Introduction

In the past 20–30 years, the U.S. K12 education system has seen significant innovation, thanks to more nuanced theories of learning and instructional models from the learning sciences, as well as technological developments and modes of R&D enabled by the technological innovations and data sciences. Unfortunately, educational assessment and accountability systems have struggled to evolve alongside these innovations, largely due to the continued reliance on and use of foundational yet outdated conceptions of fairness, validity, and comparability, among others.

Challenges

Three central challenges make progress towards improved educational assessment and accountability systems an even more arduous journey: 

• With the emergence of generative AI tools that hold promise for educational systems, we must address the outdated conceptions of fairness and validity in the context of these new tools and their potential uses. 

• The organization of professional associations, which tend to center around specific groups or topics, effectively silo conversations and research activities, therefore stifling well-informed and well-designed innovation.  

• The field itself has seen significant changes within the landscape of key interested parties—and now includes a broader range of content and technology providers who must be integrated into professional conversations.

In response to these challenges, Menlo Education Research (MenloEDU), with support from the Gates Foundation, hosted a series of in-person convenings to bring together key thought leaders, product designers, and researchers across a set of critical conversations about opportunities afforded by technological advancement and innovation in assessment. These convenings were planned in connection with existing conferences to create an opportunity to eventually fold the convening into these conferences. This approach supports sustaining the conversation within key educational professional societies. The design of the convening series was led by a Steering Committee and informed by an extensive listening tour.