What is our story? What is it that we hope to accomplish with assessment and accountability? What makes instruction or schools effective? Why do we have such a difficult time answering fundamental questions and crafting a compelling narrative?
Category Archives: Assessment
It’s Socioeconomic Status, Stupid
I thought that I was done writing about the 2024 NAEP results. I had nothing to add to all of the thoughtful recommendations for improving student achievement. But then after spending an afternoon playing with the Watershed Advisors NAEP analysis tool, it hit me that there was still one more thing to say. The problem, as we all know, is bigger than us and the solution must be as well.
misReading Our Mathematics Problem
All too often we consider test results separately by content area. We’ve started to think of English language arts and literacy skills as interdisciplinary, but until I started thinking about the 2024 NAEP results, I don’t think that I fully grasped the connection between student performance in reading and mathematics.
Are We Dumber Or Just Different?
In a preemptive shot ahead of the 2024 NAEP results we were told that Americans have been getting dumber. Perhaps, but I’m not sure that’s a conclusion we can reach based on an average scaled score – even on NAEP. And I’m fairly certain it’s not the best question to be asking tomorrow when those scores are released.
NAEP, Why Must You Vex Me So?
We are one week away from NAEP Day and the release of the 2024 NAEP Reading and Mathematics results! It’s a day portrayed as our Super Bowl, Christmas morning, and release of the Orange Crop report all rolled into one. So why, once again, am I not excited?
Ultraprocessed Test Scores – Just How Bad Are They?
The New York Times Well newsletter kicked off 2025 with a series on ultraprocessed foods; addressing not only the dangers they pose, but also increasing awareness of their ubiquitousness, explaining their appeal, and offering tips for living healthier with them. It may be helpful to do the same for test scores.
Through the Looking Glass on Educational Assessment and What I Found There
While writing about large-scale assessment over the past month, the lyrics to Grace Slick’s White Rabbit grew louder and louder in the back of my head. I’m not certain, but it’s probably not a good sign when pondering the past, present, and future of your field evokes a 1960s psychedelic rock anthem.
The Fallout & The Future of State Testing
As state officials in Massachusetts struggle to deal with the fallout surround the end of the MCAS graduation requirement and the rest of us try to envision the future of state testing, it’s critical that we have a clear understanding of where we are, how we got here, and where we want to go.
Dancing With Our Hands Tied
It’s a paradox that educators are drowning in test data, but at the same time they (and we) are actually dying of thirst. There’s been one NAEP data point since 2019. As we patiently await a second data point, there’s a lot that we can learn from Taylor Swift and the Eras Tour about the future of collecting data.
The Revolution Will Not Be Parameterized
Look around, Look around. Revolution’s happening the next two weeks in Denver, Chicago, Philadelphia, and perhaps even a little in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. When the dust finally settles, there may still be large-scale tests, but educational assessment will be changed forever. Work, work!
Embrace the Absurd 