Standards & Testing

Education standards and evolving strategies for measuring whether students and schools meet them
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Report

None of the Above: A New Vision for State Standardized Testing

Authored byLynn Olson, Thomas Toch

A blueprint proposing a new role for state standardized tests that aims to promote high standards, enhance transparency for policymakers and parents, and strongly emphasize teaching and learning.

Report

Unfinished Agenda: The Future of Standards-Based School Reform

Authored byMichael Cohen, Laura Slover

Reflections on the evolution of the standards movement in American and the movement’s future

Report

Changing the Narrative: The Push for New Equity Measures in Education

Authored byLynn Olson, Thomas Toch

The movement to introduce new indicators of school performance

Report

The Big Test: The Future of Statewide Standardized Assessments

Authored byLynn Olson, Craig Jerald

The backlash against standardized testing that has changed how states evaluate students

From the Field

Paper vs. Online Testing: What’s the Impact on Test Scores?

A testing expert discusses the shift to online assessments

Commentary

Proficiency vs. Growth: Toward a Better Measure

Authored byMorgan Polikoff

The value of “growth” measures in judging student and school performance

Standards & Testing

By the Numbers

Standardized Testing

  • 45%

    Students who score advanced on 8th-grade math test and earn a bachelor’s degree within five years of graduating high school

  • 22%

    Students who score proficient on 8th-grade math test and earn a bachelor’s degree within five years of graduating high school

Source: Education Next

NAEP

  • 31%

    4th-graders proficient in reading on the 2024 NAEP

  • 35%

    4th-graders proficient in reading on the 2019 NAEP

Source: National Assessment of Educational Progress

PISA Scores

  • 34%

    U.S. students considered to be low performers on the 2022 PISA math test

  • 7%

    U.S. students considered to be high performers on the 2022 PISA math test

Source: PISA

NAEP Scores & Absenteeism

  • 45%

    4th grade reading NAEP score decline explained by changes in absenteeism

  • 27%

    4th grade math NAEP score decline explained by changes in absenteeism

Source: The White House

NAEP Scores, 13-year-olds

  • 85%

    13-year-olds who demonstrated skills in basic problem solving and math operations in 2012

  • 71%

    13-year-olds who demonstrated skills in basic problem solving and math operations in 2022

Source: National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP)

NAEP History Scores

  • 29%

    8th graders scoring below "basic" on NAEP U.S. history, 2014

  • 40%

    8th graders scoring below "basic" on NAEP U.S. history, 2022

Source: National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP)

NAEP Scores 2022

  • 5 points

    Decline in NAEP reading scores between 2020 and 2022

  • 7 points

    Decline in NAEP math scores

Source: National Assessment of Educational Progress 2022

Standards-Aligned Materials

  • 26%

    Math materials used by teachers that are aligned to standards

  • 16%

    English Language Arts materials

Source: Ed Reports

2022 State NAEP Math Scores

  • 43

    States with significantly more 4th graders scoring below NAEP Basic in math

  • 48

    States with significantly more 8th graders

Source: National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP)

Standards & Testing

All Work

Commentary

To Improve Schools, Let’s Build a New System for Measuring Them

Authored byVan Schoales

Read More about To Improve Schools, Let’s Build a New System for Measuring Them

Podcast

Podcast: How Should We Measure School Performance?

Read More about Podcast: How Should We Measure School Performance?

Commentary

Measuring School Quality for Accountability and Improvement

Authored byThomas Toch, Lynn Olson

Read More about Measuring School Quality for Accountability and Improvement

WEBINAR: How Should We Measure School Performance? A Conversation.

Read More about WEBINAR: How Should We Measure School Performance? A Conversation.

Report

Quality Check: The New, Best Way to Measure School Performance

Authored byLynn Olson

Read More about Quality Check: The New, Best Way to Measure School Performance

Commentary

A New Blueprint for State Standardized Testing

Authored byThomas Toch, Lynn Olson

Read More about A New Blueprint for State Standardized Testing

Commentary

The Important Connection Between Attendance and Student Achievement

Authored byLiz Cohen

Read More about The Important Connection Between Attendance and Student Achievement

Explainer

The New NAEP Scores Highlight a Standards Gap in Many States

Authored byThomas Toch, Bella DiMarco

Read More about The New NAEP Scores Highlight a Standards Gap in Many States

Commentary

Why Many Top Colleges are Sticking with Test-Optional Admissions

Authored byStephen Burd

Read More about Why Many Top Colleges are Sticking with Test-Optional Admissions

From the Field

WEBINAR: The Future of State Standardized Testing

Read More about WEBINAR: The Future of State Standardized Testing

From the Field

Research Notes: Study Finds Persistent Post-Pandemic Grade Inflation

Authored byKristian Thymianos

Read More about Research Notes: Study Finds Persistent Post-Pandemic Grade Inflation

Report

None of the Above: A New Vision for State Standardized Testing

Authored byLynn Olson, Thomas Toch

Read More about None of the Above: A New Vision for State Standardized Testing