The only organization dedicated solely to helping state boards advance equity and excellence in public education.

Abigail Potts


Abigail (Abby) Potts works to engage and empower members to lead and advocate in federal and state policy in the best interest of students, educators, and families. She tracks key policy issues where state boards will play a critical leadership role, synthesizes research and evidence on member policy priorities, and facilitates the work of NASBE’s Government Affairs Committee (GAC) and Public Education Positions (PEP).  Potts brings two decades of experience in federal and state education policy along with a passion for the role of data in advancing educational equity. She previously served as a research scientist at the US Department of Education’s National Center for Education Statistics where she analyzed the Civil Rights Data Collection’s wide-ranging educational access and opportunity data.  Potts has also served as a senior policy advisor within the US Department of Education’s Office of Elementary and Secondary Education where she focused on state implementation of assessment and accountability provisions of the No Child Left Behind Act. Before government service, Potts supported state development of K-12 education policy and the public reporting of education indicators at the Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO). Potts attended public school in Alexandria, Virginia, and currently resides in Alexandria’s Del Ray neighborhood.


Latest Contributions

Roadmap to Excellence: Strategic Planning for State Boards

By Abigail Potts and Paolo DeMaria

Savvy boards can increase the odds their plans will live, breathe, and have measurable impact.



Image Credit: iStock

Education Drives State and Federal Elections in 2022

By Abigail Potts and Joseph Hedger

In 2022, voters across the U.S. elected 28 new state board members and nine new governors.



Image Credit: Photo by Allison Shelley/The Verbatim Agency for EDUimages

State Strategies on Assessments in 2021

By Abigail Potts

This analysis explores the strategies states employed to administer assessments in the 2020-21 school year. It also highlights the opportunities for state boards to learn from and make the best use of data collected from the pandemic school year.




Image Credit: iStock

Steady Leadership for State Education after 2020 Elections

By Abigail Potts and Joseph Hedger

This NASBE analysis outlines outcomes from major state election races in 2020 and changes in 61 state board of education seats in 12 states and territories that were on the ballot.



Four Test Questions for State Boards

By Abigail Potts

These questions can help frame conversations on assessment approval and intersections with state accountability.