-innovative-new-approaches-under-essa/)
- [Startling Science Scores in California: First-Ever Results Show 4 in 5 Low-Income Black and Latino Students Are Falling Short of New State Standards](https://assessmenthq.org/news/startling-science-scores-in-california-first-ever-results-show-4-in-5-low-income-black-and-latino-students-are-falling-short-of-new-state-standards/)
- [Goble: How Schools Can Change Their Culture of Assessment to Make Scary Tests Into a Road Map for Learning](https://assessmenthq.org/news/goble-how-schools-can-change-their-culture-of-assessment-to-make-scary-tests-into-a-road-map-for-learning/)
- [The Next Generation of State Assessment and Accountability has Already Started](https://assessmenthq.org/news/the-next-generation-of-state-assessment-and-accountability-has-already-started/)
- [Indiana's new school data website uses a conversational style](https://assessmenthq.org/news/indianas-new-school-data-website-uses-a-conversational-style/)
- [The STAAR test doesn’t measure what we need it to measure: Whether kids are learning in school](https://assessmenthq.org/news/the-staar-test-doesnt-measure-what-we-need-it-to-measure-whether-kids-are-learning-in-school/)
- [Rethinking the critical role of data to improve teaching and learning](https://assessmenthq.org/news/rethinking-the-critical-role-of-data-to-improve-teaching-and-learning/)
- [Administrators react to ILEARN](https://assessmenthq.org/news/administrators-react-to-ilearn/)
- [Teaching to the Test](https://assessmenthq.org/news/teaching-to-the-test/)
- [Florida consolidates testing contracts](https://assessmenthq.org/news/florida-consolidates-testing-contracts/)
- [Reflections on Large-Scale State Assessment in the Twenty-Tens: What Have We Learned and What’s Ahead?](https://assessmenthq.org/news/reflections-on-large-scale-state-assessment-in-the-twenty-tens-what-have-we-learned-and-whats-ahead/)
- [California Department of Education launches 2019 School Dashboard data](https://assessmenthq.org/news/california-department-of-education-launches-2019-school-dashboard-data/)
- [The Case for (Smart) Standardized Testing](https://assessmenthq.org/news/the-case-for-smart-standardized-testing/)
- [Improving Our Educational Standing In The World Means Doubling-Down On What Works](https://assessmenthq.org/news/improving-our-educational-standing-in-the-world-means-doubling-down-on-what-works/)
- [Most States Are Missing Key Student Data From Their Report Cards. 3 Parent Empowerment Groups Have Advice for Making Them Better](https://assessmenthq.org/news/most-states-are-missing-key-student-data-from-their-report-cards-3-parent-empowerment-groups-have-advice-for-making-them-better/)
- [U.S. Students Show No Improvement in Math, Reading, Science on International Exam](https://assessmenthq.org/news/u-s-students-show-no-improvement-in-math-reading-science-on-international-exam/)
- [Elizabeth A. Davis: Achievement gaps are growing in DC schools. It is time we address them.](https://assessmenthq.org/news/elizabeth-a-davis-achievement-gaps-are-growing-in-dc-schools-it-is-time-we-address-them/)
- [Petrilli: 2019 NAEP Results Show There’s Something Wrong Going On. 3 Theories About What Might Be Happening in Our Schools, and Beyond](https://assessmenthq.org/news/petrilli-2019-naep-results-show-theres-something-wrong-going-on-3-theories-about-what-might-be-happening-in-our-schools-and-beyond/)
- [Ednews’ New Website Provides Transparency On Progress Towards Idaho’s Education Goals](https://assessmenthq.org/news/ednews-new-website-provides-transparency-on-progress-towards-idahos-education-goals/)
- [PED announces new test for grades 3-8](https://assessmenthq.org/news/ped-announces-new-test-for-grades-3-8/)
- [Mississippi schools the only state to improve math and english test scores](https://assessmenthq.org/news/mississippi-schools-the-only-state-to-improve-math-and-english-test-scores/)
- [It’s Time To Seriously Talk About Reading](https://assessmenthq.org/news/its-time-to-seriously-talk-about-reading/)
- [In Search of Simple Solutions for the NAEP Results](https://assessmenthq.org/news/in-search-of-simple-solutions-for-the-naep-results/)
- [Hawaii kids hit median on Smarter Balanced Assessment](https://assessmenthq.org/news/hawaii-kids-hit-median-on-smarter-balanced-assessment/)
- [Our View: For better school comparisons, bring consistency to state assessments](https://assessmenthq.org/news/our-view-for-better-school-comparisons-bring-consistency-to-state-assessments/)
- [RI Standardized Test Scores Improve Slightly, That May Be Due To Familiarity](https://assessmenthq.org/news/ri-standardized-test-scores-improve-slightly-that-may-be-due-to-familiarity/)
- [Maryland’s standardized tests will be shorter next year as schools replace PARCC with new exam](https://assessmenthq.org/news/marylands-standardized-tests-will-be-shorter-next-year-as-schools-replace-parcc-with-new-exam/)
- [Should State Assessments Be Split Up? Testmaker NWEA Thinks So](https://assessmenthq.org/news/should-state-assessments-be-split-up-testmaker-nwea-thinks-so/)
- [Schools were quick to downplay ILEARN results, but experts stand by the test. Here’s why.](https://assessmenthq.org/news/schools-were-quick-to-downplay-ilearn-results-but-experts-stand-by-the-test-heres-why/)
- [How did students at your child’s school do on Smarter Balanced tests?](https://assessmenthq.org/news/how-did-students-at-your-childs-school-do-on-smarter-balanced-tests/)
- [Florida’s Common Core standards: No need for ‘any great change,’ educators tell state](https://assessmenthq.org/news/floridas-common-core-standards-no-need-for-any-great-change-educators-tell-state/)
- [Montana testing data shows little change in statewide math, English scores](https://assessmenthq.org/news/montana-testing-data-shows-little-change-in-statewide-math-english-scores/)
- [5 steps for aligning assessment, literacy instruction for young readers](https://assessmenthq.org/news/5-steps-for-aligning-assessment-literacy-instruction-for-young-readers/)
- [State report card shows improvement by Aiken County Schools](https://assessmenthq.org/news/state-report-card-shows-improvement-by-aiken-county-schools/)
- [Kentucky Department of Education releases report cards & star ratings](https://assessmenthq.org/news/kentucky-department-of-education-releases-report-cards-star-ratings/)
- [Connecticut sees “heartening” improvements in grade 3-8 testing](https://assessmenthq.org/news/connecticut-sees-heartening-improvements-in-grade-3-8-testing/)
- [How a Memphis state-run school improved math scores 9 percentage points in one year](https://assessmenthq.org/news/how-a-memphis-state-run-school-improved-math-scores-9-percentage-points-in-one-year/)
- [N.J. won’t dump PARCC tests until 2022, long after Murphy’s ‘Day 1’ promise](https://assessmenthq.org/news/n-j-wont-dump-parcc-tests-until-2022-long-after-murphys-day-1-promise/)
- [The Importance of Educational Assessment Policy in Shaping High-Quality State Assessments](https://assessmenthq.org/news/the-importance-of-educational-assessment-policy-in-shaping-high-quality-state-assessments/)
- [Why did passing rates on state exams for English learners plunge in Virginia?](https://assessmenthq.org/news/why-did-passing-rates-on-state-exams-for-english-learners-plunge-in-virginia/)
- [Elementary education test scores up, MDE report says](https://assessmenthq.org/news/elementary-education-test-scores-up-mde-report-says/)
- [States With End-of-Course Exams See Gains in Student Graduation Rates, Fordham Report Finds](https://assessmenthq.org/news/states-with-end-of-course-exams-see-gains-in-student-graduation-rates-fordham-report-finds/)
- [Zachary Parker: If you care about Black and Brown kids, trust they can learn](https://assessmenthq.org/news/zachary-parker-if-you-care-about-black-and-brown-kids-trust-they-can-learn/)
- [NYC test scores inch upward as state releases assessment results](https://assessmenthq.org/news/nyc-test-scores-inch-upward-as-state-releases-assessment-results/)
- [Report: More states setting higher ‘proficiency’ standards on assessments](https://assessmenthq.org/news/report-more-states-setting-higher-proficiency-standards-on-assessments/)
- [States Raise the Bar for What It Means to Be Proficient in Reading and Math](https://assessmenthq.org/news/states-raise-the-bar-for-what-it-means-to-be-proficient-in-reading-and-math/)
- [DC students continue to improve on PARCC assessment, but massive racial disparity remains](https://assessmenthq.org/news/dc-students-continue-to-improve-on-parcc-assessment-but-massive-racial-disparity-remains/)
- [Most Colorado students not proficient in reading and math — but there’s some good news](https://assessmenthq.org/news/most-colorado-students-not-proficient-in-reading-and-math-but-theres-some-good-news/)
- [State test scores for 2018-2019 school year released by Mississippi Dept. of Education](https://assessmenthq.org/news/state-test-scores-for-2018-2019-school-year-released-by-mississippi-dept-of-education/)
- [Performance on state SOL tests dips across Virginia; Richmond-area students score below average](https://assessmenthq.org/news/performance-on-state-sol-tests-dips-across-virginia-richmond-area-students-score-below-average/)
- [NM groups urge rigorous testing for high standards](https://assessmenthq.org/news/nm-groups-urge-rigorous-testing-for-high-standards/)
- [How to be assessment literate, no matter your role](https://assessmenthq.org/news/how-to-be-assessment-literate-no-matter-your-role/)
- [Students score better on state tests this year](https://assessmenthq.org/news/students-score-better-on-state-tests-this-year/)
- [O’Keefe & Lewis: New Report Shows 4 Ways States Can Innovate and Improve Their Exams — Even Without Joining ESSA Pilot Program](https://assessmenthq.org/news/okeefe-lewis-new-report-shows-4-ways-states-can-innovate-and-improve-their-exams-even-without-joining-essa-pilot-program/)
- [New experiment could change how Georgia tests students](https://assessmenthq.org/news/new-experiment-could-change-how-georgia-tests-students/)
- [7 Steps to Creating a Growth Assessment that Works](https://assessmenthq.org/news/7-steps-to-creating-a-growth-assessment-that-works/)
- [Students in California log on in record numbers to take online state tests](https://assessmenthq.org/news/students-in-california-log-on-in-record-numbers-to-take-online-state-tests/)
- [Tennessee picks testing giant Pearson Education to run its TNReady test](https://assessmenthq.org/news/tennessee-picks-testing-giant-pearson-education-to-run-its-tnready-test/)
- [The Value of Game-Based Assessments](https://assessmenthq.org/news/the-value-of-game-based-assessments/)
- [Assessment Dashboards, Reports, and Open Analytics](https://assessmenthq.org/news/assessment-dashboards-reports-and-open-analytics/)
- [Hear that sigh of relief? Online testing just finished in Tennessee – and it worked this time](https://assessmenthq.org/news/hear-that-sigh-of-relief-online-testing-just-finished-in-tennessee-and-it-worked-this-time/)
- [Don’t Go Changing: The Importance of Stability in State Assessment and Accountability Systems](https://assessmenthq.org/news/dont-go-changing-the-importance-of-stability-in-state-assessment-and-accountability-systems/)
- [Arizona unveils temporary plan for grading schools that ditched AzMerit testing](https://assessmenthq.org/news/arizona-unveils-temporary-plan-for-grading-schools-that-ditched-azmerit-testing/)
- [What Makes a Good Test?](https://assessmenthq.org/news/what-makes-a-good-test/)
- [Arizona Schools at Risk of Losing Federal Funds Over Standardized Tests](https://assessmenthq.org/news/arizona-schools-at-risk-of-losing-federal-funds-over-standardized-tests/)
- [Overhauling Student Assessments: A View From the Pilot’s Seat](https://assessmenthq.org/news/overhauling-student-assessments-a-view-from-the-pilots-seat/)
- [Students Should Take State Assessment Tests](https://assessmenthq.org/news/students-should-take-state-assessment-tests/)
- [As State Assessment Season Returns, Signs That Opting Out is Declining – Slightly](https://assessmenthq.org/news/as-state-assessment-season-returns-signs-that-opting-out-is-declining-slightly/)
- [In Classroom, Tests May Change, But High Expectations Must Continue](https://assessmenthq.org/news/in-classroom-tests-may-change-but-high-expectations-must-continue/)

## States

- [Texas](https://assessmenthq.org/state/texas/)
- [New York](https://assessmenthq.org/state/new-york/)
- [Florida](https://assessmenthq.org/state/florida/)
- [California](https://assessmenthq.org/state/california/)
- [Vermont](https://assessmenthq.org/state/vermont/)
- [Wyoming](https://assessmenthq.org/state/wyoming/)
- [Wisconsin](https://assessmenthq.org/state/wisconsin/)
- [West Virginia](https://assessmenthq.org/state/west-virginia/)
- [Virginia](https://assessmenthq.org/state/virginia/)
- [Utah](https://assessmenthq.org/state/utah/)
- [Pennsylvania](https://assessmenthq.org/state/pennsylvania/)
- [Rhode Island](https://assessmenthq.org/state/rhode-island/)
- [South Carolina](https://assessmenthq.org/state/south-carolina/)
- [South Dakota](https://assessmenthq.org/state/south-dakota/)
- [Tennessee](https://assessmenthq.org/state/tennessee/)
- [Oregon](https://assessmenthq.org/state/oregon/)
- [Oklahoma](https://assessmenthq.org/state/oklahoma/)
- [North Dakota](https://assessmenthq.org/state/north-dakota/)
- [North Carolina](https://assessmenthq.org/state/north-carolina/)
- [New Jersey](https://assessmenthq.org/state/new-jersey/)
- [New Hampshire](https://assessmenthq.org/state/new-hampshire/)
- [Nevada](https://assessmenthq.org/state/nevada/)
- [Nebraska](https://assessmenthq.org/state/nebraska/)
- [Missouri](https://assessmenthq.org/state/missouri/)
- [Montana](https://assessmenthq.org/state/montana/)
- [Mississippi](https://assessmenthq.org/state/mississippi/)
- [Minnesota](https://assessmenthq.org/state/minnesota/)
- [Michigan](https://assessmenthq.org/state/michigan/)
- [Massachusetts](https://assessmenthq.org/state/massachusetts/)
- [Maryland](https://assessmenthq.org/state/maryland/)
- [Louisiana](https://assessmenthq.org/state/louisiana/)
- [Indiana](https://assessmenthq.org/state/indiana/)
- [Georgia](https://assessmenthq.org/state/georgia/)
- [Hawaii](https://assessmenthq.org/state/hawaii/)
- [Idaho](https://assessmenthq.org/state/idaho/)
- [Illinois](https://assessmenthq.org/state/illinois/)
- [Iowa](https://assessmenthq.org/state/iowa/)
- [Kansas](https://assessmenthq.org/state/kansas/)
- [Kentucky](https://assessmenthq.org/state/kentucky/)
- [Delaware](https://assessmenthq.org/state/delaware/)
- [Washington, D.C.](https://assessmenthq.org/state/dc/)
- [Connecticut](https://assessmenthq.org/state/connecticut/)
- [Colorado](https://assessmenthq.org/state/colorado/)
- [Arkansas](https://assessmenthq.org/state/arkansas/)
- [Arizona](https://assessmenthq.org/state/arizona/)
- [Alaska](https://assessmenthq.org/state/alaska/)
- [Alabama](https://assessmenthq.org/state/alabama/)
- [Washington](https://assessmenthq.org/state/washington/)
- [Ohio](https://assessmenthq.org/state/ohio/)
- [New Mexico](https://assessmenthq.org/state/new-mexico/)
- [Maine](https://assessmenthq.org/state/maine/)

## Categories

- [Commentary](https://assessmenthq.org/category/commentary/)
- [Updates](https://assessmenthq.org/category/updates/)
- [WaiverHQ](https://assessmenthq.org/category/waiverhq/)

## Tags

- [Comparability](https://assessmenthq.org/tag/comparability/)
- [Equity](https://assessmenthq.org/tag/equity/)
- [National](https://assessmenthq.org/tag/national/)
- [Quality](https://assessmenthq.org/tag/quality/)
- [Transparency](https://assessmenthq.org/tag/transparency/)
- [Consortia](https://assessmenthq.org/tag/consortia/)
- [Georgia](https://assessmenthq.org/tag/georgia/)
- [Louisiana](https://assessmenthq.org/tag/louisiana/)
- [New Hampshire](https://assessmenthq.org/tag/new-hampshire/)
- [North Carolina](https://assessmenthq.org/tag/north-carolina/)
- [Colorado](https://assessmenthq.org/tag/colorado/)
- [DC](https://assessmenthq.org/tag/dc/)
- [Illinois](https://assessmenthq.org/tag/illinois/)
- [Indiana](https://assessmenthq.org/tag/indiana/)
- [Maryland](https://assessmenthq.org/tag/maryland/)
- [New Jersey](https://assessmenthq.org/tag/new-jersey/)
- [New Mexico](https://assessmenthq.org/tag/new-mexico/)
- [PARCC](https://assessmenthq.org/tag/parcc/)
- [Rhode Island](https://assessmenthq.org/tag/rhode-island/)
- [Kentucky](https://assessmenthq.org/tag/kentucky/)
- [Smarter Balanced](https://assessmenthq.org/tag/smarter-balanced/)
- [Tennessee](https://assessmenthq.org/tag/tennessee/)
- [West Virginia](https://assessmenthq.org/tag/west-virginia/)
- [Florida](https://assessmenthq.org/tag/florida/)
- [Ohio](https://assessmenthq.org/tag/ohio/)
- [Innovation](https://assessmenthq.org/tag/innovation/)
- [Arizona](https://assessmenthq.org/tag/arizona/)
- [Pennsylvania](https://assessmenthq.org/tag/pennsylvania/)
- [Wyoming](https://assessmenthq.org/tag/wyoming/)
- [Nebraska](https://assessmenthq.org/tag/nebraska/)
- [ESSA](https://assessmenthq.org/tag/essa/)
- [North Dakota](https://assessmenthq.org/tag/north-dakota/)
- [Mississippi](https://assessmenthq.org/tag/mississippi/)
- [Nevada](https://assessmenthq.org/tag/nevada/)
- [Texas](https://assessmenthq.org/tag/texas/)
- [Massachusetts](https://assessmenthq.org/tag/massachusetts/)
- [Iowa](https://assessmenthq.org/tag/iowa/)
- [Biden](https://assessmenthq.org/tag/biden/)
- [Michigan](https://assessmenthq.org/tag/michigan/)
- [Spring Testing](https://assessmenthq.org/tag/spring-testing/)
- [Students with disabilities](https://assessmenthq.org/tag/students-with-disabilities/)
- [Assessment Waivers](https://assessmenthq.org/tag/assessment-waivers/)
- [Betsy DeVos](https://assessmenthq.org/tag/betsy-devos/)
- [COVID-19](https://assessmenthq.org/tag/covid-19/)
- [Washington](https://assessmenthq.org/tag/washington/)
- [Oregon](https://assessmenthq.org/tag/oregon/)
- [Arkansas](https://assessmenthq.org/tag/arkansas/)
- [Math](https://assessmenthq.org/tag/math/)
- [States](https://assessmenthq.org/tag/states/)
- [Waivers](https://assessmenthq.org/tag/waivers/)

## States Categories

- [Consortia](https://assessmenthq.org/state_tax/consortia/)
- [PARCC](https://assessmenthq.org/state_tax/parcc/)
- [Smarter Balanced](https://assessmenthq.org/state_tax/smarter-balanced/)