Jessica Arnold

Overview

Jessica Arnold works closely with state and local education agencies to support teaching, learning, and system improvement. She is a national expert in building educator and leader assessment and data literacy capacity and brings extensive experience designing and leading high-quality professional learning, resource development, and technical assistance efforts to support educators in effectively using assessment and data to improve outcomes for students. 

Arnold leads large professional learning and resource development projects related to literacy and has also served on several national centers focused on improving outcomes for people with disabilities, including the National Center for Systemic Improvement (NCSI), the National Center for Educational Outcomes (NCEO), and the National Deaf Center (NDC). 

Prior to joining WestEd in 2013, Arnold led national efforts to expand participation in International Baccalaureate programs in Title I schools in the United States and served as a secondary literacy specialist in New York City Schools for the Gateway Institute at the City University of New York.

Education

• EdM in human development and psychology, Harvard Graduate School of Education 
• BA in English, Vassar College 

Select Publications

Arnold, J., & Webb, J. (2024). Key elements of a coherent and equitable local assessment system. Center for Standards, Assessment, & Accessibility at WestEd. www.wested.org/resources/key-elements-coherent-equitable-local-assessment-system/

Arnold, J., & Webb, J. (2024). 7 recommendations for using education data to support equitable learning outcomes. WestEd.
www.wested.org/resources/7-recommendations-for-using-education-data-to-support-equitable-learning-outcomes/

Arnold, J., & Crane, E. W. (2021). Making decisions using assessment data in the time of COVID and beyond. WestEd.
www.wested.org/resources/using-assessment-data-in-the-time-of-covid-19/

Arnold, J., & Sheffield, R. (with Talakoub, C.). (2020). Assessment leadership: Leading a balanced, comprehensive assessment system to improve teaching and learning. WestEd.
www.wested.org/resources/assessment-leadership-leading-a-balanced-comprehensive-assessment-system-to-improve-teaching-and-learning/

Arnold, J. (2016). Making the most of performance tasks in summative assessment: Building educator assessment literacy in Oregon. WestEd.
www.wested.org/resources/performance-tasks-in-summative-assessment/