BOSTON (August 6, 2026) — NWEA, a K-12 assessment and research organization, today released back-to-school predictions from its education experts, highlighting the key issues and trends likely to shape the school year ahead.
Assessment Will Shift from Measuring Learning to Accelerating It
For decades, assessment has primarily answered one question: Where are students academically? This school year, I believe we’ll see a fundamental shift toward assessment systems that also answer the equally important question: What should happen next? The future of assessment isn’t about generating more data. Educators already have plenty of that. The future of assessment is about connecting those data points from across the classroom into timely, actionable insights that help teachers personalize instruction. As assessment becomes more seamlessly integrated into teaching rather than existing as a series of separate events, it will transform from a tool that measures learning into one that actively accelerates it, helping educators make every instructional moment count. ~ Sabine Wallis, General Manager, NWEA
Kindergarten Will Become the New Starting Line for Academic Success
This school year, we’ll see a growing recognition that the earliest elementary years represent one of the greatest opportunities to influence long-term student success. Our research shows that kindergarten achievement provides a meaningful signal, not a destiny, of later outcomes. The districts that make the greatest progress this year will be those that use early data to identify students who need additional support before the window for intervention begins to narrow. That early identification needs to be coupled with interventions and supports that drive outcomes. Unfortunately, not all programs and efforts can achieve that. Education researchers can help by looking at schools that do the most to improve outcomes for those initial low achievers and providing insights that can be adopted across various types of schools and communities. ~ Dr. Megan Kuhfeld, Director of Growth Modeling and Data Analytics, NWEA
Trustworthy Research Will Be Education’s Competitive Edge
This school year, educators will place an even higher value on evidence they can trust. As AI-generated content and competing educational claims fill the landscape, the challenge won’t be finding answers—it will be knowing which ones are grounded in credible research and demonstrate efficacy with real student outcomes. Schools will look for clear and transparent evidence, and rely on trusted organizations to support them in making confident decisions that improve outcomes for all students. ~ Dr. Beth Tarasawa, Senior Vice President of Learning Sciences, NWEA
Attendance Will Become a Core Academic Recovery Strategy
This school year, I expect more district leaders to prioritize reducing absenteeism as a core part of their academic recovery strategies. Our research suggests that summer learning programs and high-dosage tutoring can improve attendance as well as learning. This points to the value of strategies that address both challenges together, particularly in high-poverty communities, where persistent absenteeism and unfinished learning are most closely connected. ~ Dr. Emily Morton, Lead Research Scientist, NWEA
Credibility Will Require Continuous Proof
As education leaders navigate an increasingly crowded landscape of AI tools, research claims, and competing solutions, trust will become one of the sector’s most valuable currencies. But trust isn’t something organizations earn once and keep forever. It must be continually reinforced through a demonstrated commitment to understanding learning, asking hard questions, and communicating evidence with clarity and humility. I expect educators will increasingly look beyond product claims alone, seeking partners that help them make sense of a rapidly changing educational landscape. That means translating research into practical insight, acknowledging what we know and what we don’t, and contributing to broader conversations about teaching, learning, and student success. ~ Dr. Karyn Lewis, Vice President of Research and Policy Partnerships, NWEA
The Future of Math Instruction Is About Connections, Not Checklists
As educators continue rethinking how mathematics is taught, I expect we’ll see increasing emphasis on the connections between mathematical ideas rather than treating standards as isolated skills. Helping students make the key conceptual leaps that underpin future learning will become an essential strategy for improving both achievement and long-term confidence in mathematics. ~ Aaron Kugler, educator and math expert, and Principal Assessment Designer, NWEA
Digital Literacy Will Become a Core Skill Across Every Classroom
This school year, I expect we’ll see digital literacy move beyond technology and library classes to become an essential part of instruction across every subject. As AI-generated content, misinformation, and multimodal media become part of students’ everyday lives, teaching them how to evaluate information, question sources, and think critically will become just as important as teaching them to read, write, and solve math problems. At the same time, we’ll see a growing emphasis on helping educators build their own digital literacy skills. Teachers will need ongoing professional learning – not only to effectively teach digital literacy, but also to confidently navigate an increasingly complex digital landscape themselves. From evaluating AI tools to deciding when and how technology can best support instruction, educators will need the knowledge and confidence to make informed decisions that enhance learning rather than distract from it. ~ Laura Hansen, educator and literacy expert, and Vice President of Assessment Design, NWEA
About NWEA
NWEA®, a division of HMH, supports educators worldwide by providing responsive, evidence-based assessment solutions that illuminate learning needs and fuel student growth. For more than 40 years, NWEA has developed innovative pre-K–12 assessments, including its flagship assessment – MAP Growth, and professional learning that helps educators strengthen their practice and improve student outcomes. As part of its commitment to bring valuable insights to the education community, NWEA engages in research that examines issues that shed light on inequities and other barriers to academic opportunities. Visit NWEA.org to find out how NWEA partners to help all kids learn.
Contact: Simona Beattie, Communications Director, simona.beattie@nwea.org or 971.361.9526