Standards & Testing

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

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

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.

Unfinished Agenda: The Future of Standards-Based School Reform

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

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

The movement to introduce new indicators of school performance

The Big Test: The Future of Statewide Standardized Assessments

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

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

A testing expert discusses the shift to online assessments

Proficiency vs. Growth: Toward a Better Measure

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

Standards & Testing

By the Numbers

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

Why Many Top Colleges are Sticking with Test-Optional Admissions

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

WEBINAR: The Future of State Standardized Testing

Read More about WEBINAR: The Future of State Standardized Testing

Research Notes: Study Finds Persistent Post-Pandemic Grade Inflation

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

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

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

Q&A: Allensworth on Grades Versus Tests in College Admissions

Read More about Q&A: Allensworth on Grades Versus Tests in College Admissions

What the New PISA Results Really Say About U.S. Schools

Read More about What the New PISA Results Really Say About U.S. Schools

Research Notes: Easing Academic Standards Hurts Struggling Students

Read More about Research Notes: Easing Academic Standards Hurts Struggling Students

When School Reform Is Not Enough

Read More about When School Reform Is Not Enough

What the Pandemic Did to NAEP, State Standardized Test Scores

Read More about What the Pandemic Did to NAEP, State Standardized Test Scores

Webinar: Unfinished Agenda: The Future of Standards-Based School Reform

Read More about Webinar: Unfinished Agenda: The Future of Standards-Based School Reform

Podcast: Is There a Future in Standards-Based Reform?

Read More about Podcast: Is There a Future in Standards-Based Reform?

Unfinished Agenda: The Future of Standards-Based School Reform

Read More about Unfinished Agenda: The Future of Standards-Based School Reform