As we begin the 2020s, let’s take a moment to look back at some of the state assessment moments that defined the 2010s Charlie DePascale Last week, the New England Patriots announced their all-decade team for the 2010s. The Patriots release was quickly followed by local media offering their own selections of all-decade teamsContinue reading “The All-Decade Team – State Assessment Version”
Author Archives: Charlie DePascale
A rejoinder
Charlie DePascale “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do!” In the spirit of the Easter season, that was my initial reaction when I read what Steve Sireci had to say in his final newsletter column as president of NCME. I support Steve as a born-again public policy advocate. I agree wholeheartedlyContinue reading “A rejoinder”
Why is this time different?
The K-12 testing industry survived, even flourished, during past economic downturns. There are signs, however, that this time might be different. Charlie DePascale There have been two major economic downturns in the past twenty years: the bursting of the Dot-Com bubble in the early 2000s and the Great Recession of 2008. Much like theContinue reading “Why is this time different?”
If a Tree Falls, is Johnny Proficient?
The loss of state assessment results in the wake of COVID-19 does not have to mean a loss of information about student proficiency Charlie DePascale Given that the COVID-19 pandemic is affecting nearly all aspects of our lives, it is not a surprise that it has brought a critical nationwide, federally mandated data collection effortContinue reading “If a Tree Falls, is Johnny Proficient?”
A Useless Test Bias Argument
Charlie DePascale “Criticizing test results for reflecting these inequities is like blaming a thermometer for global warming.” That was the viral moment from the recent NCME statement on admissions testing. The line clearly was intended to go viral and it did go viral; well, as viral as any technical defense of standardized testing can goContinue reading “A Useless Test Bias Argument”
I’m With The Band
Harvard University Band Charlie DePascale ’81 This weekend the Harvard University Band celebrates its 100th anniversary. Along with meeting my wife, my time in the band remains one of the two happiest memories of my four years at Harvard. Actually, my memories of the band begin with the end of my juniorContinue reading “I’m With The Band”
A good day ruined
Charlie DePascale After a wonderful late summer day spent enjoying a rare weekday afternoon baseball game in Boston, I sat down last night and looked at my Twitter feed. There among the trending items was this headline The University of Texas’s Secret Strategy to Keep Out Black Students Without even clicking to look at theContinue reading “A good day ruined”
Is this person college-and-career ready?
Charlie DePascale Now that the administration has dropped efforts to include a citizenship question on the 2020 Census, perhaps there is space on the form for the proficiency question, “Is this person college-and-career ready?” For persons 18 and under, the question would be, “Is this person on track to college-and-career readiness?” Think aboutContinue reading “Is this person college-and-career ready?”
Gold Standard?
Charlie DePascale Disclaimer: I did not have access to my laptop and was forced to prepare this post on my Surface tablet. I apologize in advance for any effect that had on the length or quality of the post. By any metric, 2017 was, and continues to be, a very bad year forContinue reading “Gold Standard?”
IASA – Refreshing our Memory
Charlie DePascale This year marks the 25th anniversary of the 1994 reauthorization of ESEA, known as the Improving America’s Schools Act (IASA). Throughout the year, I will explore how various aspects of that law shaped my career, educational assessment and accountability, and K-12 education, in general. All of this will be done, of course, withContinue reading “IASA – Refreshing our Memory”
