Up to $350 Million in Race to the Top Funds Available for Assessments

[From Philanthropy News Digest] The U.S. Department of Education has announced that up to $350 million in Race to the Top funds is now available for consortia of states to develop and implement a new generation of assessments.

The Race to the Top Assessment program is designed to fill the need for valid, instructionally useful assessments that provide accurate information about what students know and can do and which are anchored in standards that enable every student to gain the knowledge and skills they need to succeed in college or the workplace by the time he or she graduates from high school.

Funds will be awarded to consortia that create assessments which measure standards that are rigorous, globally competitive, and consistent across states in the consortium; provide accurate information about what students know and can do, including both students' progress in meeting standards and their academic growth from year to year; reflect and support good instructional practice; include all students; and present data to everyone who needs it in ways that are clear, useful, and actionable.

In addition to funding the development of a new generation of standardized assessments to replace current tests, the department will award up to $30 million to fund better assessments for high schools.

"States are leading the way in creating new standards designed to ensure that students graduate from high school ready for success in college and careers," said U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan. "To fully realize this vision, states need new assessments that measure a broader range of students' knowledge and skills."

“$350 Million Now Available to Help Consortia of States Create Next Generation of Assessments.” U.S. Department of Education Press Release 4/06/10.