Understanding the impact of the COVID-19 crisis on student learning is fundamental for being able to develop responsive supports that address the needs of all students, particularly those most affected by the disruptions to learning in the 2019–20 and 2020– 21 school years.

Meaningful assessment data are essential for policymakers and stakeholders designating funding and determining eligibility requirements for programs that can impact student learning, such as state-supported professional learning resources and relief funding from sources such as the American Rescue Plan Act (ARP). And parents, educators, and the public need information about student learning in order to support their students’ academic progress.

In this knowledge brief produced by the Region 15 Comprehensive Center, we answer some timely questions about how to think about assessment information at this unique moment, and we offer several suggestions and considerations about how to use assessment data to inform decisions about teaching and learning.