News & Blog

Written by Rheanne Renzenbrink, with additional input from subject area experts. Rheanne is a former secondary English teacher with over a decade of experience in the classroom and with standardized testing. She’s helped coordinate and proctor ACT® and SAT® exams, including supporting her own students through the accommodations process. Rheanne…

In September 2025, the Virginia Board of Education unanimously approved new cut scores for the Standards of Learning (SOL) assessments. This decision follows the adoption of more rigorous academic standards in math and English,…

For many high school students, the PSAT®/NMSQT® is their first experience with a college-readiness assessment. While it is often seen as a simple practice test or a qualifier for the National Merit Scholarship Program, the truth is that PSAT® data offers…

Pennsylvania schools face growing pressure to demonstrate success across multiple dimensions, not just test scores. If you’re a district leader, curriculum director, or principal in Pennsylvania, you’ve likely spent time analyzing your school’s Future Ready PA Index results and wondering how to move the needle on those…

In recent years, more states are moving away from the traditional one-time, end-of-course (EOC) assessment model and adopting a more dynamic, intra-year approach to measuring student growth. This shift is more than a change in test timing. It represents a philosophical move toward supporting student learning in real…

Oklahoma social studies teachers are facing immense uncertainty. Oklahoma’s social studies standards have been approved, paused, and taken to court all in the span of a few months. With leadership changes adding to the confusion, it’s no wonder educators are left asking: What now?…

Parent-teacher conferences can be one of the most exhausting parts of the job, but also one of the most meaningful. These short windows give us a rare chance to connect face-to-face with the people who know our students best. When approached with intention (and a little preparation), these…

Texas is about to experience its most significant change in student assessment in over a decade. With the signing of House Bill 8 (HB 8) into law in September 2025, STAAR® testing in grades 3–8 will be phased out and replaced with a new three-window assessment system starting…

Pennsylvania science teachers are at the forefront of a transformative shift in how science is taught. The newly adopted STEELS standards (Science, Technology & Engineering, Environmental Literacy & Sustainability) mark a major departure from the state’s 2002 science frameworks.