Approved Montana Field-Testing Flexibility Waiver Empowers Students and Educators

The U.S. Department of Education (USED) has approved a Field-Testing Flexibility Waiver for the new Montana Alternative Student Testing (MAST) pilot program, an innovative through-year assessment design championed by Montana State Superintendent Elsie Arntzen.
Discussing Through-Year Assessment at NCSA

Nearly a thousand educators and experts convened at the National Conference on Student Assessment (NCSA) in New Orleans this June to discuss through-year testing, community engagement, and other vital components of next-generation assessment as states continue to revise their systems in the wake of the pandemic.
New Meridian CEO Arthur VanderVeen on Assessments

Ever since No Child Left Behind was signed into law in 2002, assessments have been a fixture of the education landscape—a very divisive one. But assessments have changed a lot over the last twenty years and are still changing to better meet the needs of students, teachers, schools, districts, and states. On this episode of The Report Card, Nat Malkus discusses the future of assessments and more with New Meridian CEO and founderArthur VanderVeen.
We need a new approach to student assessment.

Ashley Eden, Senior Vice President for State Partnerships, explores how adopting a more holistic assessment approach moves education closer to achieving the decades-old promise that assessment can directly impact classroom learning.
State tests that are useful for both instruction and accountability: A conversation with New Meridian’s Arthur VanderVeen (Part II)

In the second part of this two-part interview, Arthur peers into his crystal ball and discusses the future of state assessments, including the leveraging of artificial intelligence. Here’s what he said.
Assessment HQ: A conversation with New Meridian’s Arthur VanderVeen (Part I)

In part one of this two-part interview, Arthur talks to Dale Chu about the process and possibilities of developing large-scale assessments that are useful for both instruction and accountability.
Montana Looks to Expand Alternative School Testing Model Following Pilot Program

The state of Montana is trying out a new model for student testing – based on more assessments throughout the year instead of a single large test at the end of the year. Now, Montana’s state superintendent of public instruction hopes to significantly expand the pilot program.
Can State Tests Be Useful for Instruction and Accountability?

A new design is striving to do just that.
New Meridian: Montana is a Leader on Next-Generation Assessment

After piloting in 30 districts, state expands innovative MAST program AUSTIN, TX — APRIL 21, 2023 — Leaders at New Meridian Corporation applauded a decision by the Montana Office of Public Instruction to expand the state’s successful through-course assessment pilot program. “Montana is leading the nation in creating the next generation of assessment,†said Arthur […]