ED Letter on Academic Assessment Data

On September 13, U.S. Secretary of Education, Miguel Cardona, sent a Dear Colleague letter to State education leaders to remind all who report and interpret student outcomes this year that assessment data has always been meant to be used constructively—to help inform parents and families about their students’ schools and to ensure schools receive the necessary resources to help support students. Further, the letter is intended to support communities in countering efforts to misuse these results by applying them punitively.

The letter outlines some considerations around possible interpretation, use, and communication of school year 2021–22 assessment data. Read the full letter here.