Policy & Research

This paper by Stump and Silvernail examines the early implementation process of proficiency-based education standards in the state of Maine. All schools are expected to establish a proficiency-based diploma system by 2018. Using a two-phase, qualitative approach, findings suggest that benefits ...

The New York Performance Standards Consortium (Consortium) has developed a proven practitioner developed, student-focused performance assessment system for its 28 member schools in New York City and State. Its validity was confirmed by the NY State Education Department and the NY Board of...

This Oregon Essential Skills and Local Perormance Assessment Manual describes the guidelines for Oregon's approach to using locally developed performance assessments to assess student mastery of the state's essential skills framework. In addition, the manual describes how performance assessment...

In this paper, authors Scott Marion and Paul Leather present an overview of New Hampshire’s efforts to implement a pilot accountability system designed to support deeper learning for students and powerful organization change for schools and districts. The accountability pilot, referred to as ...

Authored by Joel Knudson, Stephanie Hannan, Jennifer O’Day, and Marina Castro, this brief charts the lessons from the California Learning Assessment System (CLAS) of the early 1990s that can inform state efforts to assess new college- and career-ready standards. The CLAS included performance...

This executive summary outlines how New Hampshire will integrate performance assessments into its state assessment and accountability systems.

The proposed performance assessment system will be based on:

1. competencies that provide state-defined learning expectations,

2. a...