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Testing Democracy: How Large-Scale Assessment Systems Can Support Civic Learning

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Title: Testing Democracy: How Large-Scale Assessment Systems Can Support Civic Learning
Language: English
Authors: Laura S. Hamilton, W. Christopher Brandt, National Center for the Improvement of Educational Assessment, Inc. (NCIEA)
Source: National Center for the Improvement of Educational Assessment. 2026.
Availability: National Center for the Improvement of Educational Assessment. P.O. Box 351, Dover, NH 03821. Tel: 603-516-7900; Fax: 603-516-7910; e-mail: recep@nciea.org; Web site: http://www.nciea.org
Peer Reviewed: N
Page Count: 31
Publication Date: 2026
Intended Audience: Administrators; Policymakers
Document Type: Reports - Evaluative
Education Level: Secondary Education
Descriptors: Civics, Citizenship Education, Democracy, Student Evaluation, Evaluation Methods, Data Collection, Educational Policy, State Policy, Learner Engagement, Secondary School Students, Knowledge Level, Educational Benefits, Language Arts
Abstract: This paper discusses the importance of redesigning large-scale assessment systems to better support one of the most important functions of the public school system--cultivating informed and engaged citizens. "Large-scale assessment systems" here means any approach that combines results from multiple sources of data collected from large, defined populations in a consistent and structured manner to capture information about different aspects of performance or learning opportunities. Systems like these can be more than just measurements; they can be agents of positive change. By gathering these kinds of information, states and districts can send important signals about what matters, understand what is and is not working, and step up with funding, technical assistance and other supports that better enable schools to do the work that society values. This paper does not argue for incorporating civics assessment into the state accountability systems required by federal legislation, nor does it call for major overhauls to existing large-scale assessment systems. Instead, it offers guidance to support relatively small modifications that could help raise the salience of civic goals and generate data to monitor progress toward those goals. The paper also offers policy recommendations for local and state education agencies and discusses likely challenges and ways to overcome them.
Abstractor: ERIC
Entry Date: 2026
Accession Number: ED679215
Database: ERIC
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  Data: Testing Democracy: How Large-Scale Assessment Systems Can Support Civic Learning
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Laura+S%2E+Hamilton%22">Laura S. Hamilton</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22W%2E+Christopher+Brandt%22">W. Christopher Brandt</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22National+Center+for+the+Improvement+of+Educational+Assessment%2C+Inc%2E+%28NCIEA%29%22">National Center for the Improvement of Educational Assessment, Inc. (NCIEA)</searchLink>
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  Data: National Center for the Improvement of Educational Assessment. P.O. Box 351, Dover, NH 03821. Tel: 603-516-7900; Fax: 603-516-7910; e-mail: recep@nciea.org; Web site: http://www.nciea.org
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  Data: This paper discusses the importance of redesigning large-scale assessment systems to better support one of the most important functions of the public school system--cultivating informed and engaged citizens. "Large-scale assessment systems" here means any approach that combines results from multiple sources of data collected from large, defined populations in a consistent and structured manner to capture information about different aspects of performance or learning opportunities. Systems like these can be more than just measurements; they can be agents of positive change. By gathering these kinds of information, states and districts can send important signals about what matters, understand what is and is not working, and step up with funding, technical assistance and other supports that better enable schools to do the work that society values. This paper does not argue for incorporating civics assessment into the state accountability systems required by federal legislation, nor does it call for major overhauls to existing large-scale assessment systems. Instead, it offers guidance to support relatively small modifications that could help raise the salience of civic goals and generate data to monitor progress toward those goals. The paper also offers policy recommendations for local and state education agencies and discusses likely challenges and ways to overcome them.
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        PageCount: 31
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      – SubjectFull: Citizenship Education
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      – SubjectFull: Democracy
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      – SubjectFull: Student Evaluation
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      – SubjectFull: Evaluation Methods
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      – SubjectFull: Secondary School Students
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      – SubjectFull: Educational Benefits
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      – TitleFull: Testing Democracy: How Large-Scale Assessment Systems Can Support Civic Learning
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