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Developing Modern Assessments for Today’s Learners

Collaborating to design research-based assessments for informed decision-making and improved outcomes

High-quality assessments measure how education systems are performing, reveal where instruction is working or needs support, and connect students with the resources they need to thrive.  

WestEd collaborates with educators and decision-makers to develop measurement solutions that reflect your goals and are grounded in research and practice. Our work spans early childhood through postsecondary and includes both traditional assessments (observational, formative, interim, and summative) and modern approaches such as through-course models and AI-powered tools.  

Our Capacities

We are a trusted partner for designing assessments that measure what matters. All our assessments are of high quality; they are valid, fair, and grounded in research. They support the full range of intended uses, from formative to summative, with traditional to modern designs.  

Featured Project

Early Childhood Assessment Services

WestEd supports the development of reliable and developmentally appropriate early learning assessments from birth through age 8. We are a trusted partner to states and districts seeking assessments that inform instruction, identify needs early, and reflect how young children grow and learn. 

Featured Project

Literacy and Reading Assessment 

We support high-quality literacy assessment that spans foundational skills and comprehension, helping identify students who need additional support and providing valid, actionable information to guide instruction and improve outcomes across grade levels. 

We conduct rigorous validity studies, design and evaluate AI-driven assessment systems and scoring models, and apply modern methods in equating, standard setting, score reporting, and learner modeling to ensure fairness and defensibility. 

Featured Project

Psychometric Assessment Services

WestEd serves as a trusted psychometric partner to state agencies, districts, and assessment providers, helping ensure results are fair, defensible, and meaningful across programs, platforms, and evolving educational contexts.

Featured Project

NAEP Assessment Framework Update

We contributed expertise to update the Mathematics, Reading, and Science frameworks for the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), helping ensure that future NAEP assessments reflect what students know and provide essential data to guide national education policy and improvement.

We help educators build the knowledge and skills needed to choose and create high-quality assessment tools and strategies and to understand and use the information these assessments provide to improve instruction and student learning.  

Featured Project

Assessment Literacy Workshops 

Our tailored assessment literacy workshops, and accompanying tools and materials, help educators and administrators evaluate different assessment tools for different purposes—and best use the results to improve student learning.  

Featured Project

Formative Insights: Assessment for Learning

Our professional learning experiences for teachers model and integrate key elements of formative assessment. We support teacher learning by integrating key practices related to effective formative assessment, such as helping teachers and students develop daily learning goals, collecting and using evidence to monitor those goals, and engaging in peer learning.  

We work closely with education agencies to ensure their assessment systems align with academic standards and accountability expectations. Our team supports system design, interest holder engagement, and compliance to strengthen coherence across policies and practices. 

Featured Project

Center for Standards, Assessment, and Accountability (CSAA)

CSAA delivers tools and expertise to strengthen assessment and accountability systems across jurisdictions, ensuring they not only meet policy requirements but also support meaningful learning for all students.

Featured Project

Designing High-Quality Assessment Solutions

We ensure that new and existing assessments align with instructional goals and accountability frameworks while also providing actionable insights that support educators and help learners succeed.

From focus groups and cognitive labs to codesign with students and educators, we aim to create assessments that reflect real experiences; support student and teacher engagement; and produce valid, actionable results. 

Featured Project

Training Generative AI to Reflect Learners in Your State 

WestEd is studying how generative AI can support the creation of assessment content that is engaging and relevant assessment. Early findings suggest that models enriched with student context can produce higher quality passage sets. 

Featured Project

Framework for Representative Assessment Development 

WestEd partnered with a state department of education to pilot a practical framework for developing assessments that reflect students’ experiences. The framework provides tools and guidance to support relevant, engaging, and instructionally valuable content. 

Ready to Strengthen Your Assessment Systems to Support All Learners?

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