National Center on Educational Outcomes

National Center on Educational Outcomes
Name	National Center on Educational Outcomes
Formation	1991
Type	Research center
Headquarters	University of Minnesota, Minneapolis
Leader title	Director
Parent organization	University of Minnesota

National Center on Educational Outcomes is a research center based at the University of Minnesota that focuses on assessment, accountability, and inclusion for students with disabilities and English learners. The center collaborates with federal agencies, state education departments, and national organizations to improve assessment practices, measurement accommodations, and graduation and diplomas for students with diverse learning needs. Its work intersects with major education stakeholders, civil rights organizations, and standards-setting bodies to influence testing policy and practice.

History

The center was established in 1991 at the University of Minnesota following initiatives by the U.S. Department of Education, Office of Special Education Programs, and advocacy from groups such as the Council for Exceptional Children and the National Association of State Directors of Special Education. Early work responded to mandates in the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act reauthorizations and the Americans with Disabilities Act implementation, aligning with efforts from the National Council on Measurement in Education and research from the American Educational Research Association. Collaborations included technical assistance to the National Assessment Governing Board, interactions with the Education Commission of the States, and partnerships with the Council of Chief State School Officers.

Mission and Scope

The center's mission emphasizes equitable assessment access, representation, and outcomes for students with disabilities and English learners, responding to policy frameworks like the Elementary and Secondary Education Act and guidance from the U.S. Department of Education Office for Civil Rights. Scope encompasses statewide assessments, alternate assessments aligned with alternate academic achievement standards, graduation rate calculations defined by the Every Student Succeeds Act, and accommodations policy influenced by the National Center for Education Statistics standards. Stakeholders include state education agencies, test publishers such as Educational Testing Service, professional associations including the National Association of Special Education Teachers, and legal entities like the American Civil Liberties Union.

Programs and Projects

Programs have included technical assistance to states on participation guidelines informed by research from the Center on Instruction, development of reporting templates referenced by the National Governors Association, and collaborative projects with the Achieve, Inc. and the Thomas B. Fordham Institute on assessment quality. Projects often convene experts from the National Research Council, scholars affiliated with Harvard Graduate School of Education, Stanford Graduate School of Education, and Vanderbilt Peabody College, and policy partners such as the National Conference of State Legislatures. Other initiatives coordinate with the Council for Learning Disabilities, the Association of Test Publishers, and organizations like The Council of the Great City Schools to address urban assessment challenges.

Research and Publications

The center publishes technical reports, practice guides, and briefs that synthesize methodological work from the American Statistical Association, psychometric advances from Measuring What Matters initiatives, and standards discussions by the National Academy of Sciences. Publications have addressed validity frameworks promoted by the Educational Testing Service, accommodations research linked to the National Center for Education Statistics, and alternate assessment reliability debated in venues such as the Journal of Educational Measurement and the American Educational Research Journal. The center's work is cited by state assessment manuals, national policy reviews from the Brookings Institution, and legal analyses from the Brennan Center for Justice.

Policy Impact and Advocacy

NCEO's analyses have informed federal rulemaking at the U.S. Department of Education, technical guidance from the Office for Civil Rights, and legislative briefs provided to committees in the United States Congress including hearings of the House Committee on Education and Labor and the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. The center has participated in stakeholder meetings convened by the National Assessment Governing Board and submitted comments to rulemaking processes involving the Every Student Succeeds Act implementation. Advocacy collaborations have included the National Disability Rights Network, the Council of Parent Attorneys and Advocates, and national civil rights groups such as the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights.

Governance and Funding

Governance is rooted in the University of Minnesota administrative structure with advisory input from state and national representatives from bodies like the Council of Chief State School Officers, the National Association of State Directors of Special Education, and the National Governors Association. Funding has historically combined federal grants from the U.S. Department of Education Office of Special Education Programs, contracts with state education agencies, and partnerships with foundations such as the Spencer Foundation, the Carnegie Corporation of New York, and the Gates Foundation. External oversight and peer review engage scholars from institutions including University of California, Berkeley, University of Michigan, and Teachers College, Columbia University.

Category:Research centers in the United States Category:University of Minnesota