Let's Talk About Race: Uncomfortable Conversations With Assessment Professionals About Racism, White Supremacy, and Promoting Justice

Session Type: Invited Speaker Session

Abstract

Recent assaults on Critical Race Theory, DEI training, and the discrediting of Hannah-Jones’s 1619 project are reminders that issues of race continue to be loaded and contentious. Within schools, uncloaked discussions on race and racism are perceived to be dangerous, leading to painful memories/triggers, and are avoided. The assessment community has historically been complicit in this avoidance of conversations about race, racism, and white supremacy proclaiming these topics to be construct-irrelevant. Still, justice-oriented educators engage in culturally relevant, sustaining, and antiracist practices daily without the support or similar commitment from their peers in assessment development. In this interactive session, we will engage in dialogue with educators, assessment developers, and other stakeholders about ways we can move forward together towards justice.

Sub Unit

• Division H - Research, Evaluation and Assessment in Schools

Chair

• Bradley J. McMillen, Wake County Public School System

Speakers

• Jennifer Randall, University of Massachusetts

• Kristen Huff, Curriculum Associates

• Maria Hamdani, Curriculum Associates

• Michaela Viering, Pearson