Nate Jensen, director of the Center for School and Student Progress at NWEA, specializes in issues related to the use of student testing data in accountability systems and its application to myriad policy decisions. His research interests include test motivation, chronic absenteeism, and issues related to teacher and school accountability. In his role at NWEA, Dr. Jensen engages directly with school systems to influence educational practices and policies that promote student success and conducts rigorous research that is directly relevant to educators’ work with their students. Dr. Jensen holds a PhD in counselor education from the University of Arkansas.