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


Over the next 18 months, states will be making major decisions about their state assessment system. The Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) gives states important flexibility in how and when to assess students, and which types of tests to use. State boards of education have the primary authority to make these calls in 31 states.

“Regardless of the extent  of their authority, state boards play a significant role in the development and adoption of coherent, balanced statewide assessment systems, including summative tests,” argue NASBE Executive Director Kristen Amundson, and Gene Wilhoit, executive director of the University of Kentucky’s Center for Innovation in Education in Take It Off the Consent Agenda. They urge comprehensive state board involvement in the development of state assessment systems and lay out nine big questions board members should address before they adopt a new state assessment system.


Take It Off the Consent Agenda: Nine Questions State Boards of Education Should Ask about State Assessment Systems





Featured Items

High Schools That Matter

This issue of The Standard reimagines the high school experience, illuminating the data, policy reforms, and engagement with students, families, and educators that must align to make redesign possible.
Image Credit: iStock i

Teachers Need Multifaceted Support to Improve Literacy

To improve literacy, states should invest in comprehensive supports for teachers to equip them to deliver high-quality, evidence-based instruction.

Nominations Open: NASBE’s 2023 Awards and Board of Directors

Recommend a deserving colleague for a 2023 NASBE award or board position.

Upcoming Events

From the States