Time passes. Interests change. Something new catches your eye. Yes, life moves on, but you never forget your first. You never forget that lecture, book, or journal article that sparked the flame that ignited your career – it’s always a part of you. For many of my colleagues in measurement and assessment itContinue reading “You never forget your first”
Category Archives: Education Reform
Admissions & Assessment
Everything We Know About College Admissions and Assessment From A to A Charlie DePascale Several of my recent posts since have been related either directly, indirectly, peripherally, or exasperatingly to college admissions testing. That got me thinking about what we actually know about assessment and its role in the college admissions process. Having experienced theContinue reading “Admissions & Assessment”
State Assessment and High School
A Square Peg for a Round Hole Charlie DePascale We have reached a stalemate. It has been nearly five years since ESSA and the assessment flexibility it offered to states, particularly at the high school level, became law. Next week, we celebrate the tenth anniversary of the release and almost immediate and universal adoption ofContinue reading “State Assessment and High School”
The All-Decade Team – State Assessment Version
As we begin the 2020s, let’s take a moment to look back at some of the state assessment moments that defined the 2010s 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 teams for the Celtics,Continue reading “The All-Decade Team – State Assessment Version”
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”
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 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 effort to aContinue reading “If a Tree Falls, is Johnny Proficient?”
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?”
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”
Three Little Words
Charlie DePascale Life is full of three-word phrases. Some tend to have profound and lasting consequences that extend far beyond what may have been intended when they were uttered. Phrases such as I Love You, That Looks Safe, and for those among us wavering on new year’s resolutions, Just One Bite might fall into thisContinue reading “Three Little Words”
A Letter to Santa
Dear Santa, I am the next generation of large-scale assessment and I am 4 1/2 years old. I have been very good this year. At least I have tried very hard to be good. I have been reliable and fair. I think that I have been valid, but Uncle Steve says that’s not forContinue reading “A Letter to Santa”