Standards, Assessment & Accountability

The Standards, Assessment, and Accountability Initiative focuses on the three historical and most powerful drivers of education systems. State by state, we have made progress in these areas over the past decade-but we need to continue to support and effect the transformative change that will truly prepare every child, in every school, for the challenges and opportunities of the future.

To accomplish this goal nationwide, we believe that we must approach the next wave of standards, ass...

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Standards, Assessment & Accountability Programs

Assessments

As states implement new college and career-ready standards, they will also transition to new assessments designed to better measure if students are on track to college and career readiness. CCSSO will work with educators as they make this transition and use the new assessments to improve teaching and student learning. For almost 40 years, CCSSO has convened the annual National Conference on Student Assessment (NCSA), where upwards of 1,000 state assessment professionals and experts come together to examine salient issues in measuring and reporting what students know and can do. CCSSO also leads 14 State Collaboratives on Assessments and Student Standards (SCASS), which bring together leaders from state education agencies who share mutual interests and specific challenges in standards and assessments.

The Common Core State Standards Initiative (CCSSI)

The Common Core State Standards Initiative is a joint effort by CCSSO and the National Governors Association Center for Best Practices. Governors and state commissioners of education from across the country have committed to joining a state-led process to develop a common core of state standards in English-language arts and mathematics for grades K-12.

Accountability Systems

CCSSO works with states to create accountability systems that ensure every student has access to a high-quality education. States will achieve this goal by (1) driving school and district performance towards college- and career-readiness, (2) distinguishing performance in order to more meaningfully target supports and interventions to the students most in need, (3) providing timely, transparent data to spur action at all levels, and (4) fostering innovation and continuous improvement throughout the system.

National Conference on Student Assessment (NCSA)

The National Conference on Student Assessment (NCSA) provides a forum for conference attendees to find out what is happening in the world of assessment - what is new, what is changing, and what is working and not working. NCSA is a practitioner's conference and where attendees can network with professionals in the assessment community while learning about the possibilities of assessment and learning.

State Collaboratives on Assessment and Student Standards (SCASS)

The State Collaboratives on Assessment and Student Standards (SCASS) are groups of State Education Agency (SEA) career service professionals who work together to solve common educational problems. With a focus on assessment development and implementation issues, the SCASS System provides states with tools for professional development, program involvement, and advocacy.

What We Do

Is there a better way to assess what students know and help them improve?

Standards, Assessment & Accountability