Earlier this month, the National Center for Education Statistics released the preliminary findings of its state/NAEP standards mapping study. For this initial research while the full report is prepared, researchers analyzed the shares of students reaching proficient on each state’s annual math and reading assessments and identifies the corresponding NAEP
At the end of last week, philanthropist and former NYC mayor Michael Bloomberg took to the virtual pages of Bloomberg with an op-ed with a straightforward thesis: “We can’t fix America’s schools without data.” The piece is a full-throated defense of using assessment data to help improve our nation’s public schools, and of
As the Fourth of July weekend drew to a close, the New York Times editorial board published an essay with a straightforward request: that the University of California system bring back its standardized testing requirement for its prospective applicants. When institutions like MIT and Dartmouth gradually reinstated their testing requirements after
The findings from Wednesday’s release of the latest NAEP Long Term Trends data were a mixed bag. On the one hand, nine year olds posted some real improvements in reading and math from 2022 to 2025. Thirteen year-olds, on the other hand, were virtually stagnant or had declined from 2023
The Winston Group’s David Winston and Caitlin Peartree are out with a new essay at Education Next. In this piece, they consider the recent report on trust in higher education from Yale University and the importance of the kind of broad-based, liberal arts education an institution like Yale provides. A
In the larger conversation about student achievement and outcomes, one important element is the experience of students before they ever enter a classroom. The early childhood years are a crucial window for brain development and other important skills. Research conducted by The Winston Group on behalf of the Clapham Group