School and district leaders are dedicated to achieving equity goals and improving student learning outcomes in their systems. Having meaningful data about student learning is an essential system input for making the decisions about teaching and learning that will increase equitable learning outcomes. Yet with so many assessments and so much data available, are students, teachers, and leaders able to translate assessment data into improved learning outcomes?

Assessment leadership is essential for building a comprehensive, balanced assessment system and fostering the conditions in which assessment data can be used at all levels of an education system, including the classroom, school, and district. Developing this kind of assessment system requires leaders who can articulate and implement a vision and culture of effective evidence use that supports sound assessment practices.

This brief provides district and school leaders with guidance on developing core competencies of assessment literacy to build sustainable, data-driven assessment systems.