Effective assessments can illuminate strengths, pinpoint learning gaps, and better guide education. This Spotlight will help readers evaluate effective ways to offer students feedback; examine how some states are transitioning to through-year testing models; hear from educators regarding pressure for student success on standardized tests; gain…

Public schools in the seven counties of southeastern Wisconsin spent $3.1 billion in 2004-2005 to employ 36,234 teachers and educate 308,936 children. Taken together, the region's K-12 public schools would be the largest employer in southeastern Wisconsin and the largest workforce developer in the region. The scale of K-12 public education is…