Michael Dahlin, PhD
Manager, Research Reporting & Data Analytics

Michael Dahlin leads NWEA's Reporting & Data Analytics team. He specializes in research and reporting on college readiness and school accountability policy. Before joining NWEA, he was a research analyst for the Oregon Department of Human Services. He holds a PhD in developmental psychology from Penn State.
Publications by Michael Dahlin


The MAP Growth theory of action describes key features of MAP Growth and its position in a comprehensive assessment system.
By: Patrick Meyer, Michael Dahlin
Products: MAP Growth
Topics: Equity, Measurement & scaling, Test design


Achievement and growth tables for private schools
This interactive tool provides context on the typical patterns of achievement and growth in mathematics and reading for private and Catholic schools who take MAP Growth assessments. It provides multiple ways to examine patterns for different groups of students, including by student gender, race/ethnic group, region, and state.
By: Michael Dahlin, Art Katsapis
Topics: Empowering educators, Innovations in reporting & assessment


Do high flyers maintain their altitude? Performance trends of top students
In this study from the Thomas B. Fordham Institute, achievement trends from NWEAās longitudinal growth database were used to track students who scored at or above the 90th percentile on this assessment in order to see if they maintained their high achievement.
By: Yun Xiang, Michael Dahlin, John Cronin, Robert Theaker, Sarah Durant
Topics: Equity, High-growth schools & practices


A level playing field: College readiness standards
This study examines the academic growth of 35,000 elementary and middle school students in 31 statesāall of them high achievers within their own schoolsāover a three-year period.
By: Michael Dahlin, Beth Tarasawa
Topics: College & career readiness, Equity


Developing more meaningful definitions of college readiness
Complementing traditional quantitative measures with more qualitative tools can help determine college and career readiness.
By: John Cronin, Michael Dahlin


A level playing field: College readiness standards
Some of our assumptions about the growth and performance of students from high-poverty schools relative to their peers from wealthier schools may be challenged in this data gallery, where you can explore how school poverty level interacts with student growth, college readiness, and college access.
By: Michael Dahlin, Beth Tarasawa
Topics: Equity, College & career readiness


Do high flyers maintain their altitude?
In the visualizations in this exhibit, you can compare the performance and growth of various groups of high achievers to that of their peers over multiple years.
By: Yun Xiang, Michael Dahlin, John Cronin, Robert Theaker, Sarah Durant
Topics: Equity, High-growth schools & practices