Center for Measurement Justice

Reflecting on Thanksgiving: As many prepare to gather with loved ones this Thanksgiving, it’s crucial to reflect on the full history behind this day. For centuries, the narrative of Thanksgiving has often overlooked the realities of genocide, colonialism, and land theft endured by Indigenous peoples. For many Indigenous communities, Thanksgiving is observed as a Day of Mourning—a time to remember the pain and loss caused by these historical injustices. This perspective challenges us to think critically about how we “celebrate” and whose stories we center. We encourage you to take time tomorrow to reflect on this history, listen to and uplift Indigenous voices, and explore ways to take meaningful action. Sharing this message with your network is one way to start important conversations.

Join us for the third session of The Center for Measurement Justice's Speaker Series dedicated to discussing fairness issues in educational, psychological, and medical assessments. We are proud to announce Dr. Micheal Walker, Principal Scientist at Human Resources Research Organization (HumRO), as our guest speaker this month focusing on "Culturally and Linguistically Responsive Assessment: Problems and Prospects". This session will take place on Friday, December 6th from 1 - 2 pm EST, and registration in advance is required. Register here: https://lnkd.in/g_5wf2Bp Presentation Summary: Universal Design for Learning Guidelines (CAST, 2018) call for providing multiple means of (a) engagement, (b) representation, and (c) action and expression. Adherence to these guidelines when assessing individuals means paying attention to the culture and language of the assessed. This cultural-linguistic responsiveness comes at a cost often overlooked by its advocates. In this talk, I will outline a few of the challenges we must face with courage if we are to achieve equity in assessment. Don’t miss this opportunity to engage with cutting-edge ideas and contribute to advancing fairness in assessment. Register now to secure your spot!

This Mentor Highlight Monday we want to introduce you to Dr. Kyndra V. Middleton, a CMJ Mentor who leads mentoring groups, Writing Accountability Circles, and Professional Development sessions for our network of doctoral students in educational measurement. Kyndra V. Middleton, PhD is a Professor of Educational Psychology and Chair of the Department of Human Development and Psychoeducational Studies at Howard University. She teaches statistics and measurement courses, serves as the primary methodologist for the school, and sits on numerous university-wide committees. She also serves on the Executive Council of the National Alliance for Doctoral Studies in the Mathematical Sciences. Dr. Middleton's research focuses on ensuring validity, equity, and fairness for all students as well as increasing the number of underrepresented minorities in STEM fields. She received her M.A. and Ph.D. in Educational Measurement and Statistics from The University of Iowa and her B.S. in Mathematical Sciences from Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University. A native of Walterboro, SC and a proud graduate of an HBCU, she also serves as the Higher Education committee chair for the DC Metro HBCU Alumni Alliance. In her spare time, she enjoys playing sports, running, traveling, and baking. #MentorHighlightMonday #CMJMentors #MeasurementJustice

Join our second Professional Development session of the academic year happening tomorrow with Dr. Kyndra V. Middleton and student presenter Ferdinand 'Banji Kumolalo. These sessions are part of our mentorship program and currated towards Black and Brown doctoral scholars in educational measurement. This discussion will lay the foundation for the need to pay closer attention to the item writing process in standardized testing and more specifically to the item writers themselves. Results from this empirical study will examine the relationship between item writer characteristics, self-perception, and personality as we delve into this arguably critical, yet overlooked, component of the test development process. Registration in advance is required for this event. Register here : https://lnkd.in/gpYfKVAu #MeasurementJustice #EducationalMeasurement #ItemWriters #Mentorship #ProfessionalDevelopment #PhD

It's our first Mentor Highlight Monday where we will introduce you to the CMJ Mentors who lead mentoring groups, Writing Accountability Circles, and Professional Development sessions for our network of doctoral students in educational measurement. Dr. Justin Kern is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Educational Psychology at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (UIUC). He received his MA in Psychology, MS in Statistics, and Ph.D. in Quantitative Psychology from UIUC, and his BS in Psychology and Mathematics from Central Michigan University. As a measurement scholar, his research seeks to produce and investigate quantitative methods for the modeling of psychological and educational traits, the construction of tests and measurement tools, and the investigation of behavioral data, primarily through the lens of item response theory (IRT). Specifically, he is interested in adaptive testing, the use of response times in times, and the development of models accounting for various nuisance effects. Born and raised in Flint, MI, he is a proud member of both the Mexican American community and the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians. Outside of work, Justin enjoys spending time with his family, watching Illini and Detroit sports, and playing music in several ensembles in Central Illinois. Read all of the mentors bios on our website! https://lnkd.in/gzWEddt9 #MentorHighlightMonday #CMJMentors #MeasurementJustice

This framework prioritizes (1) humanizing assessment practices; (2) justice-based products and outcomes; and (3) a critical construct of reading. It was a pleasure to think through this work with my colleagues. Good stuff...

My name is Nisha and I am the Research Scientist, Stafford Hood Fellow at the Center for Measurement Justice. I feel passionate about my role at CMJ because it is an opportunity to advance equity in a multitude of pathways to disrupt systemic racism through rigorous research and meaningful measurement. Throughout my professional journey, I have had the privilege of working directly with students and educators in various capacities, from teaching both in K-12 and higher education to leading program initiatives and conducting research in various spaces to ensure fairness while taking steps to move toward liberation. These experiences have fueled my commitment to ensuring that people, especially minoritized people, receive the support and resources to thrive and sustain thriving in the U.S. I am eager to not only leverage my expertise but to also learn from everyone to drive innovative solutions that empower communities, educators, and students. If I had to describe myself, I would say I am a dedicated researcher because I genuinely believe in the transformative power of education and data through genuine curiosity, active learning, and active listening to seek innovation that makes an impact and a difference. I look forward to collaborating and serving with all of you to deepen our impact together. #WednesdayWelcome #NewStaff

Don't miss this CMJ Speaker Series event coming up this Friday from 1-2 pm EST! Register in advance here: https://lnkd.in/gsmmmFmS

CMJ’s Graduate Summer Internship offers Black, Brown, or Indigenous doctoral scholars in the field of educational measurement the opportunity to work under a CMJ mentor professional on a project in their field of study. Read through the internship highlights from this past summer on our website at?https://lnkd.in/gfKk_kCP

Join us for the second session of The Center for Measurement Justice's Speaker Series dedicated to discussing fairness issues in educational, psychological, and medical assessments. We are proud to announce Dr. David Sul, Professor at the University of the Virgin Islands, as our guest speaker this month focusing on "Building the Theoretical Infrastructure for the Liberatory Praxis of Large-Scale Culturally Specific Assessment". Presentation Summary: How can large-scale culturally specific assessment research contribute to BIPOC peoples’ aspirations for autonomy, self-determination, and liberation? As a measurement-based theoretical framework, the Disjuncture-response Dialectic is a theoretical framework that situates the work of culturally specific assessment developers within a swirling environment of sociohistorical factors, cultural aspirations, and uplifting directions. The instruments developed within this environment contain an acknowledgment of the historical legacy of slavery, institutional racism, settler colonialism, and their impact on measurement disjuncture. Simultaneously, the work of culturally specific assessment developers serves as a political act of structural amplification and liberation that challenges structural elimination. An overview of this environmental space wherein developers of culturally specific assessment instruments function is presented. Event Details: Date: Friday, November 1st, 2024 Time: 1:00 - 2:00 pm EDT Location: Zoom Registration:?https://lnkd.in/gsmmmFmS Don’t miss this opportunity to engage with cutting-edge ideas and contribute to advancing fairness in assessment. Register now to secure your spot!