Professor appointed to National Assessment Governing Board
Suzanne Lane, a professor of Quantitative Research Methodology in the Educational Foundations, Organizations, and Policy department of the University of Pittsburgh School of Education, has been appointed to the National Assessment Governing Board (NAGB), the body that sets policies for the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), commonly known as the “nation’s report card.”
“I look forward to discussions on the content, standards, and reporting of NAEP with other members, including state governors, state legislators, educators, and other psychometricians. Serving on NAGB is an honor and provides a rare opportunity to engage in conversations about NAEP assessment practices and policies from a diverse set of stakeholders,” says Lane.
Created by Congress in 1988, NAGB is a 26-member nonpartisan and independent board made up of governors, state legislators, local and state school officials, educators, business representatives, and members of the general public.
Lane’s appointment comes at a time of great need for students and teachers across the country as schools adapt to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“The differential impact of COVID-19 on traditionally underserved communities and students is of great concern. The focus of state assessment systems during this year should be for formative purposes, providing information about where students are in the academic disciplines, where they need to go, and how they can get there,” says Lane. “All high-stakes purposes of assessment systems should be reconsidered at the local and state level during this unprecedented time.”
This year marks Lane’s 35th year as a faculty member in Pitt Education.
Lane’s expertise in educational measurement and testing focuses on technical and validity issues in large-scale assessment programs and the effectiveness of education and accountability programs.
She formerly served as president of the National Council on Measurement in Education, as well as the vice president of Division D of the American Educational Research Association. Additionally, she has served on numerous national and state assessment committees and advisory panels and on the editorial boards of leading academic journals of educational research and measurement.
Lane will serve a four-year term on the NAGB.
NAGB will meet virtually during the COVID-19 pandemic. Lane says she looks forward to in-person conversations in Washington, D.C. in the future.
Learn more
- Read the U.S. Department of Education’s press release.
- Watch Lane discuss the Standards for Educational and Psychological Testing in this video.
- The Research Methodology programs are currently accepting applications. Apply here.
