Topic
Follow the latest assessment developments across US K-12 education. Testing, accountability, results and assessment policy.
Last updated: October 6, 2026
As of October 7, 2026, K-12 News has published 8 assessment stories over the last 30 days, across 3 states and 5 organizations. The most active states are Georgia, Maine and National.
Renaissance received the 2026 CODiE award for math instruction, its second consecutive win in the category. Its math platform combines assessment, teacher-led lessons and adaptive practice.
Mississippi public and charter schools will use Renaissance’s Star Math in grades K–5 and Star Reading in grades 4–8 for required screening beginning in the 2026–2027 school year.
Florida's education commissioner, Kamoutsas, highlighted gains in school performance reflected in the state's school grades for the 2025-2026 academic year.
Governor
Connecticut is expanding K–3 reading interventions and educator coaching through a five-year, $10 million grant covering 75 elementary schools, while Massachusetts is continuing early literacy tutoring funding for 338 schools and awarded nearly $25 million for literacy instruction. Nine Pennsylvania teacher preparation programs received accreditation aligned with structured literacy standards, and Mississippi designated science-of-reading schools and is implementing a statewide adolescent literacy initiative for 2026–27. Indiana reported its fifth consecutive year of rising literacy rates, while Colorado reported elementary literacy gains alongside persistent achievement gaps and declining middle school English language arts scores. In Maine, the number of students earning biliteracy recognition rose 18 percent, and the number of high schools offering it grew 11.5 percent.
Connecticut and Missouri reported 2025–26 assessment gains across multiple subjects, while Colorado reported gains in elementary math and literacy but declining middle school English language arts scores and persistent achievement gaps. Mississippi reported higher science performance, steady English language arts results and a slight decline in math proficiency. Connecticut’s chronic absenteeism fell to 16.4%, down from 23.7% in 2021–22. Kansas received federal approval to pilot assessments administered throughout the school year.
State math results varied in 2025–26: Connecticut reported gains, Colorado recorded elementary math gains across many student groups, and Mississippi saw a slight decline in math proficiency. Mississippi is implementing the Mississippi Math Act statewide in 2026–27, while Iowa selected 44 elementary students from 18 public districts and four accredited nonpublic schools for a 10-year math enrichment program with mentoring and learning support. New York released preliminary statewide mathematics test data.
Open enrolment, charter authorisation, vouchers, education savings accounts and enrolment shifts.
Federal education officials proposed changes to grant rules that would revise competition criteria, allow unspent funds to affect multiyear awards and favor applicants with lower indirect cost rates. Kansas received federal approval to pilot student assessments administered throughout the school year. In Pennsylvania, an $8 million school psychology program has placed 42 interns in 22 schools this year, with eligible interns in high-need districts able to receive stipends, Praxis fee waivers and additional training.
Chronic absenteeism declined in Maryland, Connecticut and Colorado, with Maryland reporting a four-year decline. Connecticut’s rate fell to 16.4% in 2025–26 from 23.7% in 2021–22, while Colorado’s fell to 27.5%, its lowest level in four years, as attendance edged up to 91.5% from 91.4% a year earlier. Colorado education officials also partnered with the Denver Broncos Foundation and Attendance Works to launch a 53-school network offering training and resources to improve attendance and reduce chronic absenteeism.
Based on: Kansas receives federal approval to pilot innovative through-year assessment system
Based on: Renaissance and Discovery Education Announce Partnership to Advance Instructional Coherence and Unified Assessment Insight
Based on: Governor Lamont Announces Registration Open for Connecticut's New Paraeducator Preparation Academy
Based on: Mississippi Selects Star Assessments as the State’s K–5 Mathematics Screener and Adolescent Literacy Screener
