Pearson Unveils New "Next-Generation Assessments" Web Site
Web Resource Designed to Inform and Assist States and State Consortia
Bloomington, MN (PRWEB) November 17, 2010
At a time when an unprecedented convergence of forces are transforming our nation's public education system, educators are faced with the challenge of evaluating current instruction and assessment practices and developing the next generation of systems to meet the learning needs of all. Today, as state education leaders from around the country gather in Louisville at the Council of Chief State School Officers Annual Policy Forum, Pearson unveiled a new web resource designed to inform and assist states and state consortia as they develop and transition to the next generation of student assessments.
The web site, Next-Generation Assessments, features free access to white papers and other resources developed by Pearson's experts in assessment, instruction and digital learning technologies to help states as they design and deliver new assessment systems that are both innovative and pragmatic. As the global leader in education and education technology, Pearson has provided large-scale assessment services for more than 30 states as well as the U. S. Department of Education, ACT, the College Board and the National Board of Professional Teaching Standards.
As part of its Race to The Top competition, the U. S. Education Department awarded two state consortia grants to design comprehensive, new assessment systems to accelerate the transformation of public schools: The Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers (PARCC) and the SMARTER Balanced Assessment Consortium (SBAC). In addition, many states are redesigning their own state assessment programs. Together, these transitions will require fundamental shifts in how assessments are developed, delivered, hand scored as well as how the data is used to improve teaching and personalize learning. Ultimately, these new assessments will be integrated into a next generation teaching and learning system.
"Successfully developing and implementing our country's next generation teaching and learning systems is going to require new levels of communication and collaboration across all segments of the education community: private, public, nonprofit and governmental," said Douglas Kubach, president and CEO, Assessment and Information Group of Pearson. "Pearson launched this web resource to contribute our vision and expertise to the national dialogue as we all move forward in this exciting time of educational change."
Papers featured on the site in the future will address topics such as growth models, standards setting, automated scoring and rigor in assessments. Pearson's Next-Generation Assessments web site is available at http://www. pearsonassessments. com/NextGeneration/.
About Pearson
Pearson (NYSE:PSO), the global leader in education and education technology, provides innovative print and digital education materials for preK through college, student information systems and learning management systems, teacher licensure testing, teacher professional development, career certification programs, and testing and assessment products that set the standard for the industry. Pearson's other primary businesses include the Financial Times Group and the Penguin Group. For more information about the Assessment & Information group of Pearson, visit http://www. pearsonassessments. com/.
Contact:
Adam Gaber, Assessment and Information Group of Pearson, (800) 745-8489
@Apgaber (twitter)
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