Overview
CrescendoEd LLC is a small, woman-owned company founded by a career educator, leader, and measurement expert. We focus on creating authentic, effective, and aligned education and assessment systems and programs that meet professional standards and solve real problems. We provide high-quality psychometric, research/evaluation, and teaching/learning consultation and services to clients at the federal, state and local levels while we build a lab school focused on arts in education.
CrescendoEd offers expertise in educational measurement, leadership and policy and arts in education. Our goal is to empower educational leaders and teachers with the tools and knowledge needed to excel in their roles.
Examples of Work
Dr. Davidson's work has focused on validation of large-scale, consequential assessment programs, fairness in testing, alignment of educational system components, and supporting historically underserved students through quality assessment and instruction. As sample of her work is included here.
Publication
The National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) uses Achievement Levels to describe the meaning of scores. This paper looks at the validity evidence for those Achievement Level Descriptors (ALDs). This paper was published by the National Assessment Governing Board, the body charged with oversight of the NAEP.
Publication
The study’s purpose was to evaluate how accessibility is forwarded through technical test specification and how specifications are influenced by policy guidance. Although universal design (UD) is frequently identified as a guiding principle in test development, Johnson, Trantham, and Usher-Tate (2019) found many assessment programs neither realize these promises, nor ensure the necessary steps for optimal accessibility.
Publication
State Departments of Education must show alignment among their standards and assessments, under Title I of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act. This technical report uses innovative approaches to evaluate alignment for North Carolina's assessment of English Language Proficiency.
Blog Publication
The time is ripe for lively dialogue about fairness in testing. Researchers and practitioners—as well as policymakers and the general public—have the role and responsibility to ensure fair tests for all students. We need to work together to do so. This post explores the trajectory for fairness in testing as illustrated by developments in professional standards for educational measurement.
Meet Our Founder
Founder and Principal Consultant Anne "Annie" Davidson devotes her life's work to bringing alignment and meaning to education systems, from the classroom to the statehouse. She is convinced that education is the foundation to democratic life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Annie brings 28 years of experience in education, with particular expertise in instruction and assessment. She works on the macro and micro levels concurrently to build her expertise and vision for aligned and connection education programs and institutions. She served for eight years as Senior Associate with EdMetric LLC, where she developed innovative alignment methods, evaluated national programs, led validation studies, served as federal peer reviewer, and participated in the American Education Research Association and the National Council for Measurement in Education. Before that, she served as Director of Student Supports with the Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium, Associate Director of Assessment for the State of Nevada, and Research Manager and Scientist at CTB/McGraw-Hill. She contributes to professional publications and the development of research methods. Annie holds a doctorate in Educational Leadership and Policy from University of Vermont, a Master of Arts in Education and Elementary Licensure from St. Michael's College, and Bachelors of Science from Cornell University.