Consortium for Research-Based and Equitable Assessments

With support from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, AACTE has launched the Consortium for Research-Based and Equitable Assessments (CREA), an initiative to evaluate cut scores for entrance into educator preparation programs. Specifically, the Consortium will seek to examine the processes and considerations that states use to determine cut scores, and how they can be refined to attract, rather than exclude, potential teacher candidates. The Consortium’s responsibilities will include but are not limited to:

1. Completing surveys to report on their state’s practices for establishing cut scores;
2. Participating in qualitative interviews conducted by AACTE’s consultants;
3. Actively participating in quarterly meetings to inform recommendations and guidelines for state leaders;
4. Engaging in pre-work in preparation for quarterly meetings;
5. Collaborating with state stakeholders during and between quarterly convenings;
6. Disseminating the Consortium’s final recommendations and model state policies to state leaders and policymakers;
7. Advocating for equitable practices that will attract diverse teacher candidates into educator preparation programs to address the shortage and diversity crises in the field.

The Consortium shall be comprised of 15 state teams. Although there can be multiple EPPs on a state team, one EPP will serve as the lead applicant to join the Consortium and will carry out its duties as outlined in the agreement executed between AACTE and their School/College of Education.

Other members of the state teams will include representatives with expertise and/or influence in establishing cut scores for teacher certification and licensure from the state education agency (SEA) and local education agencies (LEAs).

Consortium members will serve through February 2022. The Consortium will meet at least quarterly during the 2021-2022 project year.

Interested EPPs are encouraged to apply.

Application Timeline:

• Application Opens: January 25, 2021
• Application Closes: March 5, 2021 at 11:59 EST
• Notifications: Applicants will be notified of the review panel’s decision on March 22, 2021.

Required Materials: Lead applicants must provide these documents as part of their applications:

• Letter of commitment from the dean(s) of the school(s)/college(s) of education committing their institution(s) participation in the Consortium.
• Letters of commitment from the LEA and SEA representatives to demonstrate their willingness to actively participate in the Consortium, alongside the lead applicant.
• Biography of State Lead Applicant

For more information about the Consortium for Research-Based and Equitable Assessment (CREA) and to apply, review the Call for Applications, or contact Weade James.