President’s Message – February 2026

President's Message

Dear NCME Colleagues,

February may be delivering ice on the streets and chill in the air for many of us, but NCME is very much in a warm, forward-moving season. The new year is already off to a strong and productive start, with momentum building across governance, programming, and community connection. From board decisions to conference planning, there’s a lot happening—and a lot to be excited about.

Incoming Board Members and Book Series Editor: Congratulations and Welcome!

I would like to thank our colleagues who agreed to run for a position on the NCME Board of Directors. The results of the 2026 election are below:

  • Vice President/President Elect: Susan Davis-Becker, ACS Ventures
  • Representative of a State or Federal Agency or Organization: Chris Rozunick, Texas Education Agency
  • Board Member at Large: Laura Hamilton, The National Center for the Improvement of Educational Assessment

Congratulations to these forthcoming board members who will serve starting in April 2026 through April 2029. I look forward to welcoming you and working with you in my final year on the board. I also want to thank the NCME Nominations & Elections Committee—Andrew Ho, Derek Briggs, and Kristen Huff—for putting together such a talented and competitive set of candidates.

Congratulations also for Mary Pitoniak who was chosen as the next editor of the NCME Book Series, starting in April 2026 through April 2030. Many thanks to Mary for her continued service in support of NCME’s publications.

January Board of Directors Meeting: Moving NCME Forward

The board held a very productive virtual meeting on January 21. In accordance with advancing our strategic plan, the board reaffirmed its commitment to the mission and the vision, adopted a set of eight values, and preliminarily approved a set of strategic goals. These actions are designed to strengthen NCME’s long-term impact and better support our members across career stages and professional contexts.

We also voted to approve the 2026 (positive balance) budget, along with several updated financial policies, a new chartering process for SIGIMIEs, and expansion of the Training and Professional Development Committee (T&PD). I am especially thankful for the board’s approval of my proposal to expand the T&PD Committee to a full six-member committee with a three-year rotation cycle, commensurate with other NCME committees. I look forward to working with this committee to evaluate and develop expanded year-round and lifelong training, learning, and professional development opportunities for NCME members.

RSVP by February 8 for Making Our Way to LA – Regional Meet-Up in Iowa City on February 19

I am excited to host a second NCME regional meet-up, this time in Iowa City, Iowa, on February 19. This informal gathering is designed to foster connection, conversation, and community among measurement professionals at all career stages. Whether you’re local to the area or passing through, I hope you’ll join me and your colleagues for good company, good discussion, and a chance to connect with fellow NCME members. Please register by February 8.

NCME 2026 Updates: Preliminary Program, Early Bird Registration, and the Informal Presidential Closing Reception

The preliminary program for the NCME 2026 Annual Meeting, to be held at the InterContinental Los Angeles Downtown April 8–11, is now available! Registration is open, and early bird rates end on February 13!

Many thanks to Program Co-Chairs Pamela Kaliski and Stefanie Wind, along with Training and Professional Development Co-Chairs Joe Grochowalski and Wenchao Ma, for putting together a fabulous program. Please plan to stay through the end of sessions on Saturday, April 11, and join me for a closing reception in the early evening.

We are grateful to be able to provide a limited number of travel grants to attendees this year. Additional support is always welcome; contributions to the Mission Fund marked “to support travel grants” will be dedicated to the Annual Meeting or other NCME events.

Upcoming Fall 2026 Events: AIME-Con and Classroom Assessment

Building on the success, energy, and feedback from the 2025 AIME-Con (Artificial Intelligence in Measurement and Education Conference), the NCME Board of Directors approved plans for AIME-Con 2026 this October. More information will be shared soon.

In addition, the sixth NCME Special Conference on Classroom Assessment will be November 12–14, at the Radisson Blu in Bloomington, Minnesota. This year’s conference will focus on advancing effective classroom assessment practices across educational contexts. Information regarding the call for proposals, registration details, hotel accommodations, and travel guidance will soon be available online.

It’s going to be a busy fall for NCME, and we are grateful and excited to offer these events for our members.

Committee Focus: Archives and History Committee

Later in the newsletter, read more about the important projects the Archives and History Committee has been advancing to preserve and elevate artifacts, documents, and ideas from across NCME’s history. Working with Atria staff, the committee is improving the organization, accessibility, and visibility of these materials so they can better serve members, researchers, and the broader measurement community. In particular, you should check out the interviews with select influential educational measurement scholars and practitioners that offer first-hand perspectives on the field’s evolution, major debates, and enduring challenges. We deeply appreciate the committee’s sustained efforts in this area.

Thank you, as always, for your engagement, generosity, and commitment to NCME. I look forward to the months ahead and to connecting with many of you—virtually and in person—as we continue this work to move forward together.

Warm regards,
Amy Hendrickson
President, NCME