Measurement – Embrace the Absurd

They Told Me There’d Be Consequences

The Olympics are over and it’s a blizzardy Monday morning. In other words, it’s a perfect time to peruse the preliminary program for the upcoming NCME annual meeting. Of course, every action has consequences. In this case, the consequence is a blog post about consequences. I’ll admit that I have no idea who John Ruskin is, but as I read through the program, I couldn’t help but think of these words of his, “What we think or what we know or what we believe is in the end of little consequence. The only thing of consequence is what we do.”

From Homer to Ho: Let’s Talk TACs

Two recent posts by Andrew Ho spurred my thinking about Technical Advisory Committees (TACs); specifically, the role that the committees and their members play in our field. Perhaps even more important than their role as advisors, problem solvers, sounding boards, psychometric therapists, and human guardrails, TAC members are storytellers, passing on through oral tradition the key tenets of our field.

Approaching The Limit of Equating State Tests

Since my last post, several people have asked what I meant by my claim that virtually every decision related to the operation of state testing programs since 1990 has made equating more difficult. In this post, I make my case and discuss whether in the calculus of equating state tests we are approaching our limit.

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.

You’re Doin’ Fine, Oklahoma!?!

Not since Sen. Warren sent her sample off to 23andme, has a set of test results from Oklahoma caused as much of a ruckus as the “release” of this year’s Oklahoma state assessment results. Seriously, Oklahoma? OK.

A Shift in My Perspective on Vertical Scales

I’m not sure whether wisdom comes with age, but I was barely 65 for twelve hours when I had an epiphany that forever changed the way that I will view vertical scales.

The Philadelphia Story (NCME’s Version)

I don’t usually share two posts in the same week. In my last two posts, however, I wrote about the personal journey I was on last week in Philadelphia. But NCME, too, is on a journey to find itself. A journey much more consequential than mine.

A Chronic Problem

I’d like to think that we have progressed well beyond 2012 when a district asked me to help them create a dynamic dashboard to support instruction, using only indicators that were updated annually. I’d like to think that, but …

Yearning to Understand “Years of Learning”

“Use your words, Charlie. Use your words.” That’s what they would say to me when I was young, and a situation became frustrating or overwhelming. It was very good advice. By the time I reached first grade I had learned that with some well-chosen and well-timed words you could make people laugh, even adults. InContinue reading “Yearning to Understand “Years of Learning””

NCME & Me

As I read the tweets and posts from the NCME community assembled in Chicago this week, I find myself back here in Maine reminiscing about my five conference trips to Chicago since 1991. There are the memories of discovering deep dish pizza, walking in fascination along the wall of stones (fragments of history) at theContinue reading “NCME & Me”