The Gordon Commission Report

The Gordon Commission on the Future of Education was established by Educational Testing Services in 2011. In their report on assessment and in consideration of the opportunities and challenges of the Common Core Standards they make three recommendations for broadening the concepts and processes of educational assessment.

1. Promote the development of new ideas about the context and purposes of assessment: In lieu of assessments that enforce accountability, consider ways to use them to guide and inform teaching and learning.
2. Build systems of assessment that broaden the range of behaviors, elements, and outcomes of achievement consistent with a well-informed and comprehensive vision of education.
3. Strengthen assessments: Broaden the authority to develop and monitor assessments to a more inclusive group of constituents who watch over the implementation of Common Core tests and inform the public of the importance of good assessment as part of a quality education system.