More than two decades ago, the United States enacted its first large-scale federal education law focused on system- and school-level accountability for student outcomes. Since then, assessment and accountability policies have continued to evolve—shaping how student performance is measured, reported, and acted upon across the country. What have these changes delivered for students, families, and schools, and what lessons do they offer for the future?
Data and Assessments in K-12 Education
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation believes in the power of data, assessments, and accountability in ensuring all kids have access to a high-quality education.
For more than two decades, the U.S. Chamber Foundation has worked to make student academic outcomes public, accessible, and easy to understand—so families, educators, and policymakers can make informed decisions that improve outcomes for students. Quality academic achievement data enables the business community to work with school districts and state leaders to improve public education and the readiness of our nation’s future workforce.
Future of Data in K-12 Education: A Comprehensive Analysis
Updated
The U.S. Chamber Foundation released an updated edition of the report reflecting on how assessment and accountability policies have contributed to improving both the quality of and access to K–12 public education.
Looking Back to Look Forward 2026 Updated Edition
In 2023, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation commissioned research examining these questions, which was published in "Looking Back to Look Forward: Quantitative and Qualitative Reviews of the Past 20 Years of K-12 Education Assessment and Accountability Policy".
In this timely 2026 re-release, researchers Dr. Dan Goldhaber and Dr. Michael DeArmond revisit their findings, reflecting on how assessment and accountability policies have contributed to improving both the quality of and access to K–12 public education. They also surface forward-looking insights to help inform the next phase of federal education policy as the landscape continues to evolve.
Future of Data Initiative
From 2021 to 2023, the U.S. Chamber Foundation partnered with XYZ on a multi-year initiative exploring the effectiveness of data and assessments in America’s K-12 public schools.
Although the pandemic provided a natural inflection point to re-assess our education system, the challenges students face are not new. Before the onset of COVID-19, for example, only 38% of third graders were reading at grade level. Achievement gaps were closing, but they started expanding significantly due to pandemic school closures and the digital divide. Schools, teachers, and parents in particular had a chance to see the shortcomings of our education system up close, as many children learned via Zoom over those two years. To build a stronger future for American students and prepare them for the economy and society of tomorrow, we asked a group of experts to come together and provide visionary leadership for what the future of data in education should look like.
Future of Data Working Group
This project was driven by Future of Data Working Group who convened to oversee and provide feedback on our efforts.
Future of Data Design Challenge
Guided by insights from the working group, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation launched the Future of Data Design Challenge to surface innovative ideas from leading experts on how data can be used to strengthen school improvement and accountability.
Proposals were reviewed by the Foundation in partnership with the working group and evaluated against a shared set of guiding principles, including ambition and feasibility, coherence, thoroughness, creativity, and equity.
Click here to read the winning proposals.
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Latest Content
- The U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation released new research that examines the impact of data-driven accountability education policy over the last 20 years and sets the stage for concrete recommendations for the federal role in education.The U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation released new research that examines the impact of data-driven accountability in education policy over the last 20 years and sets the stage for concrete recommendations for the federal role in education. The report is the result of a collective effort with the nation’s leading education experts to create the most comprehensive analysis of the landmark education policies of the past two decades, from No Child Left Behind (NCLB) to Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), as part of the U.S. Chamber Foundation’s Future of Data in K-12 Education initiative.The U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation today announced the launch of a nationwide Future of Data in K-12 Education Design Challenge, to develop innovative ideas on how to improve public school assessments and accountability in the United States. The Design Challenge is the next phase in a multi-year initiative, the Future of Data in K-12 Education, launched earlier this year.The U.S. Chamber Foundation has launched a multi-year initiative with the support of a working group of preeminent leaders in education to develop policy recommendations focused on all students, especially those who have been historically underserved by the K-12 system.The U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation today announced a groundbreaking new initiative focused on improving education outcomes for all students. The U.S. Chamber Foundation is leading a multi-year initiative with the support of a working group of preeminent leaders in education. The working group members bring an impressive breadth of experience, expertise, and diverse perspectives to this initiative. Included are leaders of organizations such as The Education Trust, Foundation for Excellence in Education, Parents Amplifying Voices in Education, and the Center for Measurement Justice.
