What use is educational assessment?

Despite its pervasiveness in educational settings, testing is a topic that is often misunderstood by the students, teachers, policymakers and members of the public who consume or produce the results.  A recent edition of the ANNALS of the American Academy of Political and Social Scienceaims to explore and maybe even reduce some of this confusion, by taking a step back and asking psychometricians and other testing experts to ponder a core question: “What use is educational assessment?” Here are four broad takeaways: Grading is a problem for learning. We should stop assuming that the same state assessment can and should be used both to hold school systems accountable and to formatively shape classroom instruction. The National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) might not be perfect, but it’s pretty much the best we have. Assessments can promote equity, rather than contribute to inequity. Complete report, with far more detail.