The Center for Standards, Assessment, and Accountability (CSAA) at WestEd strives to support balanced, coherent, and efficient systems of teaching and learning. For this reason, we provide a comprehensive portfolio of research-informed resources, high-quality technical assistance, and services designed to support meaningful improvement of student learning. Read more.
Subscribe now to receive updates and information related to high-quality research, resources, and services from the Center for Standards, Assessment, and Accountability at WestEd. Review the archive for prior CSAA newsletters.
Content-Rich Library of Resources
The Resource Library contains curated knowledge, tools, and guidance to ensure all educators have access to high-quality information.
High-Quality Services from WestEd
WestEd creates customized, research-based solutions that fairly and accurately assess student performance, and provides guidance for educators and policymakers on making the best use of results.
Spotlights
Spotlights provide targeted explorations of specific need areas or issues, providing helpful guidance in solving pressing challenges for states, districts, and schools.
News & Events
Academic Testing Looks Very Different in California During Distance Learning
WestEd Senior Professional Learning Specialist Barbara Jones is quoted in this EdSource article examining how teachers are assessing their students during distance learning. California teachers are implementing different strategies and tools to gauge their students’ understanding. This includes the application of formative assessment practices to collect evidence of student learning that can be used to […]
Assessment Leadership
To support district and school leaders in developing comprehensive and balanced assessment systems, WestEd experts Jessica Arnold and Chelsea Talakoub developed guidance describing how a comprehensive and balanced assessment system requires leaders who can articulate and implement practices that encourage assessment to be used as a tool for improving student learning. The brief provides suggestions […]
Los Angeles County Office of Education Performance Task Development Project: A Case Study
WestEd researchers Tran Keys and Sylvia Kwon have published a report on the impact of an initiative focused on developing and using performance tasks as part of science learning. The Performance Task Development Project (PTDP) worked with the Los Angeles County Office of Education to provide professional learning opportunities to teachers focused on developing performance […]