Key Trends in Educational Assessment: How Past Shapes Future

This is presented by the Inclusive Measurement for Historical Marginalized Group (IMHM) SIGIMIE.

In the United States, educational assessment is in some instances changing rapidly and dramatically. Change is occurring along several dimensions, one of which is how we think about fairness. Evolving conceptions of that concept are in part leading to a decline in the use of standardized tests for postsecondary admissions and also to the rise of personalized assessment. This paper traces significant events affecting the conception of fairness, describes the decline of standardized postsecondary admissions testing, and briefly summarizes personalized assessment. Understanding these three trends should help in planning strategically for an uncertain future.

Presenter

Randy Bennett is principal with Assessment Innovation Matters, which provides consultation in assessment innovation and assessment research. He is an elected member of the U.S. National Academy of Education and a fellow of the American Educational Research Association, as well as a recipient of the AERA E. F. Lindquist Award, the AERA Cognition and Assessment SIG Significant Contribution to Research in Assessment and Cognition Award, and the NCME Bradley Hanson Contributions to Educational Measurement Award (with H. Guo, M. Zhang, & P. Deane). From 2010 to 2025, he was the Norman O. Frederiksen Chair in Assessment Innovation at ETS in Princeton, New Jersey. His work concentrates on personalizing assessment, fairness, and equity.