How State Policy Can Advance Performance Assessments for 21st Century Learning

Policymakers, educators, parents, and students alike have long bemoaned the limitations of state multiple-choice assessments, recognizing that multiple choice bubble tests are at best insufficient and at worst counterproductive in supporting the learning demands of the 21st century. More states are therefore exploring performance assessments to better support educator practice and to reinforce student learning that is instructionally rich and cognitively demanding. 

On February 2, 2015, a panel discussed the importance of performance assessments and their role in state assessment systems. It included internationally renowned expert Dr. Linda Darling-Hammond; NASBE Director of College, Career, and Civic Readiness Robert Hull (moderator); NASBE Deeper Learning Project Director Ace Parsi; and CCSSO Innovation Lab Network Director Jennifer Davis Poon. Mr. Parsi and Dr. Darling-Hammond released the findings of a joint paper, Performance Assessments: How State Policy Can Advance Assessments for 21st Century Learning, which evaluates key considerations and benefits to successful implementation of these assessments, and Ms. Davis Poon highlighted emerging resources that can support this work. 

View this webinar on the NASBE website