U.S. Department of Education Awards More Than $9.9 Million in Grants to Three States to Improve Their Academic Assessments


Contact:  
Press Office, (202) 401-1576, press@ed.gov


The U.S. Department of Education has awarded more than $9.9 million in Enhanced Assessment Grants (EAGs) to three state education agencies—Kansas, Maryland and Oregon—to improve their state academic assessments. The primary measure of school success under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act is proficiency on state assessments. The EAGs can be used to improve the quality, validity, and reliability of state academic assessments; measure student academic achievement using multiple measures; chart student progress over time; and evaluate student academic achievement through the development of comprehensive academic assessment instruments. 

“High-quality assessments provide the data needed to improve education systems, instruction and, ultimately, student achievement,” U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan said. “The research and development projects proposed by these states will enhance the inclusion of English learners and students with disabilities in state assessment systems and, as a result, provide better data for supporting effective teaching and learning.”

Kansas’ award of $1,757,103 will be used to fund research on the accessibility of technology-enhanced assessments for students with vision and/or motor disabilities. The Maryland grant, in the amount of $1,926,577, will support research on audio and sign guidelines for assessments developed using the Common Core State Standards. Oregon’s award totaling $6,273,320 will fund the development of English Language Proficiency (ELP) assessments aligned with ELP standards that correspond to the Common Core State Standards.

The EAG program is administered by the Office of Elementary and Secondary Education. For additional information on the program and these new awards, visit http://www.ed.gov/programs/eag.



Notice of Language Assistance: English  |  español  |  中文: 繁體版  |  Việt-ngữ  |  한국어  |  Tagalog  |  Русский