

A matter of time: variations in high school course-taking by years-as-EL subgroup
This study improves upon previous research by addressing this dimension of heterogeneity and reporting detailed by-subject analyses.
By: Angela Johnson
Topics: Equity, English Language Learners


Validating the SEDA measures of district educational opportunities via a common assessment
his study describes a convergent validity analysis of the SEDA growth estimates in mathematics and English Language Arts (ELA) by comparing the SEDA estimates against estimates derived from NWEA’s MAP Growth assessments.
By: Megan Kuhfeld, Thurston Domina, Paul Hanselman
Topics: Equity, Growth modeling, Measurement & scaling


The changing landscape of assessment and accommodation policies
Educational assessments must include accommodations in the pursuit of accessibility for all, but the development and drive for accommodations on assessments is everchanging. This paper looks to review the accommodations landscape— discovering the past, highlighting our present progress, and uncovering new areas to explore.
By: Elizabeth Barker
Topics: Equity, Accessibility, Student growth & accountability policies


In this study, we examine the impact of two techniques to account for test disengagement—(a) removing unengaged test takers from the sample and (b) adjusting test scores to remove rapidly guessed items—on estimates of school contributions to student growth, achievement gaps, and summer learning loss.
By: Megan Kuhfeld, James Soland
Topics: Measurement & scaling, School & test engagement, Student growth & accountability policies


Social-emotional learning (SEL) is gaining prominence in education practice and policy. Research shows that SEL can be improved by short-term, targeted interventions and longer-term strategies to improve school contextual factors. The present study examines the stability of academic achievement relative to four SEL domains (growth mindset, self-efficacy, social awareness, and self-management).
By: James Soland, Megan Kuhfeld, Emily Wolk, Sharon Bi
Topics: Measurement & scaling, Social-emotional learning, Student growth & accountability policies


This study investigated the violation of local independence assumptions within unidimensional item response theory (IRT) models.
By: Guirong Li, Millie Lin, Chengfang Liu, Angela Johnson, Yanyan Li, Prashant Loyalka
Topics: Empowering educators, High-growth schools & practices


This study investigates the impact of a teacher professional development (PD) program in rural Rwanda, part of a randomized controlled trial of Save the Children’s early literacy intervention, “Literacy Boost.”
By: Angela Johnson, Catherine Galloway, Elliot Friedlander, Claude Goldenberg
Topics: Empowering educators, Early learning, Reading & language arts