Jim Soland is a Research Scientist at NWEA. His research focuses on the uses and misuses of test scores to inform education policies impacting students, teachers, and school systems. Much of that work emphasizes measuring college readiness and policies impacting English learners related to assessment, teacher effectiveness, and best practices. Prior to joining NWEA, Dr. Soland completed a doctorate in Educational Psychology at Stanford University with a concentration in measurement. His dissertation was awarded an American Educational Research Association grant and is now in publication. He has also served as a classroom teacher and Senior Fiscal Analyst at the Legislative Analyst’s Office (LAO), a nonpartisan organization that provides policy analysis to support the California Legislature and general public.